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Phyllis
Phyllis

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Phyllis
Context Illustration Reading 1/36 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.
Our street is named Providence Road and the house Byrd Mansion and I am afraid I'll never be at home there as long as I live.
But the doctor says Mother has to live in the country for always, and I'm only glad it isn't any countrier than Byrdsville.
The worst thing about it to me is that this house I live in and the town I live in are named for the lovely dark-eyed girl who lives down in the old-fashioned cottage that backs up on our garden.
She moved out for me to move in, just because I am rich and she is poor.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Phyllis

Chapter I

Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.
Line 2
Our street is named Providence Road and the house Byrd Mansion and I am afraid I'll never be at home there as long as I live.
Line 3
But the doctor says Mother has to live in the country for always, and I'm only glad it isn't any countrier than Byrdsville.
Line 4
The worst thing about it to me is that this house I live in and the town I live in are named for the lovely dark-eyed girl who lives down in the old-fashioned cottage that backs up on our garden.
Line 5
She moved out for me to move in, just because I am rich and she is poor.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “The worst thing about it to me is that this house I live in and the town I live in are named for the lovely dark-eyed girl who lives down in the old-fashioned cottage that backs up on our garden.”

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.”

Because conjunction US /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading “She moved out for me to move in, just because I am rich and she is poor.”

Doctor noun US /doctor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But the doctor says Mother has to live in the country for always, and I'm only glad it isn't any countrier than Byrdsville.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “But the doctor says Mother has to live in the country for always, and I'm only glad it isn't any countrier than Byrdsville.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Our street is named Providence Road and the house Byrd Mansion and I am afraid I'll never be at home there as long as I live.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Our street is named Providence Road and the house Byrd Mansion and I am afraid I'll never be at home there as long as I live.”

Poor noun US /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She moved out for me to move in, just because I am rich and she is poor.”

Providence noun US /ˈprɑː.və.dəns/

The protective care of God or nature as a spiritual power. (Sự quan phòng, thiên ý phù hộ.)

From this reading “Our street is named Providence Road and the house Byrd Mansion and I am afraid I'll never be at home there as long as I live.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The worst thing about it to me is that this house I live in and the town I live in are named for the lovely dark-eyed girl who lives down in the old-fashioned cottage that backs up on our garden.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.”

All words in this reading · 90

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The worst thing about it to me is that this house I live in and the town I live in are named for the lovely dark-eyed girl who lives down in the old-fashioned cottage that backs up on our garden.

afraid

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Our street is named Providence Road and the house Byrd Mansion and I am afraid I'll never be at home there as long as I live.

always

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the doctor says Mother has to live in the country for always, and I'm only glad it isn't any countrier than Byrdsville.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading Our street is named Providence Road and the house Byrd Mansion and I am afraid I'll never be at home there as long as I live.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

any

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

anywhere

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Our street is named Providence Road and the house Byrd Mansion and I am afraid I'll never be at home there as long as I live.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Our street is named Providence Road and the house Byrd Mansion and I am afraid I'll never be at home there as long as I live.

backs

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The worst thing about it to me is that this house I live in and the town I live in are named for the lovely dark-eyed girl who lives down in the old-fashioned cottage that backs up on our garden.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Our street is named Providence Road and the house Byrd Mansion and I am afraid I'll never be at home there as long as I live.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading She moved out for me to move in, just because I am rich and she is poor.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the doctor says Mother has to live in the country for always, and I'm only glad it isn't any countrier than Byrdsville.

Byrd

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Our street is named Providence Road and the house Byrd Mansion and I am afraid I'll never be at home there as long as I live.

Byrdsville

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the doctor says Mother has to live in the country for always, and I'm only glad it isn't any countrier than Byrdsville.

city

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

cottage

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The worst thing about it to me is that this house I live in and the town I live in are named for the lovely dark-eyed girl who lives down in the old-fashioned cottage that backs up on our garden.

countrier

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the doctor says Mother has to live in the country for always, and I'm only glad it isn't any countrier than Byrdsville.

country

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

dark-eyed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The worst thing about it to me is that this house I live in and the town I live in are named for the lovely dark-eyed girl who lives down in the old-fashioned cottage that backs up on our garden.

doctornounUS /doctor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But the doctor says Mother has to live in the country for always, and I'm only glad it isn't any countrier than Byrdsville.

down

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The worst thing about it to me is that this house I live in and the town I live in are named for the lovely dark-eyed girl who lives down in the old-fashioned cottage that backs up on our garden.

empty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

especially

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But the doctor says Mother has to live in the country for always, and I'm only glad it isn't any countrier than Byrdsville.

garden

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The worst thing about it to me is that this house I live in and the town I live in are named for the lovely dark-eyed girl who lives down in the old-fashioned cottage that backs up on our garden.

get

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

girl

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The worst thing about it to me is that this house I live in and the town I live in are named for the lovely dark-eyed girl who lives down in the old-fashioned cottage that backs up on our garden.

glad

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the doctor says Mother has to live in the country for always, and I'm only glad it isn't any countrier than Byrdsville.

going

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading But the doctor says Mother has to live in the country for always, and I'm only glad it isn't any countrier than Byrdsville.

home

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Our street is named Providence Road and the house Byrd Mansion and I am afraid I'll never be at home there as long as I live.

house

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Our street is named Providence Road and the house Byrd Mansion and I am afraid I'll never be at home there as long as I live.

