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The Brown Mouse
The Brown Mouse

Chapter X

Cover illustration for The Brown Mouse
Context Illustration Reading 1/21 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.
They weren't like the Woodruffs, at all.
They were of a different pattern.
To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.
They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.
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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 Brown Mouse

Chapter X

Reading 1/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.
Line 2
They weren't like the Woodruffs, at all.
Line 3
They were of a different pattern.
Line 4
To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.
Line 5
They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.

Learner Dictionary

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

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.”

Couple noun US /ˈkʌpəl/

two people or things considered together

From this reading “HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.”

Different noun US /ˈdifferent/

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

From this reading “They were of a different pattern.”

Length noun US /leŋθ/

a period of time or extent

From this reading “They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.”

Short adjective US /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading “To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.”

Sure noun US /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.”

Thinking noun US /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.”

All words in this reading · 70

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 HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.

all

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

From this reading They weren't like the Woodruffs, at all.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.

anticipate

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

From this reading They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.

arm

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

From this reading They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading They weren't like the Woodruffs, at all.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.

betrayed

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

From this reading They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.

bones

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

From this reading They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.

cheap

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

From this reading To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.

clothes

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

From this reading To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.

couplenounUS /ˈkʌpəl/

two people or things considered together

From this reading HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.

cuff

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

From this reading To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.

differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/

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

From this reading They were of a different pattern.

doubt

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

From this reading HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.

especially

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

From this reading To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.

frayed

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

From this reading To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.

HOW

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

From this reading HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.

ill-fitting

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

From this reading To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.

inability

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

From this reading They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.

instep

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

From this reading To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.

Irwin

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

From this reading They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.

Jennie

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

From this reading HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.

JIM

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

From this reading HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.

Jim's

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

From this reading To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.

joints

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

From this reading They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.

just

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

From this reading To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.

justified

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

From this reading HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.

lavished

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

From this reading They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.

leg

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

From this reading To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.

lengthnounUS /leŋθ/

a period of time or extent

From this reading They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.

like

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

From this reading They weren't like the Woodruffs, at all.

LINED

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

From this reading HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.

matter

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

From this reading They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.

Nature

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

From this reading They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.

New

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

From this reading They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.

noteworthy

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

From this reading To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading They were of a different pattern.

pattern

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

From this reading They were of a different pattern.

poverty

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

From this reading They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.

prodigality

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

From this reading They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.

queer

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

From this reading HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.

shiny

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

From this reading To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.

sleeve

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

From this reading To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.

surenounUS /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.

sweatshop

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

From this reading They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading They weren't like the Woodruffs, at all.

There

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

From this reading HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.

thinkingnounUS /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To be sure, Jim's clothes were not especially noteworthy, being just shiny, and frayed at cuff and instep, and short of sleeve and leg, and ill-fitting and cheap.

UP

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

From this reading HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.

WASauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.

wealth

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

From this reading They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.

weren't

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

From this reading They weren't like the Woodruffs, at all.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.

Woodruff

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

From this reading HOW JIM WAS LINED UP There is no doubt that Jennie Woodruff was justified in thinking that they were a queer couple.

Woodruffs

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

From this reading They weren't like the Woodruffs, at all.

York

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

From this reading They betrayed poverty, and the inability of a New York sweatshop to anticipate the prodigality of Nature in the matter of length of leg and arm, and wealth of bones and joints which she had lavished upon Jim Irwin.