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The Gilded Age, Part 4.
The Gilded Age, Part 4.

Chapter III

Cover illustration for The Gilded Age, Part 4.
Context Illustration Reading 1/10 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!
Louise told Laura in confidence.
She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.
Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.
When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:
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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 Gilded Age, Part 4.

Chapter III

Reading 1/10 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!
Line 2
Louise told Laura in confidence.
Line 3
She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.
Line 4
Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.
Line 5
When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:

Learner Dictionary

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

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:”

Confidence noun US /ˈconfidence/

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

From this reading “Louise told Laura in confidence.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.”

Except preposition US /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading “She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!”

Poor noun US /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.”

Several noun US /ˈseveral/

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

From this reading “She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading “Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Louise told Laura in confidence.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.”

All words in this reading · 72

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 When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:

all

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

From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:

also

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

From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.

bosom

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

From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.

brightened

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

From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.

confidencenounUS /ˈconfidence/

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

From this reading Louise told Laura in confidence.

Dilworthy

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

From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!

encouragement

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

From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.

exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.

face

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

From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.

fell

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

From this reading When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:

fleeting

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

From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.

friends

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

From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!

going

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

From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!

government

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

From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!

grateful

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

From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!

heard

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

From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Louise told Laura in confidence.

instant

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

From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.

Land

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

From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!

Laura

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

From this reading Louise told Laura in confidence.

Laura's

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

From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.

like

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

From this reading When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.

Louise

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

From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!

more

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

From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!

news

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

From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.

Once

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

From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!

only

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

From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.

parents

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

From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.

people

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

From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.

poornounUS /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.

ray

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

From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.

sad

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

From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.

sell

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

From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!

Senator

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

From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!

several

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

From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.

simply

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

From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.

Tennessee

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

From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Louise told Laura in confidence.

too

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

From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.

train

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

From this reading When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:

true

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

From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!

Washington

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

From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.