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The Gold Trail
The Gold Trail

Chapter XVI

Cover illustration for The Gold Trail
Context Illustration Reading 1/39 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.
There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.
Nobody seemed to know who first built Scarthwaite Hall, though many a dalesman had patched it afterward and pulled portions of it down.
It was one of the ancient houses, half farm and half stronghold, which may still be found in the north country.
They were, until a few decades ago, usually in possession of the Statesmen who worked their own land.
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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 Gold Trail

Chapter XVI

Reading 1/39 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.
Line 2
There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.
Line 3
Nobody seemed to know who first built Scarthwaite Hall, though many a dalesman had patched it afterward and pulled portions of it down.
Line 4
It was one of the ancient houses, half farm and half stronghold, which may still be found in the north country.
Line 5
They were, until a few decades ago, usually in possession of the Statesmen who worked their own land.

Learner Dictionary

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

Ancient adjective US /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading “It was one of the ancient houses, half farm and half stronghold, which may still be found in the north country.”

Descended noun US /ˈdescended/

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

From this reading “SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Nobody seemed to know who first built Scarthwaite Hall, though many a dalesman had patched it afterward and pulled portions of it down.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was one of the ancient houses, half farm and half stronghold, which may still be found in the north country.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was one of the ancient houses, half farm and half stronghold, which may still be found in the north country.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Nobody seemed to know who first built Scarthwaite Hall, though many a dalesman had patched it afterward and pulled portions of it down.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “It was one of the ancient houses, half farm and half stronghold, which may still be found in the north country.”

Nobody pronoun US /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/

no person; not anyone

From this reading “Nobody seemed to know who first built Scarthwaite Hall, though many a dalesman had patched it afterward and pulled portions of it down.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.”

Pulled noun US /pulled/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Nobody seemed to know who first built Scarthwaite Hall, though many a dalesman had patched it afterward and pulled portions of it down.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Nobody seemed to know who first built Scarthwaite Hall, though many a dalesman had patched it afterward and pulled portions of it down.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was one of the ancient houses, half farm and half stronghold, which may still be found in the north country.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “They were, until a few decades ago, usually in possession of the Statesmen who worked their own land.”

All words in this reading · 96

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 There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

afterward

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

From this reading Nobody seemed to know who first built Scarthwaite Hall, though many a dalesman had patched it afterward and pulled portions of it down.

ago

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading It was one of the ancient houses, half farm and half stronghold, which may still be found in the north country.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.

autumn

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

From this reading SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading It was one of the ancient houses, half farm and half stronghold, which may still be found in the north country.

bishop

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

built

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

From this reading Nobody seemed to know who first built Scarthwaite Hall, though many a dalesman had patched it afterward and pulled portions of it down.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

certain

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

country

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

From this reading It was one of the ancient houses, half farm and half stronghold, which may still be found in the north country.

dalesman

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

From this reading Nobody seemed to know who first built Scarthwaite Hall, though many a dalesman had patched it afterward and pulled portions of it down.

decades

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

From this reading They were, until a few decades ago, usually in possession of the Statesmen who worked their own land.

descendednounUS /ˈdescended/

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

From this reading SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.

down

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

From this reading Nobody seemed to know who first built Scarthwaite Hall, though many a dalesman had patched it afterward and pulled portions of it down.

England

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

From this reading SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.

evening

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

From this reading SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.

farm

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

From this reading It was one of the ancient houses, half farm and half stronghold, which may still be found in the north country.

favor

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

few

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

From this reading They were, until a few decades ago, usually in possession of the Statesmen who worked their own land.

firs

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Nobody seemed to know who first built Scarthwaite Hall, though many a dalesman had patched it afterward and pulled portions of it down.

forest

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was one of the ancient houses, half farm and half stronghold, which may still be found in the north country.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was one of the ancient houses, half farm and half stronghold, which may still be found in the north country.

Hall

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

From this reading SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.

held

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

hollows

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

houses

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

From this reading It was one of the ancient houses, half farm and half stronghold, which may still be found in the north country.

Ida

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

From this reading SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Nobody seemed to know who first built Scarthwaite Hall, though many a dalesman had patched it afterward and pulled portions of it down.

kingly

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Nobody seemed to know who first built Scarthwaite Hall, though many a dalesman had patched it afterward and pulled portions of it down.

land

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

From this reading They were, until a few decades ago, usually in possession of the Statesmen who worked their own land.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

many

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

From this reading Nobody seemed to know who first built Scarthwaite Hall, though many a dalesman had patched it afterward and pulled portions of it down.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading It was one of the ancient houses, half farm and half stronghold, which may still be found in the north country.

militant

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

moors

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

NobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/

no person; not anyone

From this reading Nobody seemed to know who first built Scarthwaite Hall, though many a dalesman had patched it afterward and pulled portions of it down.

north

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

From this reading It was one of the ancient houses, half farm and half stronghold, which may still be found in the north country.

now

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

oak

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

From this reading SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.

odd

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

own

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

From this reading They were, until a few decades ago, usually in possession of the Statesmen who worked their own land.

patched

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

From this reading Nobody seemed to know who first built Scarthwaite Hall, though many a dalesman had patched it afterward and pulled portions of it down.

portions

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

From this reading Nobody seemed to know who first built Scarthwaite Hall, though many a dalesman had patched it afterward and pulled portions of it down.

possession

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

From this reading They were, until a few decades ago, usually in possession of the Statesmen who worked their own land.

pullednounUS /pulled/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Nobody seemed to know who first built Scarthwaite Hall, though many a dalesman had patched it afterward and pulled portions of it down.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

Scarthwaite

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

From this reading SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.

SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST

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

From this reading SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.

seamed

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Nobody seemed to know who first built Scarthwaite Hall, though many a dalesman had patched it afterward and pulled portions of it down.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.

some

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

From this reading SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.

spent

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

From this reading SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.

staircase

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

From this reading SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.

Statesmen

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

From this reading They were, until a few decades ago, usually in possession of the Statesmen who worked their own land.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was one of the ancient houses, half farm and half stronghold, which may still be found in the north country.

Stirling

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

From this reading SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.

straggling

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

stronghold

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

From this reading It was one of the ancient houses, half farm and half stronghold, which may still be found in the north country.

surrounding

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They were, until a few decades ago, usually in possession of the Statesmen who worked their own land.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

There

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They were, until a few decades ago, usually in possession of the Statesmen who worked their own land.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Nobody seemed to know who first built Scarthwaite Hall, though many a dalesman had patched it afterward and pulled portions of it down.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading They were, until a few decades ago, usually in possession of the Statesmen who worked their own land.

up

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

usually

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

From this reading They were, until a few decades ago, usually in possession of the Statesmen who worked their own land.

venery

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

vicinity

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading They were, until a few decades ago, usually in possession of the Statesmen who worked their own land.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It was one of the ancient houses, half farm and half stronghold, which may still be found in the north country.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Nobody seemed to know who first built Scarthwaite Hall, though many a dalesman had patched it afterward and pulled portions of it down.

wide

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

From this reading SCARTHWAITE-IN-THE-FOREST Ida Stirling had spent some time in England when, one autumn evening, she descended the wide oak staircase of Scarthwaite Hall at Scarthwaite-in-the-Forest.

wisps

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.

worked

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

From this reading They were, until a few decades ago, usually in possession of the Statesmen who worked their own land.

wound

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

From this reading There was no forest in the vicinity, though long ago a certain militant bishop had held by kingly favor the right of venery over the surrounding moors, and now odd wisps of straggling firs wound up the hollows that seamed them here and there.