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The skeleton key
The skeleton key

Chapter VIII · An Entr’acte

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Context Illustration Reading 1/25 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.
The very gaiters on his stout calves, spruce and workmanlike, would have precluded any such idea.
His master, Sir Francis Orsden--the son of one of whose gamekeepers he was--would never, though a young man of imagination himself, have guessed in Jake a kindred spirit.
Yet, when Sir Francis played on the organ in the little church at Leighway, and Jake blew for him, it was odds which of the two brought the more inspiration to his task.
Sir Francis would practise there occasionally, and bring the boy with him, because Jake was dogged and strong of muscle, and not easily tired.
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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 skeleton key

Chapter VIII · An Entr’acte

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

Line 1
Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.
Line 2
The very gaiters on his stout calves, spruce and workmanlike, would have precluded any such idea.
Line 3
His master, Sir Francis Orsden--the son of one of whose gamekeepers he was--would never, though a young man of imagination himself, have guessed in Jake a kindred spirit.
Line 4
Yet, when Sir Francis played on the organ in the little church at Leighway, and Jake blew for him, it was odds which of the two brought the more inspiration to his task.
Line 5
Sir Francis would practise there occasionally, and bring the boy with him, because Jake was dogged and strong of muscle, and not easily tired.

Learner Dictionary

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

Because conjunction US /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading “Sir Francis would practise there occasionally, and bring the boy with him, because Jake was dogged and strong of muscle, and not easily tired.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “Yet, when Sir Francis played on the organ in the little church at Leighway, and Jake blew for him, it was odds which of the two brought the more inspiration to his task.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “His master, Sir Francis Orsden--the son of one of whose gamekeepers he was--would never, though a young man of imagination himself, have guessed in Jake a kindred spirit.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Yet, when Sir Francis played on the organ in the little church at Leighway, and Jake blew for him, it was odds which of the two brought the more inspiration to his task.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “His master, Sir Francis Orsden--the son of one of whose gamekeepers he was--would never, though a young man of imagination himself, have guessed in Jake a kindred spirit.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Yet, when Sir Francis played on the organ in the little church at Leighway, and Jake blew for him, it was odds which of the two brought the more inspiration to his task.”

All words in this reading · 80

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 Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

any

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

From this reading The very gaiters on his stout calves, spruce and workmanlike, would have precluded any such idea.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading Sir Francis would practise there occasionally, and bring the boy with him, because Jake was dogged and strong of muscle, and not easily tired.

blew

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

From this reading Yet, when Sir Francis played on the organ in the little church at Leighway, and Jake blew for him, it was odds which of the two brought the more inspiration to his task.

boy

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

From this reading Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

bring

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

From this reading Sir Francis would practise there occasionally, and bring the boy with him, because Jake was dogged and strong of muscle, and not easily tired.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading Yet, when Sir Francis played on the organ in the little church at Leighway, and Jake blew for him, it was odds which of the two brought the more inspiration to his task.

calves

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

From this reading The very gaiters on his stout calves, spruce and workmanlike, would have precluded any such idea.

church

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

From this reading Yet, when Sir Francis played on the organ in the little church at Leighway, and Jake blew for him, it was odds which of the two brought the more inspiration to his task.

dogged

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

From this reading Sir Francis would practise there occasionally, and bring the boy with him, because Jake was dogged and strong of muscle, and not easily tired.

easily

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

From this reading Sir Francis would practise there occasionally, and bring the boy with him, because Jake was dogged and strong of muscle, and not easily tired.

face

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

From this reading Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Yet, when Sir Francis played on the organ in the little church at Leighway, and Jake blew for him, it was odds which of the two brought the more inspiration to his task.

form

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

From this reading Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

Francis

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

From this reading His master, Sir Francis Orsden--the son of one of whose gamekeepers he was--would never, though a young man of imagination himself, have guessed in Jake a kindred spirit.

gaiters

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

From this reading The very gaiters on his stout calves, spruce and workmanlike, would have precluded any such idea.

gamekeepers

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

From this reading His master, Sir Francis Orsden--the son of one of whose gamekeepers he was--would never, though a young man of imagination himself, have guessed in Jake a kindred spirit.

guessed

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

From this reading His master, Sir Francis Orsden--the son of one of whose gamekeepers he was--would never, though a young man of imagination himself, have guessed in Jake a kindred spirit.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading His master, Sir Francis Orsden--the son of one of whose gamekeepers he was--would never, though a young man of imagination himself, have guessed in Jake a kindred spirit.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Yet, when Sir Francis played on the organ in the little church at Leighway, and Jake blew for him, it was odds which of the two brought the more inspiration to his task.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading His master, Sir Francis Orsden--the son of one of whose gamekeepers he was--would never, though a young man of imagination himself, have guessed in Jake a kindred spirit.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

idea

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

From this reading The very gaiters on his stout calves, spruce and workmanlike, would have precluded any such idea.

imagination

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

From this reading Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading His master, Sir Francis Orsden--the son of one of whose gamekeepers he was--would never, though a young man of imagination himself, have guessed in Jake a kindred spirit.

inspiration

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

From this reading Yet, when Sir Francis played on the organ in the little church at Leighway, and Jake blew for him, it was odds which of the two brought the more inspiration to his task.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

Jake

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

From this reading Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

jolly

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

From this reading Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

kindred

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

From this reading His master, Sir Francis Orsden--the son of one of whose gamekeepers he was--would never, though a young man of imagination himself, have guessed in Jake a kindred spirit.

