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Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope

Chapter VII

Cover illustration for Alexander Pope
Context Illustration Reading 1/48 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE ESSAY ON MAN.
It is a relief to turn from this miserable record of Pope's petty or malicious deceptions to the history of his legitimate career.
I go back to the period when he was still in full power.
Having finished the Dunciad, he was soon employed on a more ambitious task.
Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Alexander Pope

Chapter VII

Reading 1/48 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE ESSAY ON MAN.
Line 2
It is a relief to turn from this miserable record of Pope's petty or malicious deceptions to the history of his legitimate career.
Line 3
I go back to the period when he was still in full power.
Line 4
Having finished the Dunciad, he was soon employed on a more ambitious task.
Line 5
Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

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 “Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “Having finished the Dunciad, he was soon employed on a more ambitious task.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.”

Relief noun US /rɪˈliːf/

a feeling of comfort after worry or pain

From this reading “It is a relief to turn from this miserable record of Pope's petty or malicious deceptions to the history of his legitimate career.”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Having finished the Dunciad, he was soon employed on a more ambitious task.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I go back to the period when he was still in full power.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.”

All words in this reading · 68

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 It is a relief to turn from this miserable record of Pope's petty or malicious deceptions to the history of his legitimate career.

ambitious

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

From this reading Having finished the Dunciad, he was soon employed on a more ambitious task.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

back

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

From this reading I go back to the period when he was still in full power.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

bodies

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

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

Bolingbroke

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

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

career

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

From this reading It is a relief to turn from this miserable record of Pope's petty or malicious deceptions to the history of his legitimate career.

deceptions

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

From this reading It is a relief to turn from this miserable record of Pope's petty or malicious deceptions to the history of his legitimate career.

dependent

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

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

Dunciad

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

From this reading Having finished the Dunciad, he was soon employed on a more ambitious task.

employed

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

From this reading Having finished the Dunciad, he was soon employed on a more ambitious task.

ESSAY

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

From this reading THE ESSAY ON MAN.

finished

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

From this reading Having finished the Dunciad, he was soon employed on a more ambitious task.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It is a relief to turn from this miserable record of Pope's petty or malicious deceptions to the history of his legitimate career.

full

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

From this reading I go back to the period when he was still in full power.

go

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

From this reading I go back to the period when he was still in full power.

Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Having finished the Dunciad, he was soon employed on a more ambitious task.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading I go back to the period when he was still in full power.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It is a relief to turn from this miserable record of Pope's petty or malicious deceptions to the history of his legitimate career.

history

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

From this reading It is a relief to turn from this miserable record of Pope's petty or malicious deceptions to the history of his legitimate career.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I go back to the period when he was still in full power.

imposing

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

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I go back to the period when he was still in full power.

inferior

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

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It is a relief to turn from this miserable record of Pope's petty or malicious deceptions to the history of his legitimate career.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is a relief to turn from this miserable record of Pope's petty or malicious deceptions to the history of his legitimate career.

legitimate

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

From this reading It is a relief to turn from this miserable record of Pope's petty or malicious deceptions to the history of his legitimate career.

malicious

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

From this reading It is a relief to turn from this miserable record of Pope's petty or malicious deceptions to the history of his legitimate career.

MAN

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

From this reading THE ESSAY ON MAN.

massive

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

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

miserable

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

From this reading It is a relief to turn from this miserable record of Pope's petty or malicious deceptions to the history of his legitimate career.

more

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

From this reading Having finished the Dunciad, he was soon employed on a more ambitious task.

now

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

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It is a relief to turn from this miserable record of Pope's petty or malicious deceptions to the history of his legitimate career.

ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE ESSAY ON MAN.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It is a relief to turn from this miserable record of Pope's petty or malicious deceptions to the history of his legitimate career.

orbit

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

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

period

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

From this reading I go back to the period when he was still in full power.

petty

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

From this reading It is a relief to turn from this miserable record of Pope's petty or malicious deceptions to the history of his legitimate career.

planet

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

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

Pope

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

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

Pope's

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

From this reading It is a relief to turn from this miserable record of Pope's petty or malicious deceptions to the history of his legitimate career.

power

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

From this reading I go back to the period when he was still in full power.

record

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

From this reading It is a relief to turn from this miserable record of Pope's petty or malicious deceptions to the history of his legitimate career.

reliefnounUS /rɪˈliːf/

a feeling of comfort after worry or pain

From this reading It is a relief to turn from this miserable record of Pope's petty or malicious deceptions to the history of his legitimate career.

resembled

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

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

satellite

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

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

solar

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

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

some

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

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

soon

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

From this reading Having finished the Dunciad, he was soon employed on a more ambitious task.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I go back to the period when he was still in full power.

swept

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

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

Swift

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

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

system

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

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

task

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

From this reading Having finished the Dunciad, he was soon employed on a more ambitious task.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE ESSAY ON MAN.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading It is a relief to turn from this miserable record of Pope's petty or malicious deceptions to the history of his legitimate career.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It is a relief to turn from this miserable record of Pope's petty or malicious deceptions to the history of his legitimate career.

train

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

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

turn

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

From this reading It is a relief to turn from this miserable record of Pope's petty or malicious deceptions to the history of his legitimate career.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I go back to the period when he was still in full power.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading I go back to the period when he was still in full power.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading Pope resembled one of the inferior bodies of the solar system, whose orbit is dependent upon that of some more massive planet; and having been a satellite of Swift, he was now swept into the train of the more imposing Bolingbroke.