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Antonina
Antonina

Chapter XXI

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Context Illustration Reading 1/71 · 5 lines
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THE BANQUET OF FAMINE.
Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.
In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.
Let the event but happen, and men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act under it as the living contradictions of their own characters.
The friend of our daily social intercourse, in the progress of life, and the favourite hero of our historic studies, in the progress of the page, astonish, exceed, or disappoint our expectations alike.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Antonina

Chapter XXI

Reading 1/71 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE BANQUET OF FAMINE.
Line 2
Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.
Line 3
In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.
Line 4
Let the event but happen, and men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act under it as the living contradictions of their own characters.
Line 5
The friend of our daily social intercourse, in the progress of life, and the favourite hero of our historic studies, in the progress of the page, astonish, exceed, or disappoint our expectations alike.

Learner Dictionary

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

Anticipations plural noun US /ænˌtɪsəˈpeɪʃənz/

feelings of excitement about something expected to happen

From this reading “In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “Let the event but happen, and men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act under it as the living contradictions of their own characters.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The friend of our daily social intercourse, in the progress of life, and the favourite hero of our historic studies, in the progress of the page, astonish, exceed, or disappoint our expectations alike.”

None pronoun US /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading “Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.”

Observation noun US /ˈobservation/

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

From this reading “Let the event but happen, and men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act under it as the living contradictions of their own characters.”

Ourselves pronoun US /aʊərˈselvz/

used when we are both doing the action and receiving it

From this reading “In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading “Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “Let the event but happen, and men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act under it as the living contradictions of their own characters.”

All words in this reading · 86

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

act

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From this reading Let the event but happen, and men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act under it as the living contradictions of their own characters.

alike

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From this reading The friend of our daily social intercourse, in the progress of life, and the favourite hero of our historic studies, in the progress of the page, astonish, exceed, or disappoint our expectations alike.

all

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From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

also

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From this reading In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Let the event but happen, and men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act under it as the living contradictions of their own characters.

anticipationsplural nounUS /ænˌtɪsəˈpeɪʃənz/

feelings of excitement about something expected to happen

From this reading In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.

apt

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From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

astonish

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From this reading The friend of our daily social intercourse, in the progress of life, and the favourite hero of our historic studies, in the progress of the page, astonish, exceed, or disappoint our expectations alike.

attempts

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From this reading In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.

baffled

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From this reading In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.

BANQUET

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From this reading THE BANQUET OF FAMINE.

beforehand

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From this reading In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Let the event but happen, and men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act under it as the living contradictions of their own characters.

characters

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From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

circumstance

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From this reading In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.

conduct

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From this reading In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.

contradictions

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From this reading Let the event but happen, and men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act under it as the living contradictions of their own characters.

daily

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From this reading The friend of our daily social intercourse, in the progress of life, and the favourite hero of our historic studies, in the progress of the page, astonish, exceed, or disappoint our expectations alike.

disappoint

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From this reading The friend of our daily social intercourse, in the progress of life, and the favourite hero of our historic studies, in the progress of the page, astonish, exceed, or disappoint our expectations alike.

effect

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From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

endeavouring

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

From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

erroneous

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

From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

estimate

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From this reading In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.

event

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

From this reading Let the event but happen, and men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act under it as the living contradictions of their own characters.

events

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From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

exceed

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From this reading The friend of our daily social intercourse, in the progress of life, and the favourite hero of our historic studies, in the progress of the page, astonish, exceed, or disappoint our expectations alike.

expectations

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

From this reading The friend of our daily social intercourse, in the progress of life, and the favourite hero of our historic studies, in the progress of the page, astonish, exceed, or disappoint our expectations alike.

FAMINE

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

From this reading THE BANQUET OF FAMINE.

favourite

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From this reading The friend of our daily social intercourse, in the progress of life, and the favourite hero of our historic studies, in the progress of the page, astonish, exceed, or disappoint our expectations alike.

foretell

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

From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

form

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

From this reading In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.

frequently

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

From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

friend

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

From this reading The friend of our daily social intercourse, in the progress of life, and the favourite hero of our historic studies, in the progress of the page, astonish, exceed, or disappoint our expectations alike.

happen

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

From this reading Let the event but happen, and men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act under it as the living contradictions of their own characters.

hero

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

From this reading The friend of our daily social intercourse, in the progress of life, and the favourite hero of our historic studies, in the progress of the page, astonish, exceed, or disappoint our expectations alike.

historic

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From this reading The friend of our daily social intercourse, in the progress of life, and the favourite hero of our historic studies, in the progress of the page, astonish, exceed, or disappoint our expectations alike.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

influence

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

From this reading In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.

intercourse

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From this reading The friend of our daily social intercourse, in the progress of life, and the favourite hero of our historic studies, in the progress of the page, astonish, exceed, or disappoint our expectations alike.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Let the event but happen, and men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act under it as the living contradictions of their own characters.

Letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Let the event but happen, and men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act under it as the living contradictions of their own characters.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The friend of our daily social intercourse, in the progress of life, and the favourite hero of our historic studies, in the progress of the page, astonish, exceed, or disappoint our expectations alike.

light

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

From this reading Let the event but happen, and men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act under it as the living contradictions of their own characters.

living

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

From this reading Let the event but happen, and men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act under it as the living contradictions of their own characters.

men

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

From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

more

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

From this reading In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.

most

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

From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.

observationnounUS /ˈobservation/

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

From this reading Let the event but happen, and men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act under it as the living contradictions of their own characters.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE BANQUET OF FAMINE.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

only

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

From this reading In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The friend of our daily social intercourse, in the progress of life, and the favourite hero of our historic studies, in the progress of the page, astonish, exceed, or disappoint our expectations alike.

others

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

From this reading In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.

ourselvespronounUS /aʊərˈselvz/

used when we are both doing the action and receiving it

From this reading In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.

outward

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

From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.

own

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

From this reading Let the event but happen, and men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act under it as the living contradictions of their own characters.

page

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

From this reading The friend of our daily social intercourse, in the progress of life, and the favourite hero of our historic studies, in the progress of the page, astonish, exceed, or disappoint our expectations alike.

perhaps

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

From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

previous

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

From this reading Let the event but happen, and men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act under it as the living contradictions of their own characters.

progress

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

From this reading The friend of our daily social intercourse, in the progress of life, and the favourite hero of our historic studies, in the progress of the page, astonish, exceed, or disappoint our expectations alike.

prophecies

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

From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

social

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

From this reading The friend of our daily social intercourse, in the progress of life, and the favourite hero of our historic studies, in the progress of the page, astonish, exceed, or disappoint our expectations alike.

studies

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

From this reading The friend of our daily social intercourse, in the progress of life, and the favourite hero of our historic studies, in the progress of the page, astonish, exceed, or disappoint our expectations alike.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading In no form of our anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only in others, but also even in ourselves.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE BANQUET OF FAMINE.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Let the event but happen, and men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act under it as the living contradictions of their own characters.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Let the event but happen, and men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act under it as the living contradictions of their own characters.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Let the event but happen, and men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act under it as the living contradictions of their own characters.

venture

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

From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

view

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From this reading Let the event but happen, and men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act under it as the living contradictions of their own characters.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the effect of outward events on the characters of men.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Let the event but happen, and men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act under it as the living contradictions of their own characters.