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A Boy's Fortune
A Boy's Fortune

Chapter XXXIII

Cover illustration for A Boy's Fortune
Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
AN ASTOUNDING DISCOVERY.
Ben told his story so far as it concerned his engagement by Major Grafton and his visit to Europe.
Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.
The Cuban, who had a grave, kindly aspect, listened with close attention to his narrative.
When Ben ceased speaking he said:
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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.

A Boy's Fortune

Chapter XXXIII

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
AN ASTOUNDING DISCOVERY.
Line 2
Ben told his story so far as it concerned his engagement by Major Grafton and his visit to Europe.
Line 3
Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.
Line 4
The Cuban, who had a grave, kindly aspect, listened with close attention to his narrative.
Line 5
When Ben ceased speaking he said:

Learner Dictionary

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

Speak noun US /speak/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Ben told his story so far as it concerned his engagement by Major Grafton and his visit to Europe.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.”

All words in this reading · 57

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 The Cuban, who had a grave, kindly aspect, listened with close attention to his narrative.

ANdeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading AN ASTOUNDING DISCOVERY.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Ben told his story so far as it concerned his engagement by Major Grafton and his visit to Europe.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Ben told his story so far as it concerned his engagement by Major Grafton and his visit to Europe.

aspect

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

From this reading The Cuban, who had a grave, kindly aspect, listened with close attention to his narrative.

ASTOUNDING

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

From this reading AN ASTOUNDING DISCOVERY.

attention

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

From this reading The Cuban, who had a grave, kindly aspect, listened with close attention to his narrative.

auditor

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

From this reading Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.

Ben

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

From this reading Ben told his story so far as it concerned his engagement by Major Grafton and his visit to Europe.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Ben told his story so far as it concerned his engagement by Major Grafton and his visit to Europe.

ceased

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

From this reading When Ben ceased speaking he said:

circumstances

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

From this reading Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.

close

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

From this reading The Cuban, who had a grave, kindly aspect, listened with close attention to his narrative.

concerned

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

From this reading Ben told his story so far as it concerned his engagement by Major Grafton and his visit to Europe.

considering

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

From this reading Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.

Cuban

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

From this reading The Cuban, who had a grave, kindly aspect, listened with close attention to his narrative.

DISCOVERY

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

From this reading AN ASTOUNDING DISCOVERY.

engagement

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

From this reading Ben told his story so far as it concerned his engagement by Major Grafton and his visit to Europe.

Europe

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

From this reading Ben told his story so far as it concerned his engagement by Major Grafton and his visit to Europe.

far

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

From this reading Ben told his story so far as it concerned his engagement by Major Grafton and his visit to Europe.

feel

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

From this reading Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.

Grafton

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

From this reading Ben told his story so far as it concerned his engagement by Major Grafton and his visit to Europe.

grave

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

From this reading The Cuban, who had a grave, kindly aspect, listened with close attention to his narrative.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.

hardly

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

From this reading Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Ben told his story so far as it concerned his engagement by Major Grafton and his visit to Europe.

history

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

From this reading Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.

interested

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

From this reading Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Ben told his story so far as it concerned his engagement by Major Grafton and his visit to Europe.

kindly

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

From this reading The Cuban, who had a grave, kindly aspect, listened with close attention to his narrative.

listened

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

From this reading The Cuban, who had a grave, kindly aspect, listened with close attention to his narrative.

Major

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

From this reading Ben told his story so far as it concerned his engagement by Major Grafton and his visit to Europe.

mother

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

From this reading Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.

narrative

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

From this reading The Cuban, who had a grave, kindly aspect, listened with close attention to his narrative.

occasion

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

From this reading Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.

OfprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.

own

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

From this reading Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.

personal

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

From this reading Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.

said

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

From this reading When Ben ceased speaking he said:

scarcely

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

From this reading Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Ben told his story so far as it concerned his engagement by Major Grafton and his visit to Europe.

speak

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

From this reading Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.

speaking

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

From this reading When Ben ceased speaking he said:

story

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

From this reading Ben told his story so far as it concerned his engagement by Major Grafton and his visit to Europe.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The Cuban, who had a grave, kindly aspect, listened with close attention to his narrative.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Ben told his story so far as it concerned his engagement by Major Grafton and his visit to Europe.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Ben told his story so far as it concerned his engagement by Major Grafton and his visit to Europe.

uncle

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

From this reading Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.

visit

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

From this reading Ben told his story so far as it concerned his engagement by Major Grafton and his visit to Europe.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When Ben ceased speaking he said:

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The Cuban, who had a grave, kindly aspect, listened with close attention to his narrative.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The Cuban, who had a grave, kindly aspect, listened with close attention to his narrative.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Of his mother and her circumstances and of his uncle he had scarcely occasion to speak, considering that his auditor would hardly feel interested in his own personal history.