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Wild Margaret
Wild Margaret

Chapter XVI

Cover illustration for Wild Margaret
Context Illustration Reading 1/75 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.
For a minute or two she felt frightened and had an idea of calling for help.
Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.
She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.
Mr. Austin Ambrose had worked upon her feelings and tempted her to do this thing, and she had done it.
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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.

Wild Margaret

Chapter XVI

Reading 1/75 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.
Line 2
For a minute or two she felt frightened and had an idea of calling for help.
Line 3
Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.
Line 4
She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.
Line 5
Mr. Austin Ambrose had worked upon her feelings and tempted her to do this thing, and she had done it.

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 “She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mr. Austin Ambrose had worked upon her feelings and tempted her to do this thing, and she had done it.”

Either determiner US /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading “Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading “She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.”

Help noun US /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For a minute or two she felt frightened and had an idea of calling for help.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mr. Austin Ambrose had worked upon her feelings and tempted her to do this thing, and she had done it.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Mr. Austin Ambrose had worked upon her feelings and tempted her to do this thing, and she had done it.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.”

All words in this reading · 88

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 Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.

altogether

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

From this reading Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.

Ambrose

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

From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose had worked upon her feelings and tempted her to do this thing, and she had done it.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading For a minute or two she felt frightened and had an idea of calling for help.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading For a minute or two she felt frightened and had an idea of calling for help.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.

Austin

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

From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose had worked upon her feelings and tempted her to do this thing, and she had done it.

bad

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

From this reading Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.

Belvoir

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

From this reading Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.

calling

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

From this reading For a minute or two she felt frightened and had an idea of calling for help.

carefully-applied

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

From this reading Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.

contrast

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

From this reading Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.

devil

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

From this reading She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose had worked upon her feelings and tempted her to do this thing, and she had done it.

doubt

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

From this reading She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.

down

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

From this reading Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.

eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.

exist

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

From this reading Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.

face

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

From this reading Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.

feelings

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

From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose had worked upon her feelings and tempted her to do this thing, and she had done it.

felt

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

From this reading For a minute or two she felt frightened and had an idea of calling for help.

figure

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

From this reading Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For a minute or two she felt frightened and had an idea of calling for help.

frightened

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

From this reading For a minute or two she felt frightened and had an idea of calling for help.

girl

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

From this reading Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading For a minute or two she felt frightened and had an idea of calling for help.

hard

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

From this reading She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.

helpnounUS /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For a minute or two she felt frightened and had an idea of calling for help.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.

hindmost

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

From this reading She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.

idea

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

From this reading For a minute or two she felt frightened and had an idea of calling for help.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.

indeed

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

From this reading Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose had worked upon her feelings and tempted her to do this thing, and she had done it.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.

knows

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

From this reading She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.

Lottie

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

From this reading Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.

made

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

From this reading Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.

Margaret

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

From this reading Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.

minute

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

From this reading For a minute or two she felt frightened and had an idea of calling for help.

Mr

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

From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose had worked upon her feelings and tempted her to do this thing, and she had done it.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.

novels

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

From this reading Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.

only

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

From this reading Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading For a minute or two she felt frightened and had an idea of calling for help.

pages

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

From this reading Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.

paint

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

From this reading Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.

pallor

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

From this reading Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.

persons

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

From this reading Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.

prostrate

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

From this reading Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.

real

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

From this reading Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.

school

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

From this reading She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading For a minute or two she felt frightened and had an idea of calling for help.

some

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

From this reading Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.

struggle

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

From this reading She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.

tempted

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

From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose had worked upon her feelings and tempted her to do this thing, and she had done it.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose had worked upon her feelings and tempted her to do this thing, and she had done it.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose had worked upon her feelings and tempted her to do this thing, and she had done it.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.

two

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

From this reading For a minute or two she felt frightened and had an idea of calling for help.

up

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

From this reading She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose had worked upon her feelings and tempted her to do this thing, and she had done it.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Lottie was not altogether a bad girl; indeed, the persons who are either altogether bad or altogether good do not exist in real life, but only in the pages of some novels.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading She had been brought up in a hard school, in which each has to struggle for itself, and where each knows that without doubt the devil will take the hindmost.

worked

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

From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose had worked upon her feelings and tempted her to do this thing, and she had done it.

yellow

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

From this reading Lottie Belvoir looked down at the prostrate figure of Margaret with a pallor that made the carefully-applied paint on her face look yellow by contrast.