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The Gates Ajar
The Gates Ajar

Chapter II

Cover illustration for The Gates Ajar
Context Illustration Reading 1/92 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”
“Yes,” she said, laughing, “there is nothing _spirituelle_ about Faith.
But she means just that to me.
I could not call her anything else.
Her father gave her the name.”
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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 Gates Ajar

Chapter II

Reading 1/92 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”
Line 2
“Yes,” she said, laughing, “there is nothing _spirituelle_ about Faith.
Line 3
But she means just that to me.
Line 4
I could not call her anything else.
Line 5
Her father gave her the name.”

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading ““Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!””

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading ““Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!””

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “I could not call her anything else.”

Appetite noun US /ˈæpətaɪt/

a desire for food

From this reading ““Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!””

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “I could not call her anything else.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!””

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Her father gave her the name.””

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading ““Yes,” she said, laughing, “there is nothing _spirituelle_ about Faith.”

Parlor noun US /ˈpɑːrlər/

an old-fashioned sitting room

From this reading ““Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!””

Yours pronoun US /jʊrz/

the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to

From this reading ““Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!””

All words in this reading · 61

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

all

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading I could not call her anything else.

appetitenounUS /ˈæpətaɪt/

a desire for food

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

bairn

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

bed

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But she means just that to me.

call

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

From this reading I could not call her anything else.

came

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

catalogue

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

cheeks

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading I could not call her anything else.

down

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

else

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

From this reading I could not call her anything else.

Faith

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

father

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

From this reading Her father gave her the name.”

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

gave

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

From this reading Her father gave her the name.”

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

inappropriate

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “Yes,” she said, laughing, “there is nothing _spirituelle_ about Faith.

just

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

From this reading But she means just that to me.

laughing

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

From this reading “Yes,” she said, laughing, “there is nothing _spirituelle_ about Faith.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading But she means just that to me.

means

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

From this reading But she means just that to me.

most

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

mother

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Her father gave her the name.”

names

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I could not call her anything else.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “Yes,” she said, laughing, “there is nothing _spirituelle_ about Faith.

OfprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/

an old-fashioned sitting room

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

pretty

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

putting

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

red

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

said

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

seems

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

solid-bodied

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

spirituelle

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

From this reading “Yes,” she said, laughing, “there is nothing _spirituelle_ about Faith.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

supper

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But she means just that to me.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

there

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

From this reading “Yes,” she said, laughing, “there is nothing _spirituelle_ about Faith.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

twinkling

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

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”

Yes

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

From this reading “Yes,” she said, laughing, “there is nothing _spirituelle_ about Faith.

yourspronounUS /jʊrz/

the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to

From this reading “Of all names in the catalogue,” I said to her mother, when she came down into the parlor after putting her to bed, “Faith seems to be about the _most_ inappropriate for this solid-bodied, twinkling little bairn of yours, with her pretty red cheeks, and such an appetite for supper!”