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The Evil Shepherd
The Evil Shepherd

Chapter X

Cover illustration for The Evil Shepherd
Context Illustration Reading 1/21 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Miss Daisy Hyslop received Francis that afternoon, in the sitting-room of her little suite at the Milan.
Her welcoming smile was plaintive and a little subdued, her manner undeniably gracious.
She was dressed in black, a wonderful background for her really gorgeous hair, and her deportment indicated a recent loss.
“How nice of you to come and see me,” she murmured, with a lingering touch of the fingers.
“Do take that easy-chair, please, and sit down and talk to me.
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Speed 0.75x
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 Evil Shepherd

Chapter X

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

Line 1
Miss Daisy Hyslop received Francis that afternoon, in the sitting-room of her little suite at the Milan.
Line 2
Her welcoming smile was plaintive and a little subdued, her manner undeniably gracious.
Line 3
She was dressed in black, a wonderful background for her really gorgeous hair, and her deportment indicated a recent loss.
Line 4
“How nice of you to come and see me,” she murmured, with a lingering touch of the fingers.
Line 5
“Do take that easy-chair, please, and sit down and talk to me.

Learner Dictionary

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

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading “Miss Daisy Hyslop received Francis that afternoon, in the sitting-room of her little suite at the Milan.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““How nice of you to come and see me,” she murmured, with a lingering touch of the fingers.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Miss Daisy Hyslop received Francis that afternoon, in the sitting-room of her little suite at the Milan.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Do take that easy-chair, please, and sit down and talk to me.”

Wonderful noun US /ˈwonderful/

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

From this reading “She was dressed in black, a wonderful background for her really gorgeous hair, and her deportment indicated a recent loss.”

All words in this reading · 58

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 Her welcoming smile was plaintive and a little subdued, her manner undeniably gracious.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading Miss Daisy Hyslop received Francis that afternoon, in the sitting-room of her little suite at the Milan.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Her welcoming smile was plaintive and a little subdued, her manner undeniably gracious.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Miss Daisy Hyslop received Francis that afternoon, in the sitting-room of her little suite at the Milan.

background

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

From this reading She was dressed in black, a wonderful background for her really gorgeous hair, and her deportment indicated a recent loss.

black

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

From this reading She was dressed in black, a wonderful background for her really gorgeous hair, and her deportment indicated a recent loss.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “How nice of you to come and see me,” she murmured, with a lingering touch of the fingers.

Daisy

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

From this reading Miss Daisy Hyslop received Francis that afternoon, in the sitting-room of her little suite at the Milan.

deportment

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

From this reading She was dressed in black, a wonderful background for her really gorgeous hair, and her deportment indicated a recent loss.

Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading “Do take that easy-chair, please, and sit down and talk to me.

down

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

From this reading “Do take that easy-chair, please, and sit down and talk to me.

dressed

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

From this reading She was dressed in black, a wonderful background for her really gorgeous hair, and her deportment indicated a recent loss.

easy-chair

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

From this reading “Do take that easy-chair, please, and sit down and talk to me.

fingers

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

From this reading “How nice of you to come and see me,” she murmured, with a lingering touch of the fingers.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She was dressed in black, a wonderful background for her really gorgeous hair, and her deportment indicated a recent loss.

Francis

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

From this reading Miss Daisy Hyslop received Francis that afternoon, in the sitting-room of her little suite at the Milan.

gorgeous

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

From this reading She was dressed in black, a wonderful background for her really gorgeous hair, and her deportment indicated a recent loss.

gracious

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

From this reading Her welcoming smile was plaintive and a little subdued, her manner undeniably gracious.

hair

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

From this reading She was dressed in black, a wonderful background for her really gorgeous hair, and her deportment indicated a recent loss.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Miss Daisy Hyslop received Francis that afternoon, in the sitting-room of her little suite at the Milan.

How

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

From this reading “How nice of you to come and see me,” she murmured, with a lingering touch of the fingers.

