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The Rainbow Bridge
The Rainbow Bridge

Chapter IX

Cover illustration for The Rainbow Bridge
Context Illustration Reading 1/25 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
AT THE RICH MAN'S TABLE TRUE to her word, Aunt Amelia carried Marian's breakfast to her room.
But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.
Uncle George, however, insisted that the One who was born on Christmas Day was a friend to sinners great and small.
Out of respect to His memory, Marian should have her breakfast.
Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.
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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 Rainbow Bridge

Chapter IX

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
AT THE RICH MAN'S TABLE TRUE to her word, Aunt Amelia carried Marian's breakfast to her room.
Line 2
But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.
Line 3
Uncle George, however, insisted that the One who was born on Christmas Day was a friend to sinners great and small.
Line 4
Out of respect to His memory, Marian should have her breakfast.
Line 5
Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.

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 “But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.”

Born noun US /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Uncle George, however, insisted that the One who was born on Christmas Day was a friend to sinners great and small.”

Duty noun US /ˈduːti/

a responsibility that must be carried out

From this reading “Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Uncle George, however, insisted that the One who was born on Christmas Day was a friend to sinners great and small.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

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

From this reading “Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “Uncle George, however, insisted that the One who was born on Christmas Day was a friend to sinners great and small.”

Insisted verb US /ɪnˈsɪstɪd/

demanded something firmly

From this reading “Uncle George, however, insisted that the One who was born on Christmas Day was a friend to sinners great and small.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.”

Memory noun US /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading “Out of respect to His memory, Marian should have her breakfast.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Uncle George, however, insisted that the One who was born on Christmas Day was a friend to sinners great and small.”

Outside noun US /ˈoutside/

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

From this reading “Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.”

Speak noun US /speak/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.”

All words in this reading · 76

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 Uncle George, however, insisted that the One who was born on Christmas Day was a friend to sinners great and small.

all

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

From this reading But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.

Amelia

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

From this reading AT THE RICH MAN'S TABLE TRUE to her word, Aunt Amelia carried Marian's breakfast to her room.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.

ATprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading AT THE RICH MAN'S TABLE TRUE to her word, Aunt Amelia carried Marian's breakfast to her room.

Aunt

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

From this reading AT THE RICH MAN'S TABLE TRUE to her word, Aunt Amelia carried Marian's breakfast to her room.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.

black

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

From this reading Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.

bornnounUS /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Uncle George, however, insisted that the One who was born on Christmas Day was a friend to sinners great and small.

bread

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

From this reading But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.

breakfast

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

From this reading AT THE RICH MAN'S TABLE TRUE to her word, Aunt Amelia carried Marian's breakfast to her room.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.

carried

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

From this reading AT THE RICH MAN'S TABLE TRUE to her word, Aunt Amelia carried Marian's breakfast to her room.

child

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

From this reading But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.

Christmas

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

From this reading Uncle George, however, insisted that the One who was born on Christmas Day was a friend to sinners great and small.

comfort

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

From this reading Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.

Day

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

From this reading Uncle George, however, insisted that the One who was born on Christmas Day was a friend to sinners great and small.

deserved

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

From this reading But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.

dutynounUS /ˈduːti/

a responsibility that must be carried out

From this reading Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.

fold

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

From this reading Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.

friend

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

From this reading Uncle George, however, insisted that the One who was born on Christmas Day was a friend to sinners great and small.

George

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

From this reading But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.

given

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

From this reading But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Uncle George, however, insisted that the One who was born on Christmas Day was a friend to sinners great and small.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading AT THE RICH MAN'S TABLE TRUE to her word, Aunt Amelia carried Marian's breakfast to her room.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

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

From this reading Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Uncle George, however, insisted that the One who was born on Christmas Day was a friend to sinners great and small.

impertinent

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

From this reading But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.

insistedverbUS /ɪnˈsɪstɪd/

demanded something firmly

From this reading Uncle George, however, insisted that the One who was born on Christmas Day was a friend to sinners great and small.

interference

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

From this reading But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.

Lala

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

From this reading Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.

MAN'S

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

From this reading AT THE RICH MAN'S TABLE TRUE to her word, Aunt Amelia carried Marian's breakfast to her room.

Marian

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

From this reading Out of respect to His memory, Marian should have her breakfast.

Marian's

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

From this reading AT THE RICH MAN'S TABLE TRUE to her word, Aunt Amelia carried Marian's breakfast to her room.

memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading Out of respect to His memory, Marian should have her breakfast.

niece

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

From this reading But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.

offered

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

From this reading Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Uncle George, however, insisted that the One who was born on Christmas Day was a friend to sinners great and small.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Uncle George, however, insisted that the One who was born on Christmas Day was a friend to sinners great and small.

Out

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

From this reading Out of respect to His memory, Marian should have her breakfast.

outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/

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

From this reading Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.

ready

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

From this reading Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.

respect

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

From this reading Out of respect to His memory, Marian should have her breakfast.

RICH

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

From this reading AT THE RICH MAN'S TABLE TRUE to her word, Aunt Amelia carried Marian's breakfast to her room.

room

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

From this reading AT THE RICH MAN'S TABLE TRUE to her word, Aunt Amelia carried Marian's breakfast to her room.

said

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

From this reading Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.

sheep

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

From this reading Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Out of respect to His memory, Marian should have her breakfast.

sinners

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

From this reading Uncle George, however, insisted that the One who was born on Christmas Day was a friend to sinners great and small.

small

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

From this reading Uncle George, however, insisted that the One who was born on Christmas Day was a friend to sinners great and small.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.

speak

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

From this reading Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.

TABLE

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

From this reading AT THE RICH MAN'S TABLE TRUE to her word, Aunt Amelia carried Marian's breakfast to her room.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Uncle George, however, insisted that the One who was born on Christmas Day was a friend to sinners great and small.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading AT THE RICH MAN'S TABLE TRUE to her word, Aunt Amelia carried Marian's breakfast to her room.

there

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

From this reading Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading AT THE RICH MAN'S TABLE TRUE to her word, Aunt Amelia carried Marian's breakfast to her room.

tray

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

From this reading Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.

TRUE

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

From this reading AT THE RICH MAN'S TABLE TRUE to her word, Aunt Amelia carried Marian's breakfast to her room.

Uncle

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

From this reading But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.

up-stairs

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

From this reading Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.

water

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

From this reading But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Lala offered to take the tray up-stairs when it was ready, but Aunt Amelia said it was her duty to take it herself: so there was no one to speak a word of comfort to the little black sheep outside the fold.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Uncle George, however, insisted that the One who was born on Christmas Day was a friend to sinners great and small.

word

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

From this reading AT THE RICH MAN'S TABLE TRUE to her word, Aunt Amelia carried Marian's breakfast to her room.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading But for the interference of Uncle George his little niece would have been given bread and water; it was all an impertinent child deserved.