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Sarah's School Friend
Sarah's School Friend

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Sarah's School Friend
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A MILL-HAND'S MANSION.
'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.
Her mother gave a little, sharp scream, and let fall the book she was holding in her hand.
Sarah came forward swiftly, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the title, at sight of which she said, with a little laugh, 'What a humbug you are, mother!
You know you've never read a single word of this book.'
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Sarah's School Friend

Chapter I

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A MILL-HAND'S MANSION.
Line 2
'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.
Line 3
Her mother gave a little, sharp scream, and let fall the book she was holding in her hand.
Line 4
Sarah came forward swiftly, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the title, at sight of which she said, with a little laugh, 'What a humbug you are, mother!
Line 5
You know you've never read a single word of this book.'

Learner Dictionary

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

Dreadful adjective US /ˈdrɛdfəl/

extremely frightening or unpleasant

From this reading “'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.”

Forward noun US /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sarah came forward swiftly, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the title, at sight of which she said, with a little laugh, 'What a humbug you are, mother!”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A MILL-HAND'S MANSION.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “You know you've never read a single word of this book.'”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “Her mother gave a little, sharp scream, and let fall the book she was holding in her hand.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Her mother gave a little, sharp scream, and let fall the book she was holding in her hand.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sarah came forward swiftly, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the title, at sight of which she said, with a little laugh, 'What a humbug you are, mother!”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “You know you've never read a single word of this book.'”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “Sarah came forward swiftly, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the title, at sight of which she said, with a little laugh, 'What a humbug you are, mother!”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.”

All words in this reading · 67

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 A MILL-HAND'S MANSION.

aforesaid

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

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Sarah came forward swiftly, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the title, at sight of which she said, with a little laugh, 'What a humbug you are, mother!

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Sarah came forward swiftly, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the title, at sight of which she said, with a little laugh, 'What a humbug you are, mother!

beautifully

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

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

book

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

From this reading Her mother gave a little, sharp scream, and let fall the book she was holding in her hand.

came

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

From this reading Sarah came forward swiftly, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the title, at sight of which she said, with a little laugh, 'What a humbug you are, mother!

Clay

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

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

don't

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

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

drawing-room

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

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

dreadfuladjectiveUS /ˈdrɛdfəl/

extremely frightening or unpleasant

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

fall

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

From this reading Her mother gave a little, sharp scream, and let fall the book she was holding in her hand.

father

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

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

father's

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

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

forwardnounUS /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Sarah came forward swiftly, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the title, at sight of which she said, with a little laugh, 'What a humbug you are, mother!

gave

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

From this reading Her mother gave a little, sharp scream, and let fall the book she was holding in her hand.

gilded

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

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

hand

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

From this reading Her mother gave a little, sharp scream, and let fall the book she was holding in her hand.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Her mother gave a little, sharp scream, and let fall the book she was holding in her hand.

holding

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

From this reading Her mother gave a little, sharp scream, and let fall the book she was holding in her hand.

humbug

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

From this reading Sarah came forward swiftly, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the title, at sight of which she said, with a little laugh, 'What a humbug you are, mother!

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Sarah came forward swiftly, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the title, at sight of which she said, with a little laugh, 'What a humbug you are, mother!

It's

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

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading You know you've never read a single word of this book.'

laugh

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

From this reading Sarah came forward swiftly, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the title, at sight of which she said, with a little laugh, 'What a humbug you are, mother!

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Her mother gave a little, sharp scream, and let fall the book she was holding in her hand.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Her mother gave a little, sharp scream, and let fall the book she was holding in her hand.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Sarah came forward swiftly, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the title, at sight of which she said, with a little laugh, 'What a humbug you are, mother!

MANSION

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

From this reading A MILL-HAND'S MANSION.

MILL-HAND'S

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

From this reading A MILL-HAND'S MANSION.

mother

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

From this reading Her mother gave a little, sharp scream, and let fall the book she was holding in her hand.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading You know you've never read a single word of this book.'

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Sarah came forward swiftly, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the title, at sight of which she said, with a little laugh, 'What a humbug you are, mother!

painted

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

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

picked

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

From this reading Sarah came forward swiftly, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the title, at sight of which she said, with a little laugh, 'What a humbug you are, mother!

read

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

From this reading You know you've never read a single word of this book.'

respect

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

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

said

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

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

Sarah

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

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

scream

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

From this reading Her mother gave a little, sharp scream, and let fall the book she was holding in her hand.

sharp

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

From this reading Her mother gave a little, sharp scream, and let fall the book she was holding in her hand.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

sight

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

From this reading Sarah came forward swiftly, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the title, at sight of which she said, with a little laugh, 'What a humbug you are, mother!

single

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

From this reading You know you've never read a single word of this book.'

swiftly

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

From this reading Sarah came forward swiftly, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the title, at sight of which she said, with a little laugh, 'What a humbug you are, mother!

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading You know you've never read a single word of this book.'

title

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

From this reading Sarah came forward swiftly, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the title, at sight of which she said, with a little laugh, 'What a humbug you are, mother!

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

turned

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

From this reading Sarah came forward swiftly, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the title, at sight of which she said, with a little laugh, 'What a humbug you are, mother!

up

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

From this reading Sarah came forward swiftly, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the title, at sight of which she said, with a little laugh, 'What a humbug you are, mother!

walked

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

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Her mother gave a little, sharp scream, and let fall the book she was holding in her hand.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Sarah came forward swiftly, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the title, at sight of which she said, with a little laugh, 'What a humbug you are, mother!

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Sarah came forward swiftly, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the title, at sight of which she said, with a little laugh, 'What a humbug you are, mother!

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Sarah came forward swiftly, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the title, at sight of which she said, with a little laugh, 'What a humbug you are, mother!

word

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

From this reading You know you've never read a single word of this book.'

Yorkshire

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

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading 'It's a dreadful thing to have a father you don't respect,' said Sarah Clay, as she walked into the gilded and beautifully painted drawing-room of the aforesaid father's mansion in Yorkshire.

you've

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

From this reading You know you've never read a single word of this book.'