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The Golden Lion of Granpere
The Golden Lion of Granpere

Chapter X

Cover illustration for The Golden Lion of Granpere
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.
In this manner were the first assured tidings of the coming marriage conveyed to the rival lover.
This occurred a day or two after the betrothal, when Adrian was back at Basle.
No one at Granpere had thought of writing an express letter to George on the subject.
George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.
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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 Golden Lion of Granpere

Chapter X

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.
Line 2
In this manner were the first assured tidings of the coming marriage conveyed to the rival lover.
Line 3
This occurred a day or two after the betrothal, when Adrian was back at Basle.
Line 4
No one at Granpere had thought of writing an express letter to George on the subject.
Line 5
George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “This occurred a day or two after the betrothal, when Adrian was back at Basle.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.”

Express verb US /ɪkˈspres/

to show or communicate a feeling or idea

From this reading “No one at Granpere had thought of writing an express letter to George on the subject.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In this manner were the first assured tidings of the coming marriage conveyed to the rival lover.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.”

Short adjective US /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading “George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “No one at Granpere had thought of writing an express letter to George on the subject.”

All words in this reading · 83

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 This occurred a day or two after the betrothal, when Adrian was back at Basle.

Adrian

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

From this reading 'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading This occurred a day or two after the betrothal, when Adrian was back at Basle.

always

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

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading No one at Granpere had thought of writing an express letter to George on the subject.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

assured

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

From this reading In this manner were the first assured tidings of the coming marriage conveyed to the rival lover.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading 'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.

back

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

From this reading This occurred a day or two after the betrothal, when Adrian was back at Basle.

Basle

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

From this reading 'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading 'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

betrothal

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

From this reading This occurred a day or two after the betrothal, when Adrian was back at Basle.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

coming

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

From this reading In this manner were the first assured tidings of the coming marriage conveyed to the rival lover.

concerning

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

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

confined

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

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

conveyed

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

From this reading In this manner were the first assured tidings of the coming marriage conveyed to the rival lover.

correspondence

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

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

cousin

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

From this reading 'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.

customary

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

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

day

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

From this reading This occurred a day or two after the betrothal, when Adrian was back at Basle.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

expressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/

to show or communicate a feeling or idea

From this reading No one at Granpere had thought of writing an express letter to George on the subject.

Faragon

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

From this reading 'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.

father

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

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In this manner were the first assured tidings of the coming marriage conveyed to the rival lover.

George

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

From this reading 'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.

George's

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

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

Granpere

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

From this reading No one at Granpere had thought of writing an express letter to George on the subject.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading No one at Granpere had thought of writing an express letter to George on the subject.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In this manner were the first assured tidings of the coming marriage conveyed to the rival lover.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading 'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.

letter

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

From this reading No one at Granpere had thought of writing an express letter to George on the subject.

letters

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

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

linen-merchant

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

From this reading 'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.

lover

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

From this reading In this manner were the first assured tidings of the coming marriage conveyed to the rival lover.

Madame

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

From this reading 'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.

manner

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

From this reading In this manner were the first assured tidings of the coming marriage conveyed to the rival lover.

Marie

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

From this reading 'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.

marriage

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

From this reading In this manner were the first assured tidings of the coming marriage conveyed to the rival lover.

married

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

From this reading 'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.

matters

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

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading 'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No one at Granpere had thought of writing an express letter to George on the subject.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

numerous

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

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

occurred

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

From this reading This occurred a day or two after the betrothal, when Adrian was back at Basle.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In this manner were the first assured tidings of the coming marriage conveyed to the rival lover.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading No one at Granpere had thought of writing an express letter to George on the subject.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading 'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading This occurred a day or two after the betrothal, when Adrian was back at Basle.

rival

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

From this reading In this manner were the first assured tidings of the coming marriage conveyed to the rival lover.

said

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

From this reading 'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading 'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.

subject

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

From this reading No one at Granpere had thought of writing an express letter to George on the subject.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading 'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading In this manner were the first assured tidings of the coming marriage conveyed to the rival lover.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading No one at Granpere had thought of writing an express letter to George on the subject.

tidings

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

From this reading In this manner were the first assured tidings of the coming marriage conveyed to the rival lover.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading 'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.

trade

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

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

two

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

From this reading This occurred a day or two after the betrothal, when Adrian was back at Basle.

Urmand

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

From this reading 'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.

Voss

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

From this reading 'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading This occurred a day or two after the betrothal, when Adrian was back at Basle.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading In this manner were the first assured tidings of the coming marriage conveyed to the rival lover.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading This occurred a day or two after the betrothal, when Adrian was back at Basle.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

write

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

From this reading George's father might have done so, had the writing of letters been a customary thing with him; but his correspondence was not numerous, and such letters as he did write were short, and always confined to matters concerning his trade.

writing

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

From this reading No one at Granpere had thought of writing an express letter to George on the subject.

young

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

From this reading 'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading 'So your cousin Marie is to be married to Adrian Urmand, the young linen-merchant at Basle,' said Madame Faragon one morning to George Voss.