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The Broken Road
The Broken Road

Chapter VII

Cover illustration for The Broken Road
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.
At first it had seemed to him merely that her hearing was better than his.
The "nowadays," however, showed that it was her memory which had the advantage.
They were apparently old acquaintances; and Sir John belonged to an old-fashioned school which thought it discourtesy to forget even the least memorable of his acquaintances.
"You were not so easily persuaded to decorate a ball-room at Mussoorie," Mrs. Linforth continued.
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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.

The Broken Road

Chapter VII

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.
Line 2
At first it had seemed to him merely that her hearing was better than his.
Line 3
The "nowadays," however, showed that it was her memory which had the advantage.
Line 4
They were apparently old acquaintances; and Sir John belonged to an old-fashioned school which thought it discourtesy to forget even the least memorable of his acquaintances.
Line 5
"You were not so easily persuaded to decorate a ball-room at Mussoorie," Mrs. Linforth continued.

Learner Dictionary

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

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.”

Continued noun US /ˈcontinued/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “"You were not so easily persuaded to decorate a ball-room at Mussoorie," Mrs. Linforth continued.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They were apparently old acquaintances; and Sir John belonged to an old-fashioned school which thought it discourtesy to forget even the least memorable of his acquaintances.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At first it had seemed to him merely that her hearing was better than his.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “The "nowadays," however, showed that it was her memory which had the advantage.”

John noun US /john/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They were apparently old acquaintances; and Sir John belonged to an old-fashioned school which thought it discourtesy to forget even the least memorable of his acquaintances.”

Memory noun US /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading “The "nowadays," however, showed that it was her memory which had the advantage.”

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.”

Pleasant noun US /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At first it had seemed to him merely that her hearing was better than his.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They were apparently old acquaintances; and Sir John belonged to an old-fashioned school which thought it discourtesy to forget even the least memorable of his acquaintances.”

All words in this reading · 77

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 STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

acquaintances

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

From this reading They were apparently old acquaintances; and Sir John belonged to an old-fashioned school which thought it discourtesy to forget even the least memorable of his acquaintances.

advantage

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

From this reading The "nowadays," however, showed that it was her memory which had the advantage.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading They were apparently old acquaintances; and Sir John belonged to an old-fashioned school which thought it discourtesy to forget even the least memorable of his acquaintances.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

apparently

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

From this reading They were apparently old acquaintances; and Sir John belonged to an old-fashioned school which thought it discourtesy to forget even the least memorable of his acquaintances.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At first it had seemed to him merely that her hearing was better than his.

back

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

ball-room

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

belonged

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

From this reading They were apparently old acquaintances; and Sir John belonged to an old-fashioned school which thought it discourtesy to forget even the least memorable of his acquaintances.

better

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

From this reading At first it had seemed to him merely that her hearing was better than his.

brains

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

Casson

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading "You were not so easily persuaded to decorate a ball-room at Mussoorie," Mrs. Linforth continued.

decorate

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

From this reading "You were not so easily persuaded to decorate a ball-room at Mussoorie," Mrs. Linforth continued.

discourtesy

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

From this reading They were apparently old acquaintances; and Sir John belonged to an old-fashioned school which thought it discourtesy to forget even the least memorable of his acquaintances.

easily

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

From this reading "You were not so easily persuaded to decorate a ball-room at Mussoorie," Mrs. Linforth continued.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They were apparently old acquaintances; and Sir John belonged to an old-fashioned school which thought it discourtesy to forget even the least memorable of his acquaintances.

face

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At first it had seemed to him merely that her hearing was better than his.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

forget

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

From this reading They were apparently old acquaintances; and Sir John belonged to an old-fashioned school which thought it discourtesy to forget even the least memorable of his acquaintances.

go

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

hearing

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

From this reading At first it had seemed to him merely that her hearing was better than his.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading At first it had seemed to him merely that her hearing was better than his.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading At first it had seemed to him merely that her hearing was better than his.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading The "nowadays," however, showed that it was her memory which had the advantage.

introduced

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading At first it had seemed to him merely that her hearing was better than his.

John

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

just

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

lady

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

leaning

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They were apparently old acquaintances; and Sir John belonged to an old-fashioned school which thought it discourtesy to forget even the least memorable of his acquaintances.

Linforth

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

memorable

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

From this reading They were apparently old acquaintances; and Sir John belonged to an old-fashioned school which thought it discourtesy to forget even the least memorable of his acquaintances.

memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading The "nowadays," however, showed that it was her memory which had the advantage.

merely

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

From this reading At first it had seemed to him merely that her hearing was better than his.

Mrs

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

Mussoorie

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

From this reading "You were not so easily persuaded to decorate a ball-room at Mussoorie," Mrs. Linforth continued.

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "You were not so easily persuaded to decorate a ball-room at Mussoorie," Mrs. Linforth continued.

nowadays

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

old

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

From this reading They were apparently old acquaintances; and Sir John belonged to an old-fashioned school which thought it discourtesy to forget even the least memorable of his acquaintances.

old-fashioned

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

From this reading They were apparently old acquaintances; and Sir John belonged to an old-fashioned school which thought it discourtesy to forget even the least memorable of his acquaintances.

parties

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

PEARLS

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

persuaded

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

From this reading "You were not so easily persuaded to decorate a ball-room at Mussoorie," Mrs. Linforth continued.

pleasantnounUS /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

puzzled

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

said

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

school

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

From this reading They were apparently old acquaintances; and Sir John belonged to an old-fashioned school which thought it discourtesy to forget even the least memorable of his acquaintances.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At first it had seemed to him merely that her hearing was better than his.

showed

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

From this reading The "nowadays," however, showed that it was her memory which had the advantage.

Sir

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

STRING

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading At first it had seemed to him merely that her hearing was better than his.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading At first it had seemed to him merely that her hearing was better than his.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They were apparently old acquaintances; and Sir John belonged to an old-fashioned school which thought it discourtesy to forget even the least memorable of his acquaintances.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They were apparently old acquaintances; and Sir John belonged to an old-fashioned school which thought it discourtesy to forget even the least memorable of his acquaintances.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

wall

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading At first it had seemed to him merely that her hearing was better than his.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading They were apparently old acquaintances; and Sir John belonged to an old-fashioned school which thought it discourtesy to forget even the least memorable of his acquaintances.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The "nowadays," however, showed that it was her memory which had the advantage.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

winning

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

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading A STRING OF PEARLS "So you go to parties nowadays," said Mrs. Linforth, and Sir John Casson, leaning his back against the wall of the ball-room, puzzled his brains for the name of the lady with the pleasant winning face to whom he had just been introduced.