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Sisters
Sisters

Chapter XXVI

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Context Illustration Reading 1/39 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.
For a great change had taken place in the circumstances of her old friend.
One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.
Three sons of the reigning Carey had been capsized in a gale while out yachting.
The reigning Carey, on hearing of the catastrophe, had been seized with a fit that proved fatal in a few hours.
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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.

Sisters

Chapter XXVI

Reading 1/39 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.
Line 2
For a great change had taken place in the circumstances of her old friend.
Line 3
One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.
Line 4
Three sons of the reigning Carey had been capsized in a gale while out yachting.
Line 5
The reigning Carey, on hearing of the catastrophe, had been seized with a fit that proved fatal in a few hours.

Learner Dictionary

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

Amongst preposition US /əˈmʌŋst/

surrounded by; in the company of

From this reading “One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For a great change had taken place in the circumstances of her old friend.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.”

Via preposition US /ˈvaɪə/

by way of; passing through

From this reading “The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “Three sons of the reigning Carey had been capsized in a gale while out yachting.”

All words in this reading · 89

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 For a great change had taken place in the circumstances of her old friend.

addressed

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

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

America

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

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

amongstprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋst/

surrounded by; in the company of

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

anticipated

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

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

APHRODITE

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

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

called

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

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

capsized

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

From this reading Three sons of the reigning Carey had been capsized in a gale while out yachting.

Carey

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

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

catastrophe

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

From this reading The reigning Carey, on hearing of the catastrophe, had been seized with a fit that proved fatal in a few hours.

change

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

From this reading For a great change had taken place in the circumstances of her old friend.

circumstances

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

From this reading For a great change had taken place in the circumstances of her old friend.

coast

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

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

commander

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

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

Dalzell

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

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

day

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

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

Deborah

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

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

dreams

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

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

earlier

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

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

England

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

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

Esq

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

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

fatal

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

From this reading The reigning Carey, on hearing of the catastrophe, had been seized with a fit that proved fatal in a few hours.

few

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

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

fit

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

From this reading The reigning Carey, on hearing of the catastrophe, had been seized with a fit that proved fatal in a few hours.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For a great change had taken place in the circumstances of her old friend.

friend

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

From this reading For a great change had taken place in the circumstances of her old friend.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

gale

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

From this reading Three sons of the reigning Carey had been capsized in a gale while out yachting.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For a great change had taken place in the circumstances of her old friend.

Guthrie

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

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading For a great change had taken place in the circumstances of her old friend.

Hall

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

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

hearing

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

From this reading The reigning Carey, on hearing of the catastrophe, had been seized with a fit that proved fatal in a few hours.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading For a great change had taken place in the circumstances of her old friend.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

hours

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

From this reading The reigning Carey, on hearing of the catastrophe, had been seized with a fit that proved fatal in a few hours.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading For a great change had taken place in the circumstances of her old friend.

land-dweller

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

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

land-owner

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

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

letter

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

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

Norfolk

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

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

off

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

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

office

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

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

old

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

From this reading For a great change had taken place in the circumstances of her old friend.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The reigning Carey, on hearing of the catastrophe, had been seized with a fit that proved fatal in a few hours.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

out

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

From this reading Three sons of the reigning Carey had been capsized in a gale while out yachting.

place

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

From this reading For a great change had taken place in the circumstances of her old friend.

proved

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

From this reading The reigning Carey, on hearing of the catastrophe, had been seized with a fit that proved fatal in a few hours.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

reigning

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

From this reading Three sons of the reigning Carey had been capsized in a gale while out yachting.

say

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

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

sea

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

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

seized

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

From this reading The reigning Carey, on hearing of the catastrophe, had been seized with a fit that proved fatal in a few hours.

shipping

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

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

signed

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

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

somewhere

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

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

sons

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

From this reading Three sons of the reigning Carey had been capsized in a gale while out yachting.

South

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

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

squires

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

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

SS

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

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

strange

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

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

taken

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

From this reading For a great change had taken place in the circumstances of her old friend.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The reigning Carey, on hearing of the catastrophe, had been seized with a fit that proved fatal in a few hours.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

Three

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

From this reading Three sons of the reigning Carey had been capsized in a gale while out yachting.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

very

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

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

viaprepositionUS /ˈvaɪə/

by way of; passing through

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

Wellwood

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

From this reading The first letter signed "Deborah Dalzell" was addressed, strange to say, to Guthrie Carey--not to the commander of the SS APHRODITE, via his shipping office, but to Guthrie Carey, Esq., Wellwood Hall, Norfolk.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading Three sons of the reigning Carey had been capsized in a gale while out yachting.

wildest

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

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The reigning Carey, on hearing of the catastrophe, had been seized with a fit that proved fatal in a few hours.

yachting

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

From this reading Three sons of the reigning Carey had been capsized in a gale while out yachting.

years

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

From this reading One day, a few years earlier, he had been called from the sea--somewhere off the coast of South America--to take his place as a land-owner and land-dweller amongst the great squires of England; quite the very last thing he could have anticipated in his wildest dreams.