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The Graftons: A Novel
The Graftons: A Novel

Chapter III

Cover illustration for The Graftons: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/46 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A QUESTION OF PATRONAGE Ella Carruthers lunched at Abington Abbey on that day.
The whole family were there except Young George, who was at school,--George Grafton, Caroline, Beatrix, Barbara, and Miss Waterhouse.
The old Rector of Surley had been ill almost ever since the Graftons had come to live at the Abbey, and they had hardly known him.
So the talk, as far as it concerned his death, was almost entirely devoted to the question of his successor.
The family took a keen interest in it.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Graftons: A Novel

Chapter III

Reading 1/46 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A QUESTION OF PATRONAGE Ella Carruthers lunched at Abington Abbey on that day.
Line 2
The whole family were there except Young George, who was at school,--George Grafton, Caroline, Beatrix, Barbara, and Miss Waterhouse.
Line 3
The old Rector of Surley had been ill almost ever since the Graftons had come to live at the Abbey, and they had hardly known him.
Line 4
So the talk, as far as it concerned his death, was almost entirely devoted to the question of his successor.
Line 5
The family took a keen interest in it.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “The old Rector of Surley had been ill almost ever since the Graftons had come to live at the Abbey, and they had hardly known him.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The old Rector of Surley had been ill almost ever since the Graftons had come to live at the Abbey, and they had hardly known him.”

Entirely noun US /ˈentirely/

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

From this reading “So the talk, as far as it concerned his death, was almost entirely devoted to the question of his successor.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The old Rector of Surley had been ill almost ever since the Graftons had come to live at the Abbey, and they had hardly known him.”

Except preposition US /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading “The whole family were there except Young George, who was at school,--George Grafton, Caroline, Beatrix, Barbara, and Miss Waterhouse.”

QUESTION noun US /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading “A QUESTION OF PATRONAGE Ella Carruthers lunched at Abington Abbey on that day.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “The old Rector of Surley had been ill almost ever since the Graftons had come to live at the Abbey, and they had hardly known him.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The family took a keen interest in it.”

All words in this reading · 63

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 A QUESTION OF PATRONAGE Ella Carruthers lunched at Abington Abbey on that day.

Abbey

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

From this reading A QUESTION OF PATRONAGE Ella Carruthers lunched at Abington Abbey on that day.

Abington

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

From this reading A QUESTION OF PATRONAGE Ella Carruthers lunched at Abington Abbey on that day.

almost

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

From this reading The old Rector of Surley had been ill almost ever since the Graftons had come to live at the Abbey, and they had hardly known him.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The whole family were there except Young George, who was at school,--George Grafton, Caroline, Beatrix, Barbara, and Miss Waterhouse.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading So the talk, as far as it concerned his death, was almost entirely devoted to the question of his successor.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A QUESTION OF PATRONAGE Ella Carruthers lunched at Abington Abbey on that day.

Barbara

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

From this reading The whole family were there except Young George, who was at school,--George Grafton, Caroline, Beatrix, Barbara, and Miss Waterhouse.

Beatrix

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

From this reading The whole family were there except Young George, who was at school,--George Grafton, Caroline, Beatrix, Barbara, and Miss Waterhouse.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The old Rector of Surley had been ill almost ever since the Graftons had come to live at the Abbey, and they had hardly known him.

Caroline

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

From this reading The whole family were there except Young George, who was at school,--George Grafton, Caroline, Beatrix, Barbara, and Miss Waterhouse.

Carruthers

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

From this reading A QUESTION OF PATRONAGE Ella Carruthers lunched at Abington Abbey on that day.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The old Rector of Surley had been ill almost ever since the Graftons had come to live at the Abbey, and they had hardly known him.

concerned

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

From this reading So the talk, as far as it concerned his death, was almost entirely devoted to the question of his successor.

day

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

From this reading A QUESTION OF PATRONAGE Ella Carruthers lunched at Abington Abbey on that day.

death

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

From this reading So the talk, as far as it concerned his death, was almost entirely devoted to the question of his successor.

devoted

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

From this reading So the talk, as far as it concerned his death, was almost entirely devoted to the question of his successor.

Ella

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

From this reading A QUESTION OF PATRONAGE Ella Carruthers lunched at Abington Abbey on that day.

entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/

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

From this reading So the talk, as far as it concerned his death, was almost entirely devoted to the question of his successor.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The old Rector of Surley had been ill almost ever since the Graftons had come to live at the Abbey, and they had hardly known him.

exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading The whole family were there except Young George, who was at school,--George Grafton, Caroline, Beatrix, Barbara, and Miss Waterhouse.

family

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

From this reading The whole family were there except Young George, who was at school,--George Grafton, Caroline, Beatrix, Barbara, and Miss Waterhouse.

far

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

From this reading So the talk, as far as it concerned his death, was almost entirely devoted to the question of his successor.

