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The old Worcester jug
The old Worcester jug

Chapter VII

Cover illustration for The old Worcester jug
Context Illustration Reading 1/36 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Christmas Day.
JOHN GRIFFIN sat long alone, waiting for his wife to return.
He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.
It was but a few steps to Mrs. Cook's lodgings, what could be keeping her so long?
But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.
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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 old Worcester jug

Chapter VII

Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Christmas Day.
Line 2
JOHN GRIFFIN sat long alone, waiting for his wife to return.
Line 3
He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.
Line 4
It was but a few steps to Mrs. Cook's lodgings, what could be keeping her so long?
Line 5
But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.

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 “He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.”

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “JOHN GRIFFIN sat long alone, waiting for his wife to return.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.”

Bundle noun US /ˈbʌndəl/

a group of things tied or wrapped together

From this reading “But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “It was but a few steps to Mrs. Cook's lodgings, what could be keeping her so long?”

JOHN noun US /john/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “JOHN GRIFFIN sat long alone, waiting for his wife to return.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “JOHN GRIFFIN sat long alone, waiting for his wife to return.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.”

Waiting noun US /ˈwaiting/

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

From this reading “JOHN GRIFFIN sat long alone, waiting for his wife to return.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.”

All words in this reading · 65

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 It was but a few steps to Mrs. Cook's lodgings, what could be keeping her so long?

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading JOHN GRIFFIN sat long alone, waiting for his wife to return.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.

appeared

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

From this reading But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.

arms

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

From this reading But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading It was but a few steps to Mrs. Cook's lodgings, what could be keeping her so long?

bearing

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

From this reading But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.

bundlenounUS /ˈbʌndəl/

a group of things tied or wrapped together

From this reading But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It was but a few steps to Mrs. Cook's lodgings, what could be keeping her so long?

Christmas

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

From this reading Christmas Day.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.

Cook's

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

From this reading It was but a few steps to Mrs. Cook's lodgings, what could be keeping her so long?

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading It was but a few steps to Mrs. Cook's lodgings, what could be keeping her so long?

Day

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

From this reading Christmas Day.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.

door

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

From this reading But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.

entered

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

From this reading But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.

few

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

From this reading It was but a few steps to Mrs. Cook's lodgings, what could be keeping her so long?

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading JOHN GRIFFIN sat long alone, waiting for his wife to return.

grew

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

From this reading He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.

GRIFFIN

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

From this reading JOHN GRIFFIN sat long alone, waiting for his wife to return.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.

heard

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

From this reading But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading It was but a few steps to Mrs. Cook's lodgings, what could be keeping her so long?

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading JOHN GRIFFIN sat long alone, waiting for his wife to return.

hour

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

From this reading He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.

house

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

From this reading But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was but a few steps to Mrs. Cook's lodgings, what could be keeping her so long?

JOHN

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

From this reading JOHN GRIFFIN sat long alone, waiting for his wife to return.

keeping

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

From this reading It was but a few steps to Mrs. Cook's lodgings, what could be keeping her so long?

large

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

From this reading But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.

lodgings

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

From this reading It was but a few steps to Mrs. Cook's lodgings, what could be keeping her so long?

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading JOHN GRIFFIN sat long alone, waiting for his wife to return.

moments

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

From this reading But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.

Mrs

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

From this reading It was but a few steps to Mrs. Cook's lodgings, what could be keeping her so long?

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.

quarter

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

From this reading He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.

return

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

From this reading JOHN GRIFFIN sat long alone, waiting for his wife to return.

sat

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

From this reading JOHN GRIFFIN sat long alone, waiting for his wife to return.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It was but a few steps to Mrs. Cook's lodgings, what could be keeping her so long?

sound

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

From this reading But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.

steps

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

From this reading It was but a few steps to Mrs. Cook's lodgings, what could be keeping her so long?

stopping

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

From this reading But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading JOHN GRIFFIN sat long alone, waiting for his wife to return.

triumphantly

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

From this reading But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.

uneasy

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

From this reading He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.

vehicle

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

From this reading But at last he heard the sound of a vehicle stopping before the door of his house, and in a few moments his wife entered, bearing triumphantly in her arms what appeared to be a large bundle.

waiting

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

From this reading JOHN GRIFFIN sat long alone, waiting for his wife to return.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was but a few steps to Mrs. Cook's lodgings, what could be keeping her so long?

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading It was but a few steps to Mrs. Cook's lodgings, what could be keeping her so long?

wife

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

From this reading JOHN GRIFFIN sat long alone, waiting for his wife to return.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading He grew uneasy as one quarter of an hour after another passed, and yet she did not come.