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Abington Abbey: A Novel
Abington Abbey: A Novel

Chapter II

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Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
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THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.
He was middle-sized, but held himself in such a way as to give the impression of height, or at least of dignity.
His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.
His wife, however, was not one of them.
She thought him the noblest of men, and more often in the right than not.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Abington Abbey: A Novel

Chapter II

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.
Line 2
He was middle-sized, but held himself in such a way as to give the impression of height, or at least of dignity.
Line 3
His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.
Line 4
His wife, however, was not one of them.
Line 5
She thought him the noblest of men, and more often in the right than not.

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 “THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “He was middle-sized, but held himself in such a way as to give the impression of height, or at least of dignity.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “His wife, however, was not one of them.”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was middle-sized, but held himself in such a way as to give the impression of height, or at least of dignity.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “His wife, however, was not one of them.”

Quarrel noun US /ˈkwɔːrəl/

an angry argument or disagreement

From this reading “His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She thought him the noblest of men, and more often in the right than not.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She thought him the noblest of men, and more often in the right than not.”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.”

All words in this reading · 81

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 VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

Abington

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

admiration

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He was middle-sized, but held himself in such a way as to give the impression of height, or at least of dignity.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

baptism

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He was middle-sized, but held himself in such a way as to give the impression of height, or at least of dignity.

chief

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

From this reading His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.

comfortable

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

From this reading His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.

dear

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

From this reading His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.

dignity

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

From this reading He was middle-sized, but held himself in such a way as to give the impression of height, or at least of dignity.

failed

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

From this reading His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.

father's

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

give

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

From this reading He was middle-sized, but held himself in such a way as to give the impression of height, or at least of dignity.

given

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was middle-sized, but held himself in such a way as to give the impression of height, or at least of dignity.

height

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

From this reading He was middle-sized, but held himself in such a way as to give the impression of height, or at least of dignity.

held

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

From this reading He was middle-sized, but held himself in such a way as to give the impression of height, or at least of dignity.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading He was middle-sized, but held himself in such a way as to give the impression of height, or at least of dignity.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading His wife, however, was not one of them.

hyphenation

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

impression

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

From this reading He was middle-sized, but held himself in such a way as to give the impression of height, or at least of dignity.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

indeed

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

From this reading His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was middle-sized, but held himself in such a way as to give the impression of height, or at least of dignity.

M

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

made

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

From this reading His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.

many

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

From this reading His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.

men

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

From this reading She thought him the noblest of men, and more often in the right than not.

Mercer

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

middle-sized

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

From this reading He was middle-sized, but held himself in such a way as to give the impression of height, or at least of dignity.

more

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

names

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

noblest

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

From this reading She thought him the noblest of men, and more often in the right than not.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading His wife, however, was not one of them.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

often

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

From this reading She thought him the noblest of men, and more often in the right than not.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading His wife, however, was not one of them.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He was middle-sized, but held himself in such a way as to give the impression of height, or at least of dignity.

otherwise

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

From this reading His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.

people

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

From this reading His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.

quarrelnounUS /ˈkwɔːrəl/

an angry argument or disagreement

From this reading His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.

recognise

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

From this reading His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.

resounding

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

Reverend

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She thought him the noblest of men, and more often in the right than not.

Salisbury

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She thought him the noblest of men, and more often in the right than not.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.

statesman

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading He was middle-sized, but held himself in such a way as to give the impression of height, or at least of dignity.

tendency

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading She thought him the noblest of men, and more often in the right than not.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

there

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

From this reading His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She thought him the noblest of men, and more often in the right than not.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

token

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

two

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

very

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

From this reading His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.

VICAR

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

way

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

From this reading He was middle-sized, but held himself in such a way as to give the impression of height, or at least of dignity.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.

wife

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

From this reading His wife, however, was not one of them.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE VICAR The Vicar of Abington was the Reverend A. Salisbury Mercer, M.A., with a tendency towards hyphenation of the two names, though the more resounding of them had been given to him at baptism in token of his father's admiration for a great statesman.

world

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

From this reading His dignity was, indeed, dear to him, and his chief quarrel with the world, in which he had otherwise made himself very comfortable, was that there were so many people who failed to recognise it.