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The Hidden Places
The Hidden Places

Chapter XV

Cover illustration for The Hidden Places
Context Illustration Reading 1/84 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.
She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.
And as if some definite mark had been turned, the winter season closed upon the valley in a gentle mood.
The driving rains of the fall gave way to January snows.
But the frost took no more than a tentative nibble now and then.
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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 Hidden Places

Chapter XV

Reading 1/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.
Line 2
She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.
Line 3
And as if some definite mark had been turned, the winter season closed upon the valley in a gentle mood.
Line 4
The driving rains of the fall gave way to January snows.
Line 5
But the frost took no more than a tentative nibble now and then.

Learner Dictionary

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

Although noun US /ˈalthough/

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

From this reading “When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “And as if some definite mark had been turned, the winter season closed upon the valley in a gentle mood.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.”

Help noun US /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But the frost took no more than a tentative nibble now and then.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “And as if some definite mark had been turned, the winter season closed upon the valley in a gentle mood.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.”

All words in this reading · 77

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 they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

althoughnounUS /ˈalthough/

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

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.

attend

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

From this reading She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.

baby

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

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

back

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

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading And as if some definite mark had been turned, the winter season closed upon the valley in a gentle mood.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the frost took no more than a tentative nibble now and then.

came

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

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

care

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

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

closed

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

From this reading And as if some definite mark had been turned, the winter season closed upon the valley in a gentle mood.

conviction

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

From this reading She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.

definite

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

From this reading And as if some definite mark had been turned, the winter season closed upon the valley in a gentle mood.

Doris

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

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

driving

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

From this reading The driving rains of the fall gave way to January snows.

fall

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

From this reading The driving rains of the fall gave way to January snows.

far

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

From this reading She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.

frost

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

From this reading But the frost took no more than a tentative nibble now and then.

gave

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

From this reading The driving rains of the fall gave way to January snows.

gentle

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

From this reading And as if some definite mark had been turned, the winter season closed upon the valley in a gentle mood.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading And as if some definite mark had been turned, the winter season closed upon the valley in a gentle mood.

held

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

From this reading She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.

helpnounUS /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.

Hollister

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

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

housework

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

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

humanity

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

From this reading She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading And as if some definite mark had been turned, the winter season closed upon the valley in a gentle mood.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

January

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

From this reading The driving rains of the fall gave way to January snows.

jealous

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

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

lusty-lunged

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

From this reading She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.

mark

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

From this reading And as if some definite mark had been turned, the winter season closed upon the valley in a gentle mood.

mood

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

From this reading And as if some definite mark had been turned, the winter season closed upon the valley in a gentle mood.

more

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

From this reading But the frost took no more than a tentative nibble now and then.

morsel

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

From this reading She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.

mother

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

From this reading She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.

needs

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

From this reading She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.

nibble

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

From this reading But the frost took no more than a tentative nibble now and then.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.

now

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

From this reading But the frost took no more than a tentative nibble now and then.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.

privilege

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

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

rains

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

From this reading The driving rains of the fall gave way to January snows.

red-faced

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

From this reading She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.

relieve

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

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

season

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

From this reading And as if some definite mark had been turned, the winter season closed upon the valley in a gentle mood.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.

small

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

From this reading She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.

snows

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

From this reading The driving rains of the fall gave way to January snows.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.

some

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

From this reading And as if some definite mark had been turned, the winter season closed upon the valley in a gentle mood.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

tentative

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

From this reading But the frost took no more than a tentative nibble now and then.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading But the frost took no more than a tentative nibble now and then.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

then

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

From this reading But the frost took no more than a tentative nibble now and then.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

Toba

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

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But the frost took no more than a tentative nibble now and then.

turned

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

From this reading And as if some definite mark had been turned, the winter season closed upon the valley in a gentle mood.

typical

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

From this reading She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading And as if some definite mark had been turned, the winter season closed upon the valley in a gentle mood.

valley

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

From this reading And as if some definite mark had been turned, the winter season closed upon the valley in a gentle mood.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

way

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

From this reading The driving rains of the fall gave way to January snows.

well

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

From this reading She was a typical mother in so far as she held the conviction that no one could attend so well as herself the needs of that small, red-faced, lusty-lunged morsel of humanity.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.

winter

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

From this reading And as if some definite mark had been turned, the winter season closed upon the valley in a gentle mood.

woman

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

From this reading When they came back to the Toba, Hollister brought in a woman to relieve Doris of housework and help her take care of the baby, although Doris was jealous of that privilege.