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St. George and St. Michael
St. George and St. Michael

Chapter XVII

Cover illustration for St. George and St. Michael
Context Illustration Reading 1/37 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE WITCH'S COTTAGE.
Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.
On her head she wore a widow's cap, with large crown, thick frill, and black ribbon encircling it between them.
She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.
The cottage was clean and tidy.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

St. George and St. Michael

Chapter XVII

Reading 1/37 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE WITCH'S COTTAGE.
Line 2
Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.
Line 3
On her head she wore a widow's cap, with large crown, thick frill, and black ribbon encircling it between them.
Line 4
She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.
Line 5
The cottage was clean and tidy.

Learner Dictionary

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

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.”

Beneath preposition US /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading “She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.”

Beside preposition US /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading “She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “On her head she wore a widow's cap, with large crown, thick frill, and black ribbon encircling it between them.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.”

All words in this reading · 71

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 On her head she wore a widow's cap, with large crown, thick frill, and black ribbon encircling it between them.

all

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

From this reading Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.

almost

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

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading On her head she wore a widow's cap, with large crown, thick frill, and black ribbon encircling it between them.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading On her head she wore a widow's cap, with large crown, thick frill, and black ribbon encircling it between them.

black

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

From this reading On her head she wore a widow's cap, with large crown, thick frill, and black ribbon encircling it between them.

burning

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

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.

cap

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

From this reading On her head she wore a widow's cap, with large crown, thick frill, and black ribbon encircling it between them.

chair

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

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

clean

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

From this reading The cottage was clean and tidy.

cooking

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

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

COTTAGE

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

From this reading THE WITCH'S COTTAGE.

crown

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

From this reading On her head she wore a widow's cap, with large crown, thick frill, and black ribbon encircling it between them.

described

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

From this reading Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.

dress

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

From this reading Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.

encircling

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

From this reading On her head she wore a widow's cap, with large crown, thick frill, and black ribbon encircling it between them.

fire

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

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

frill

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

From this reading On her head she wore a widow's cap, with large crown, thick frill, and black ribbon encircling it between them.

griddle

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

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

hat

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

From this reading Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.

head

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

From this reading On her head she wore a widow's cap, with large crown, thick frill, and black ribbon encircling it between them.

hearth

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

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading On her head she wore a widow's cap, with large crown, thick frill, and black ribbon encircling it between them.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading On her head she wore a widow's cap, with large crown, thick frill, and black ribbon encircling it between them.

kindness

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

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

large

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

From this reading On her head she wore a widow's cap, with large crown, thick frill, and black ribbon encircling it between them.

led

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

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

met

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

From this reading Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.

mistress

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

From this reading Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.

nurse

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

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

oat-cake

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

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

old

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

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

old-fashioned

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

From this reading Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

peat

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

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

rather

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

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

Rees

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

From this reading Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.

ribbon

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

From this reading On her head she wore a widow's cap, with large crown, thick frill, and black ribbon encircling it between them.

Richard

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

From this reading Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.

room

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

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading On her head she wore a widow's cap, with large crown, thick frill, and black ribbon encircling it between them.

smouldering

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

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE WITCH'S COTTAGE.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading On her head she wore a widow's cap, with large crown, thick frill, and black ribbon encircling it between them.

thick

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

From this reading On her head she wore a widow's cap, with large crown, thick frill, and black ribbon encircling it between them.

threshold

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

From this reading Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.

tidy

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

From this reading The cottage was clean and tidy.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.

way

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

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

welcomed

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

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading She welcomed him with the kindness almost of an old nurse, and led the way to the one chair in the room--beside the hearth, where a fire of peat was smouldering rather than burning beneath the griddle, on which she was cooking oat-cake.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Richard was met on the threshold by mistress Rees, in the same old-fashioned dress, all but the hat, which I have already described.

widow's

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

From this reading On her head she wore a widow's cap, with large crown, thick frill, and black ribbon encircling it between them.

WITCH'S

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

From this reading THE WITCH'S COTTAGE.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading On her head she wore a widow's cap, with large crown, thick frill, and black ribbon encircling it between them.

wore

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

From this reading On her head she wore a widow's cap, with large crown, thick frill, and black ribbon encircling it between them.