Leighway

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

From this reading Yet, when Sir Francis played on the organ in the little church at Leighway, and Jake blew for him, it was odds which of the two brought the more inspiration to his task.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Yet, when Sir Francis played on the organ in the little church at Leighway, and Jake blew for him, it was odds which of the two brought the more inspiration to his task.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

man

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

From this reading His master, Sir Francis Orsden--the son of one of whose gamekeepers he was--would never, though a young man of imagination himself, have guessed in Jake a kindred spirit.

master

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

From this reading His master, Sir Francis Orsden--the son of one of whose gamekeepers he was--would never, though a young man of imagination himself, have guessed in Jake a kindred spirit.

more

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

From this reading Yet, when Sir Francis played on the organ in the little church at Leighway, and Jake blew for him, it was odds which of the two brought the more inspiration to his task.

muscle

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

From this reading Sir Francis would practise there occasionally, and bring the boy with him, because Jake was dogged and strong of muscle, and not easily tired.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Sir Francis would practise there occasionally, and bring the boy with him, because Jake was dogged and strong of muscle, and not easily tired.

occasionally

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

From this reading Sir Francis would practise there occasionally, and bring the boy with him, because Jake was dogged and strong of muscle, and not easily tired.

odds

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

From this reading Yet, when Sir Francis played on the organ in the little church at Leighway, and Jake blew for him, it was odds which of the two brought the more inspiration to his task.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The very gaiters on his stout calves, spruce and workmanlike, would have precluded any such idea.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

organ

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

From this reading Yet, when Sir Francis played on the organ in the little church at Leighway, and Jake blew for him, it was odds which of the two brought the more inspiration to his task.

Orsden

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

From this reading His master, Sir Francis Orsden--the son of one of whose gamekeepers he was--would never, though a young man of imagination himself, have guessed in Jake a kindred spirit.

played

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

From this reading Yet, when Sir Francis played on the organ in the little church at Leighway, and Jake blew for him, it was odds which of the two brought the more inspiration to his task.

practise

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

From this reading Sir Francis would practise there occasionally, and bring the boy with him, because Jake was dogged and strong of muscle, and not easily tired.

precluded

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

From this reading The very gaiters on his stout calves, spruce and workmanlike, would have precluded any such idea.

rubicund

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

From this reading Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

Sir

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

From this reading His master, Sir Francis Orsden--the son of one of whose gamekeepers he was--would never, though a young man of imagination himself, have guessed in Jake a kindred spirit.

small

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

From this reading Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

son

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

From this reading His master, Sir Francis Orsden--the son of one of whose gamekeepers he was--would never, though a young man of imagination himself, have guessed in Jake a kindred spirit.

spirit

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

From this reading His master, Sir Francis Orsden--the son of one of whose gamekeepers he was--would never, though a young man of imagination himself, have guessed in Jake a kindred spirit.

spruce

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

From this reading The very gaiters on his stout calves, spruce and workmanlike, would have precluded any such idea.

stout

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

From this reading The very gaiters on his stout calves, spruce and workmanlike, would have precluded any such idea.

strong

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

From this reading Sir Francis would practise there occasionally, and bring the boy with him, because Jake was dogged and strong of muscle, and not easily tired.

sturdy

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

From this reading Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading The very gaiters on his stout calves, spruce and workmanlike, would have precluded any such idea.

task

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

From this reading Yet, when Sir Francis played on the organ in the little church at Leighway, and Jake blew for him, it was odds which of the two brought the more inspiration to his task.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The very gaiters on his stout calves, spruce and workmanlike, would have precluded any such idea.

there

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

From this reading Sir Francis would practise there occasionally, and bring the boy with him, because Jake was dogged and strong of muscle, and not easily tired.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

tired

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

From this reading Sir Francis would practise there occasionally, and bring the boy with him, because Jake was dogged and strong of muscle, and not easily tired.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

two

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

From this reading Yet, when Sir Francis played on the organ in the little church at Leighway, and Jake blew for him, it was odds which of the two brought the more inspiration to his task.

very

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

From this reading The very gaiters on his stout calves, spruce and workmanlike, would have precluded any such idea.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Yet, when Sir Francis played on the organ in the little church at Leighway, and Jake blew for him, it was odds which of the two brought the more inspiration to his task.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Yet, when Sir Francis played on the organ in the little church at Leighway, and Jake blew for him, it was odds which of the two brought the more inspiration to his task.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading His master, Sir Francis Orsden--the son of one of whose gamekeepers he was--would never, though a young man of imagination himself, have guessed in Jake a kindred spirit.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Sir Francis would practise there occasionally, and bring the boy with him, because Jake was dogged and strong of muscle, and not easily tired.

workmanlike

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

From this reading The very gaiters on his stout calves, spruce and workmanlike, would have precluded any such idea.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Jake was a boy of imagination, though one would never have thought it to look at his jolly rubicund face and small sturdy form.

YetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet, when Sir Francis played on the organ in the little church at Leighway, and Jake blew for him, it was odds which of the two brought the more inspiration to his task.

young

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

From this reading His master, Sir Francis Orsden--the son of one of whose gamekeepers he was--would never, though a young man of imagination himself, have guessed in Jake a kindred spirit.