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A Gentleman Player
A Gentleman Player

Chapter X

Cover illustration for A Gentleman Player
Context Illustration Reading 1/21 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE LOCKED DOOR.
"When I was at home, I was in a better place: but travellers must be content."
--_As You Like It._ Before alighting from her horse, Mistress Hazlehurst waited to see what her enemy should do.
The enemy's first proceedings were similar to those taken upon his arrival at Catworth Magna.
That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.
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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 Gentleman Player

Chapter X

Reading 1/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE LOCKED DOOR.
Line 2
"When I was at home, I was in a better place: but travellers must be content."
Line 3
--_As You Like It._ Before alighting from her horse, Mistress Hazlehurst waited to see what her enemy should do.
Line 4
The enemy's first proceedings were similar to those taken upon his arrival at Catworth Magna.
Line 5
That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “--_As You Like It._ Before alighting from her horse, Mistress Hazlehurst waited to see what her enemy should do.”

Captain noun US /ˈcaptain/

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

From this reading “That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.”

Ere conjunction US /er/

an old word for “before”

From this reading “That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The enemy's first proceedings were similar to those taken upon his arrival at Catworth Magna.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “"When I was at home, I was in a better place: but travellers must be content."”

Party noun US /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “The enemy's first proceedings were similar to those taken upon his arrival at Catworth Magna.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “The enemy's first proceedings were similar to those taken upon his arrival at Catworth Magna.”

All words in this reading · 77

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 "When I was at home, I was in a better place: but travellers must be content."

advance

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

alighting

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

From this reading --_As You Like It._ Before alighting from her horse, Mistress Hazlehurst waited to see what her enemy should do.

all

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

arrival

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

From this reading The enemy's first proceedings were similar to those taken upon his arrival at Catworth Magna.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading --_As You Like It._ Before alighting from her horse, Mistress Hazlehurst waited to see what her enemy should do.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "When I was at home, I was in a better place: but travellers must be content."

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading "When I was at home, I was in a better place: but travellers must be content."

BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading --_As You Like It._ Before alighting from her horse, Mistress Hazlehurst waited to see what her enemy should do.

bespoken

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

better

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

From this reading "When I was at home, I was in a better place: but travellers must be content."

Bottle

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "When I was at home, I was in a better place: but travellers must be content."

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

CaptainnounUS /ˈcaptain/

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

Catworth

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

From this reading The enemy's first proceedings were similar to those taken upon his arrival at Catworth Magna.

charges

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

content

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

From this reading "When I was at home, I was in a better place: but travellers must be content."

dinner

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

dismounted

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading --_As You Like It._ Before alighting from her horse, Mistress Hazlehurst waited to see what her enemy should do.

DOOR

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

From this reading THE LOCKED DOOR.

enemy

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

From this reading --_As You Like It._ Before alighting from her horse, Mistress Hazlehurst waited to see what her enemy should do.

enemy's

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

From this reading The enemy's first proceedings were similar to those taken upon his arrival at Catworth Magna.

ereconjunctionUS /er/

an old word for “before”

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

expeditious

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The enemy's first proceedings were similar to those taken upon his arrival at Catworth Magna.

forestalled

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading --_As You Like It._ Before alighting from her horse, Mistress Hazlehurst waited to see what her enemy should do.

Hazlehurst

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

From this reading --_As You Like It._ Before alighting from her horse, Mistress Hazlehurst waited to see what her enemy should do.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading --_As You Like It._ Before alighting from her horse, Mistress Hazlehurst waited to see what her enemy should do.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The enemy's first proceedings were similar to those taken upon his arrival at Catworth Magna.

home

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

From this reading "When I was at home, I was in a better place: but travellers must be content."

horse

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

From this reading --_As You Like It._ Before alighting from her horse, Mistress Hazlehurst waited to see what her enemy should do.

horses

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "When I was at home, I was in a better place: but travellers must be content."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "When I was at home, I was in a better place: but travellers must be content."

inn

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading --_As You Like It._ Before alighting from her horse, Mistress Hazlehurst waited to see what her enemy should do.

Like

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

From this reading --_As You Like It._ Before alighting from her horse, Mistress Hazlehurst waited to see what her enemy should do.

LOCKED

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

From this reading THE LOCKED DOOR.

Magna

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

From this reading The enemy's first proceedings were similar to those taken upon his arrival at Catworth Magna.

Mistress

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

From this reading --_As You Like It._ Before alighting from her horse, Mistress Hazlehurst waited to see what her enemy should do.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading "When I was at home, I was in a better place: but travellers must be content."

new

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

offices

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

ones

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

partynounUS /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

payment

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

place

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

From this reading "When I was at home, I was in a better place: but travellers must be content."

placed

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

possible

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

proceedings

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

From this reading The enemy's first proceedings were similar to those taken upon his arrival at Catworth Magna.

ready

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

room

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

say

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

see

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

From this reading --_As You Like It._ Before alighting from her horse, Mistress Hazlehurst waited to see what her enemy should do.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading --_As You Like It._ Before alighting from her horse, Mistress Hazlehurst waited to see what her enemy should do.

similar

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

From this reading The enemy's first proceedings were similar to those taken upon his arrival at Catworth Magna.

taken

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

From this reading The enemy's first proceedings were similar to those taken upon his arrival at Catworth Magna.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE LOCKED DOOR.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading The enemy's first proceedings were similar to those taken upon his arrival at Catworth Magna.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

tired

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

From this reading That is to say, through the expeditious offices of Captain Bottle, new horses were placed ready before the inn, ere the party dismounted from the tired ones; dinner and a room were bespoken; and all possible charges were forestalled by advance payment.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading --_As You Like It._ Before alighting from her horse, Mistress Hazlehurst waited to see what her enemy should do.

travellers

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

From this reading "When I was at home, I was in a better place: but travellers must be content."

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The enemy's first proceedings were similar to those taken upon his arrival at Catworth Magna.

waited

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

From this reading --_As You Like It._ Before alighting from her horse, Mistress Hazlehurst waited to see what her enemy should do.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "When I was at home, I was in a better place: but travellers must be content."

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The enemy's first proceedings were similar to those taken upon his arrival at Catworth Magna.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading --_As You Like It._ Before alighting from her horse, Mistress Hazlehurst waited to see what her enemy should do.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading "When I was at home, I was in a better place: but travellers must be content."

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading --_As You Like It._ Before alighting from her horse, Mistress Hazlehurst waited to see what her enemy should do.