George

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

From this reading The whole family were there except Young George, who was at school,--George Grafton, Caroline, Beatrix, Barbara, and Miss Waterhouse.

Grafton

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

From this reading The whole family were there except Young George, who was at school,--George Grafton, Caroline, Beatrix, Barbara, and Miss Waterhouse.

Graftons

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

From this reading The old Rector of Surley had been ill almost ever since the Graftons had come to live at the Abbey, and they had hardly known him.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The old Rector of Surley had been ill almost ever since the Graftons had come to live at the Abbey, and they had hardly known him.

hardly

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

From this reading The old Rector of Surley had been ill almost ever since the Graftons had come to live at the Abbey, and they had hardly known him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The old Rector of Surley had been ill almost ever since the Graftons had come to live at the Abbey, and they had hardly known him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading So the talk, as far as it concerned his death, was almost entirely devoted to the question of his successor.

ill

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

From this reading The old Rector of Surley had been ill almost ever since the Graftons had come to live at the Abbey, and they had hardly known him.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The family took a keen interest in it.

interest

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

From this reading The family took a keen interest in it.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading So the talk, as far as it concerned his death, was almost entirely devoted to the question of his successor.

keen

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

From this reading The family took a keen interest in it.

known

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

From this reading The old Rector of Surley had been ill almost ever since the Graftons had come to live at the Abbey, and they had hardly known him.

live

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

From this reading The old Rector of Surley had been ill almost ever since the Graftons had come to live at the Abbey, and they had hardly known him.

lunched

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

From this reading A QUESTION OF PATRONAGE Ella Carruthers lunched at Abington Abbey on that day.

Miss

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

From this reading The whole family were there except Young George, who was at school,--George Grafton, Caroline, Beatrix, Barbara, and Miss Waterhouse.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A QUESTION OF PATRONAGE Ella Carruthers lunched at Abington Abbey on that day.

old

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

From this reading The old Rector of Surley had been ill almost ever since the Graftons had come to live at the Abbey, and they had hardly known him.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A QUESTION OF PATRONAGE Ella Carruthers lunched at Abington Abbey on that day.

PATRONAGE

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

From this reading A QUESTION OF PATRONAGE Ella Carruthers lunched at Abington Abbey on that day.

QUESTIONnounUS /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading A QUESTION OF PATRONAGE Ella Carruthers lunched at Abington Abbey on that day.

Rector

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

From this reading The old Rector of Surley had been ill almost ever since the Graftons had come to live at the Abbey, and they had hardly known him.

school

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

From this reading The whole family were there except Young George, who was at school,--George Grafton, Caroline, Beatrix, Barbara, and Miss Waterhouse.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading The old Rector of Surley had been ill almost ever since the Graftons had come to live at the Abbey, and they had hardly known him.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So the talk, as far as it concerned his death, was almost entirely devoted to the question of his successor.

successor

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

From this reading So the talk, as far as it concerned his death, was almost entirely devoted to the question of his successor.

Surley

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

From this reading The old Rector of Surley had been ill almost ever since the Graftons had come to live at the Abbey, and they had hardly known him.

talk

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

From this reading So the talk, as far as it concerned his death, was almost entirely devoted to the question of his successor.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A QUESTION OF PATRONAGE Ella Carruthers lunched at Abington Abbey on that day.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The whole family were there except Young George, who was at school,--George Grafton, Caroline, Beatrix, Barbara, and Miss Waterhouse.

there

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

From this reading The whole family were there except Young George, who was at school,--George Grafton, Caroline, Beatrix, Barbara, and Miss Waterhouse.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading The old Rector of Surley had been ill almost ever since the Graftons had come to live at the Abbey, and they had hardly known him.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The old Rector of Surley had been ill almost ever since the Graftons had come to live at the Abbey, and they had hardly known him.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The family took a keen interest in it.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The whole family were there except Young George, who was at school,--George Grafton, Caroline, Beatrix, Barbara, and Miss Waterhouse.

Waterhouse

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

From this reading The whole family were there except Young George, who was at school,--George Grafton, Caroline, Beatrix, Barbara, and Miss Waterhouse.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The whole family were there except Young George, who was at school,--George Grafton, Caroline, Beatrix, Barbara, and Miss Waterhouse.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The whole family were there except Young George, who was at school,--George Grafton, Caroline, Beatrix, Barbara, and Miss Waterhouse.

whole

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

From this reading The whole family were there except Young George, who was at school,--George Grafton, Caroline, Beatrix, Barbara, and Miss Waterhouse.

Young

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

From this reading The whole family were there except Young George, who was at school,--George Grafton, Caroline, Beatrix, Barbara, and Miss Waterhouse.