Three generations

Chapter XX

Chapter 20 of Three generations is here in full — 238 sentences across 48 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Maud Howe Elliott • Curated US English Learning Edition

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MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

One of the things that drew her to Italy was the wish to see her sister Louisa again.

She had contemplated this visit for some time, but although she was in her seventy-ninth year, found it so hard to break away from the cares and responsibilities of public life that I crossed the ocean to help her get away.

For one of the anticipated joys she had delayed too long, alas!

In the August of 1898, my aunt, who had long been drooping, faded quietly out of life.

Narrator

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LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter XX Reading 1/47

Three generations Maud Howe Elliott

Chapter XX

Chapter 20 of Three generations is here in full — 238 sentences across 48 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us. One of the things that drew her to Italy was the wish to see her sister Louisa again. She had contemplated this visit for some time, but although she was in her seventy-ninth year, found it so hard to break away from the cares and responsibilities of public life that I crossed the ocean to help her get away. For one of the anticipated joys she had delayed too long, alas! In the August of 1898, my aunt, who had long been drooping, faded quietly out of life.

Three generations

Chapter XX

Chapter 20 of Three generations is here in full — 238 sentences across 48 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/47 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

/maɪ ˈmʌðərz læst ˈroʊmən ˈwɪntər wen wiː hæd bɪn ˈlɪvɪŋ ɪn roʊm fɔːr jɪrz maɪ ˈmʌðər riˈzɑːlvd tuː kʌm aʊt ənd pæs ə ˈwɪntər wɪð ʌs/

Line 2

One of the things that drew her to Italy was the wish to see her sister Louisa again.

Line 3

Line 4

For one of the anticipated joys she had delayed too long, alas!

/fɔːr wʌn ʌv ðə ænˈtɪsəpeɪtɪd dʒɔɪz ʃiː hæd dɪˈleɪd tuː lɔːŋ əˈlæs/

Line 5

In the August of 1898, my aunt, who had long been drooping, faded quietly out of life.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

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

anticipated adjective US /ænˈtɪsəpeɪtɪd/

expected hopefully

From this reading “For one of the anticipated joys she had delayed too long, alas!”

cares noun US /kerz/

plural of “care” — the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading “She had contemplated this visit for some time, but although she was in her seventy-ninth year, found it so hard to break away from the cares and responsibilities of public life that I crossed the ocean to help her get away.”

contemplated verb US /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪtɪd/

past form of “contemplate” — look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought

delayed adjective US /dɪˈleɪd/

not as far along as normal in development

From this reading “For one of the anticipated joys she had delayed too long, alas!”

drooping adjective US /ˈdruːpɪŋ/

weak from exhaustion

From this reading “In the August of 1898, my aunt, who had long been drooping, faded quietly out of life.”

Italy noun US /ˈɪtəli/

a republic in southern Europe on the Italian Peninsula; was the core of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire between the 4th century BC and the 5th century AD

From this reading “One of the things that drew her to Italy was the wish to see her sister Louisa again.”

joys noun US /dʒɔɪz/

plural of “joy” — the emotion of great happiness

From this reading “For one of the anticipated joys she had delayed too long, alas!”

responsibilities noun US /riˌspɑːnsəˈbɪlətiz/

plural of “responsibility” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

four years noun + noun

In this reading “MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.”

some time adjective + noun

In this reading “She had contemplated this visit for some time, but although she was in her seventy-ninth year, found it so hard to break away from the cares and responsibilities of public life that I crossed the ocean to help her get away.”

get away verb + particle

run away from confinement

public life noun + noun

break away verb + particle

move away or escape suddenly

come out verb + adjective

appear or become visible; make a showing

In this reading “MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.”

too long adverb + adjective

In this reading “For one of the anticipated joys she had delayed too long, alas!”

All words in this reading · 78

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

1898

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

From this reading In the August of 1898, my aunt, who had long been drooping, faded quietly out of life.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading One of the things that drew her to Italy was the wish to see her sister Louisa again.

alasexclamationUS /əˈlæs/

used to show sadness, pity, or regret

From this reading For one of the anticipated joys she had delayed too long, alas!

althoughconjunctionUS /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading She had contemplated this visit for some time, but although she was in her seventy-ninth year, found it so hard to break away from the cares and responsibilities of public life that I crossed the ocean to help her get away.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

anticipatedadjectiveUS /ænˈtɪsəpeɪtɪd/

expected hopefully

From this reading For one of the anticipated joys she had delayed too long, alas!

