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What Diantha Did
What Diantha Did

Chapter I · Handicapped

Cover illustration for What Diantha Did
Context Illustration Reading 1/50 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.
The Warden house was more impressive in appearance than its neighbors.
It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.
The stately mansion was covered with heavy flowering vines, also with heavy mortgages.
Mrs. Roscoe Warden and her four daughters reposed peacefully under the vines, while Roscoe Warden, Jr., struggled desperately under the mortgages.
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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.

What Diantha Did

Chapter I · Handicapped

Reading 1/50 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.
Line 2
The Warden house was more impressive in appearance than its neighbors.
Line 3
It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.
Line 4
The stately mansion was covered with heavy flowering vines, also with heavy mortgages.
Line 5
Mrs. Roscoe Warden and her four daughters reposed peacefully under the vines, while Roscoe Warden, Jr., struggled desperately under the mortgages.

Learner Dictionary

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

Appearance noun US /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading “The Warden house was more impressive in appearance than its neighbors.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.”

Moreover adverb US /mɔːˈroʊvər/

in addition to what has just been said

From this reading “It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “Mrs. Roscoe Warden and her four daughters reposed peacefully under the vines, while Roscoe Warden, Jr., struggled desperately under the mortgages.”

Warden noun US /ˈwɔːr.dən/

The chief official or governor in charge of a prison institution.

From this reading “The Warden house was more impressive in appearance than its neighbors.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “Mrs. Roscoe Warden and her four daughters reposed peacefully under the vines, while Roscoe Warden, Jr., struggled desperately under the mortgages.”

All words in this reading · 79

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 One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

also

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

From this reading The stately mansion was covered with heavy flowering vines, also with heavy mortgages.

ambitions

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

From this reading It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

antecedents

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

From this reading It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.

appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading The Warden house was more impressive in appearance than its neighbors.

builders

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

From this reading It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.

building

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

From this reading It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

continuing

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

From this reading It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.

covered

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

From this reading The stately mansion was covered with heavy flowering vines, also with heavy mortgages.

cupola

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

From this reading It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.

date

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

From this reading It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.

daughters

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

From this reading Mrs. Roscoe Warden and her four daughters reposed peacefully under the vines, while Roscoe Warden, Jr., struggled desperately under the mortgages.

desperately

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

From this reading Mrs. Roscoe Warden and her four daughters reposed peacefully under the vines, while Roscoe Warden, Jr., struggled desperately under the mortgages.

flowering

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

From this reading The stately mansion was covered with heavy flowering vines, also with heavy mortgages.

fond

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

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

four

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

From this reading Mrs. Roscoe Warden and her four daughters reposed peacefully under the vines, while Roscoe Warden, Jr., struggled desperately under the mortgages.

galleries

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

From this reading It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.

garden

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

From this reading It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.

giving

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

From this reading It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.

grounds

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

From this reading It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.

hapless

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

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

heavy

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

From this reading The stately mansion was covered with heavy flowering vines, also with heavy mortgages.

helpless

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

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Mrs. Roscoe Warden and her four daughters reposed peacefully under the vines, while Roscoe Warden, Jr., struggled desperately under the mortgages.

house

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

From this reading The Warden house was more impressive in appearance than its neighbors.

impressive

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

From this reading The Warden house was more impressive in appearance than its neighbors.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The Warden house was more impressive in appearance than its neighbors.

inextricably

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

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

instead

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

From this reading It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The Warden house was more impressive in appearance than its neighbors.

Jr

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

From this reading Mrs. Roscoe Warden and her four daughters reposed peacefully under the vines, while Roscoe Warden, Jr., struggled desperately under the mortgages.

Man

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

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

mansion

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

From this reading The stately mansion was covered with heavy flowering vines, also with heavy mortgages.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

mer-matron

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

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

more

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

From this reading The Warden house was more impressive in appearance than its neighbors.

moreoveradverbUS /mɔːˈroʊvər/

in addition to what has just been said

From this reading It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.

mortgages

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

From this reading The stately mansion was covered with heavy flowering vines, also with heavy mortgages.

Mrs

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

From this reading Mrs. Roscoe Warden and her four daughters reposed peacefully under the vines, while Roscoe Warden, Jr., struggled desperately under the mortgages.

neighbors

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

From this reading The Warden house was more impressive in appearance than its neighbors.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

Old

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

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

partner

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

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

patron

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

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

peacefully

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

From this reading Mrs. Roscoe Warden and her four daughters reposed peacefully under the vines, while Roscoe Warden, Jr., struggled desperately under the mortgages.

pillared

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

From this reading It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.

porches

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

From this reading It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.

proof

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

From this reading It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.

reposed

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

From this reading Mrs. Roscoe Warden and her four daughters reposed peacefully under the vines, while Roscoe Warden, Jr., struggled desperately under the mortgages.

ridden

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

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

Roscoe

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

From this reading Mrs. Roscoe Warden and her four daughters reposed peacefully under the vines, while Roscoe Warden, Jr., struggled desperately under the mortgages.

Sea

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

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

showing

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

From this reading It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.

southern

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

From this reading It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.

stately

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

From this reading The stately mansion was covered with heavy flowering vines, also with heavy mortgages.

struggled

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

From this reading Mrs. Roscoe Warden and her four daughters reposed peacefully under the vines, while Roscoe Warden, Jr., struggled desperately under the mortgages.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The Warden house was more impressive in appearance than its neighbors.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Mrs. Roscoe Warden and her four daughters reposed peacefully under the vines, while Roscoe Warden, Jr., struggled desperately under the mortgages.

use

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

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

vines

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

From this reading The stately mansion was covered with heavy flowering vines, also with heavy mortgages.

WardennounUS /ˈwɔːr.dən/

The chief official or governor in charge of a prison institution.

From this reading The Warden house was more impressive in appearance than its neighbors.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The Warden house was more impressive in appearance than its neighbors.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading Mrs. Roscoe Warden and her four daughters reposed peacefully under the vines, while Roscoe Warden, Jr., struggled desperately under the mortgages.

WhopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading One may use the Old Man of the Sea, For a partner or patron, But helpless and hapless is he Who is ridden, inextricably, By a fond old mer-matron.

wide

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

From this reading It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The stately mansion was covered with heavy flowering vines, also with heavy mortgages.

yard

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

From this reading It had “grounds,” instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and “galleries,” showing southern antecedents; moreover, it had a cupola, giving date to the building, and proof of the continuing ambitions of the builders.