Hyslop

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

From this reading Miss Daisy Hyslop received Francis that afternoon, in the sitting-room of her little suite at the Milan.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Miss Daisy Hyslop received Francis that afternoon, in the sitting-room of her little suite at the Milan.

indicated

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

From this reading She was dressed in black, a wonderful background for her really gorgeous hair, and her deportment indicated a recent loss.

lingering

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

From this reading “How nice of you to come and see me,” she murmured, with a lingering touch of the fingers.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Miss Daisy Hyslop received Francis that afternoon, in the sitting-room of her little suite at the Milan.

loss

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

From this reading She was dressed in black, a wonderful background for her really gorgeous hair, and her deportment indicated a recent loss.

manner

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

From this reading Her welcoming smile was plaintive and a little subdued, her manner undeniably gracious.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “How nice of you to come and see me,” she murmured, with a lingering touch of the fingers.

Milan

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

From this reading Miss Daisy Hyslop received Francis that afternoon, in the sitting-room of her little suite at the Milan.

Miss

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

From this reading Miss Daisy Hyslop received Francis that afternoon, in the sitting-room of her little suite at the Milan.

murmured

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

From this reading “How nice of you to come and see me,” she murmured, with a lingering touch of the fingers.

nice

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

From this reading “How nice of you to come and see me,” she murmured, with a lingering touch of the fingers.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Miss Daisy Hyslop received Francis that afternoon, in the sitting-room of her little suite at the Milan.

plaintive

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

From this reading Her welcoming smile was plaintive and a little subdued, her manner undeniably gracious.

please

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

From this reading “Do take that easy-chair, please, and sit down and talk to me.

really

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

From this reading She was dressed in black, a wonderful background for her really gorgeous hair, and her deportment indicated a recent loss.

received

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

From this reading Miss Daisy Hyslop received Francis that afternoon, in the sitting-room of her little suite at the Milan.

recent

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

From this reading She was dressed in black, a wonderful background for her really gorgeous hair, and her deportment indicated a recent loss.

see

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

From this reading “How nice of you to come and see me,” she murmured, with a lingering touch of the fingers.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She was dressed in black, a wonderful background for her really gorgeous hair, and her deportment indicated a recent loss.

sit

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

From this reading “Do take that easy-chair, please, and sit down and talk to me.

sitting-room

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

From this reading Miss Daisy Hyslop received Francis that afternoon, in the sitting-room of her little suite at the Milan.

smile

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

From this reading Her welcoming smile was plaintive and a little subdued, her manner undeniably gracious.

subdued

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

From this reading Her welcoming smile was plaintive and a little subdued, her manner undeniably gracious.

suite

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

From this reading Miss Daisy Hyslop received Francis that afternoon, in the sitting-room of her little suite at the Milan.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Do take that easy-chair, please, and sit down and talk to me.

talk

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

From this reading “Do take that easy-chair, please, and sit down and talk to me.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Miss Daisy Hyslop received Francis that afternoon, in the sitting-room of her little suite at the Milan.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Miss Daisy Hyslop received Francis that afternoon, in the sitting-room of her little suite at the Milan.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “How nice of you to come and see me,” she murmured, with a lingering touch of the fingers.

touch

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

From this reading “How nice of you to come and see me,” she murmured, with a lingering touch of the fingers.

undeniably

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

From this reading Her welcoming smile was plaintive and a little subdued, her manner undeniably gracious.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Her welcoming smile was plaintive and a little subdued, her manner undeniably gracious.

welcoming

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

From this reading Her welcoming smile was plaintive and a little subdued, her manner undeniably gracious.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading “How nice of you to come and see me,” she murmured, with a lingering touch of the fingers.

wonderfulnounUS /ˈwonderful/

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

From this reading She was dressed in black, a wonderful background for her really gorgeous hair, and her deportment indicated a recent loss.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “How nice of you to come and see me,” she murmured, with a lingering touch of the fingers.