AugustnounUS /ˈɑːɡəst/

the month following July and preceding September

From this reading In the August of 1898, my aunt, who had long been drooping, faded quietly out of life.

auntnounUS /ænt/

the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle

From this reading In the August of 1898, my aunt, who had long been drooping, faded quietly out of life.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

breakverbUS /breɪk/

terminate

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

caresnounUS /kerz/

plural of “care” — the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

contemplatedverbUS /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪtɪd/

past form of “contemplate” — look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought

crossedadjectiveUS /krɔːst/

placed crosswise

delayedadjectiveUS /dɪˈleɪd/

not as far along as normal in development

From this reading For one of the anticipated joys she had delayed too long, alas!

drewnounUS /druː/

United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)

From this reading One of the things that drew her to Italy was the wish to see her sister Louisa again.

droopingadjectiveUS /ˈdruːpɪŋ/

weak from exhaustion

From this reading In the August of 1898, my aunt, who had long been drooping, faded quietly out of life.

fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/

having lost freshness or brilliance of color

From this reading In the August of 1898, my aunt, who had long been drooping, faded quietly out of life.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

fournounUS /fɔːr/

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

helpverbUS /help/

give help or assistance; be of service

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading One of the things that drew her to Italy was the wish to see her sister Louisa again.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

ItalynounUS /ˈɪtəli/

a republic in southern Europe on the Italian Peninsula; was the core of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire between the 4th century BC and the 5th century AD

From this reading One of the things that drew her to Italy was the wish to see her sister Louisa again.

joysnounUS /dʒɔɪz/

plural of “joy” — the emotion of great happiness

From this reading For one of the anticipated joys she had delayed too long, alas!

LASTadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

livingnounUS /ˈlɪvɪŋ/

the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading For one of the anticipated joys she had delayed too long, alas!

Louisa

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

From this reading One of the things that drew her to Italy was the wish to see her sister Louisa again.

mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

MOTHER'SnounUS /ˈmʌðərz/

possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

MYdeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

oceannounUS /ˈoʊʃən/

a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading One of the things that drew her to Italy was the wish to see her sister Louisa again.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One of the things that drew her to Italy was the wish to see her sister Louisa again.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

passverbUS /pæs/

go across or through

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

publicnounUS /ˈpʌblɪk/

people in general considered as a whole

quietlyadverbUS /ˈkwaɪətli/

with low volume

From this reading In the August of 1898, my aunt, who had long been drooping, faded quietly out of life.

resolvedadjectiveUS /riˈzɑːlvd/

determined

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

responsibilitiesnounUS /riˌspɑːnsəˈbɪlətiz/

plural of “responsibility” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

ROMANadjectiveUS /ˈroʊmən/

relating to or characteristic of people of Rome

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

RomenounUS /roʊm/

capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading One of the things that drew her to Italy was the wish to see her sister Louisa again.

seventy-ninth

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

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

sisternounUS /ˈsɪstər/

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading One of the things that drew her to Italy was the wish to see her sister Louisa again.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading One of the things that drew her to Italy was the wish to see her sister Louisa again.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading One of the things that drew her to Italy was the wish to see her sister Louisa again.

thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading One of the things that drew her to Italy was the wish to see her sister Louisa again.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading For one of the anticipated joys she had delayed too long, alas!

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

visitverbUS /ˈvɪzɪt/

go to see a place, as for entertainment

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading One of the things that drew her to Italy was the wish to see her sister Louisa again.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading In the August of 1898, my aunt, who had long been drooping, faded quietly out of life.

WINTERnounUS /ˈwɪntər/

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

wishverbUS /wɪʃ/

hope for; have a wish

From this reading One of the things that drew her to Italy was the wish to see her sister Louisa again.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

yearnounUS /jɪr/

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading MY MOTHER’S LAST ROMAN WINTER When we had been living in Rome four years my mother resolved to come out and pass a winter with us.

Chapter 20 of Three generations by Maud Howe Elliott holds 238 sentences, grouped into 48 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 20 of Three generations contain?

Chapter 20 holds 238 sentences of Three generations, unabridged, divided into 48 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of Three generations by Maud Howe Elliott exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 238 sentences, grouped into 48 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 20 of Three generations?

Work through the 48 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 48 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

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Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

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