I'll

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Our street is named Providence Road and the house Byrd Mansion and I am afraid I'll never be at home there as long as I live.

I'm

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the doctor says Mother has to live in the country for always, and I'm only glad it isn't any countrier than Byrdsville.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

isn't

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

just

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She moved out for me to move in, just because I am rich and she is poor.

larger

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

live

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Our street is named Providence Road and the house Byrd Mansion and I am afraid I'll never be at home there as long as I live.

lives

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The worst thing about it to me is that this house I live in and the town I live in are named for the lovely dark-eyed girl who lives down in the old-fashioned cottage that backs up on our garden.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Our street is named Providence Road and the house Byrd Mansion and I am afraid I'll never be at home there as long as I live.

lovely

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The worst thing about it to me is that this house I live in and the town I live in are named for the lovely dark-eyed girl who lives down in the old-fashioned cottage that backs up on our garden.

Mansion

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Our street is named Providence Road and the house Byrd Mansion and I am afraid I'll never be at home there as long as I live.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The worst thing about it to me is that this house I live in and the town I live in are named for the lovely dark-eyed girl who lives down in the old-fashioned cottage that backs up on our garden.

Mother

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the doctor says Mother has to live in the country for always, and I'm only glad it isn't any countrier than Byrdsville.

move

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She moved out for me to move in, just because I am rich and she is poor.

moved

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She moved out for me to move in, just because I am rich and she is poor.

much

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

named

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Our street is named Providence Road and the house Byrd Mansion and I am afraid I'll never be at home there as long as I live.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Our street is named Providence Road and the house Byrd Mansion and I am afraid I'll never be at home there as long as I live.

numbered

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

old-fashioned

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The worst thing about it to me is that this house I live in and the town I live in are named for the lovely dark-eyed girl who lives down in the old-fashioned cottage that backs up on our garden.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The worst thing about it to me is that this house I live in and the town I live in are named for the lovely dark-eyed girl who lives down in the old-fashioned cottage that backs up on our garden.

only

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the doctor says Mother has to live in the country for always, and I'm only glad it isn't any countrier than Byrdsville.

OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Our street is named Providence Road and the house Byrd Mansion and I am afraid I'll never be at home there as long as I live.

out

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She moved out for me to move in, just because I am rich and she is poor.

place

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

poornounUS /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She moved out for me to move in, just because I am rich and she is poor.

ProvidencenounUS /ˈprɑː.və.dəns/

The protective care of God or nature as a spiritual power. (Sự quan phòng, thiên ý phù hộ.)

From this reading Our street is named Providence Road and the house Byrd Mansion and I am afraid I'll never be at home there as long as I live.

rattle

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

rich

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She moved out for me to move in, just because I am rich and she is poor.

Road

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Our street is named Providence Road and the house Byrd Mansion and I am afraid I'll never be at home there as long as I live.

says

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the doctor says Mother has to live in the country for always, and I'm only glad it isn't any countrier than Byrdsville.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She moved out for me to move in, just because I am rich and she is poor.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

street

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Our street is named Providence Road and the house Byrd Mansion and I am afraid I'll never be at home there as long as I live.

stuck

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

there

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The worst thing about it to me is that this house I live in and the town I live in are named for the lovely dark-eyed girl who lives down in the old-fashioned cottage that backs up on our garden.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading The worst thing about it to me is that this house I live in and the town I live in are named for the lovely dark-eyed girl who lives down in the old-fashioned cottage that backs up on our garden.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

town

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The worst thing about it to me is that this house I live in and the town I live in are named for the lovely dark-eyed girl who lives down in the old-fashioned cottage that backs up on our garden.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

up

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The worst thing about it to me is that this house I live in and the town I live in are named for the lovely dark-eyed girl who lives down in the old-fashioned cottage that backs up on our garden.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The worst thing about it to me is that this house I live in and the town I live in are named for the lovely dark-eyed girl who lives down in the old-fashioned cottage that backs up on our garden.

wonder

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.

worst

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The worst thing about it to me is that this house I live in and the town I live in are named for the lovely dark-eyed girl who lives down in the old-fashioned cottage that backs up on our garden.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading The country is so much larger than the city and so empty that you rattle around in it until you wonder if you are ever going to get stuck to any place, especially if there isn't a house numbered anywhere.