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A Tale of Two Cities
A Tale of Two Cities

Book I · Chapter IV · The Preparation

Read and study this complete chapter with synchronized narration, pronunciation, and vocabulary support.

When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

The Preparation, reading 1: When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his…
Context Illustration Reading 1/44 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.
He did it with some flourish of ceremony, for a mail journey from London in winter was an achievement to congratulate an adventurous traveller upon.
By that time, there was only one adventurous traveller left be congratulated: for the two others had been set down at their respective roadside destinations.
The mildewy inside of the coach, with its damp and dirty straw, its disagreeable smell, and its obscurity, was rather like a larger dog-kennel.
Mr. Lorry, the passenger, shaking himself out of it in chains of straw, a tangle of shaggy wrapper, flapping hat, and muddy legs, was rather like a larger sort of dog.
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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 Tale of Two Cities

Book I · Chapter IV · The Preparation

Study this chapter through synchronized reading, listening, pronunciation, and contextual vocabulary.

Reading 1/44 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.
Line 2
He did it with some flourish of ceremony, for a mail journey from London in winter was an achievement to congratulate an adventurous traveller upon.
Line 3
By that time, there was only one adventurous traveller left be congratulated: for the two others had been set down at their respective roadside destinations.
Line 4
The mildewy inside of the coach, with its damp and dirty straw, its disagreeable smell, and its obscurity, was rather like a larger dog-kennel.
Line 5
Mr. Lorry, the passenger, shaking himself out of it in chains of straw, a tangle of shaggy wrapper, flapping hat, and muddy legs, was rather like a larger sort of dog.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

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

adventurous adjective US /ədˈventʃərəs/

willing to take risks or try new and daring experiences

From this reading “He did it with some flourish of ceremony, for a mail journey from London in winter was an achievement to congratulate an adventurous traveller upon.”

disagreeable adjective US /ˌdɪsəˈɡriːəbəl/

unpleasant or not enjoyable

From this reading “The mildewy inside of the coach, with its damp and dirty straw, its disagreeable smell, and its obscurity, was rather like a larger dog-kennel.”

successfully adverb US /səkˈsesfəli/

in a way that achieves the intended result

From this reading “When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.”

All words in this reading · 92

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

a

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

From this reading He did it with some flourish of ceremony, for a mail journey from London in winter was an achievement to congratulate an adventurous traveller upon.

achievement

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

From this reading He did it with some flourish of ceremony, for a mail journey from London in winter was an achievement to congratulate an adventurous traveller upon.

adventurousadjectiveUS /ədˈventʃərəs/

willing to take risks or try new and daring experiences

From this reading He did it with some flourish of ceremony, for a mail journey from London in winter was an achievement to congratulate an adventurous traveller upon.

an

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

From this reading He did it with some flourish of ceremony, for a mail journey from London in winter was an achievement to congratulate an adventurous traveller upon.

and

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

From this reading The mildewy inside of the coach, with its damp and dirty straw, its disagreeable smell, and its obscurity, was rather like a larger dog-kennel.

as

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

From this reading When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

at

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From this reading When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

be

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

From this reading By that time, there was only one adventurous traveller left be congratulated: for the two others had been set down at their respective roadside destinations.

been

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

From this reading By that time, there was only one adventurous traveller left be congratulated: for the two others had been set down at their respective roadside destinations.

By

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

From this reading By that time, there was only one adventurous traveller left be congratulated: for the two others had been set down at their respective roadside destinations.

ceremony

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From this reading He did it with some flourish of ceremony, for a mail journey from London in winter was an achievement to congratulate an adventurous traveller upon.

chains

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

From this reading Mr. Lorry, the passenger, shaking himself out of it in chains of straw, a tangle of shaggy wrapper, flapping hat, and muddy legs, was rather like a larger sort of dog.

coach

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

From this reading The mildewy inside of the coach, with its damp and dirty straw, its disagreeable smell, and its obscurity, was rather like a larger dog-kennel.

coach-door

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

From this reading When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

congratulate

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

From this reading He did it with some flourish of ceremony, for a mail journey from London in winter was an achievement to congratulate an adventurous traveller upon.

congratulated

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

From this reading By that time, there was only one adventurous traveller left be congratulated: for the two others had been set down at their respective roadside destinations.

course

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

From this reading When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

custom

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

From this reading When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

damp

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

From this reading The mildewy inside of the coach, with its damp and dirty straw, its disagreeable smell, and its obscurity, was rather like a larger dog-kennel.

destinations

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

From this reading By that time, there was only one adventurous traveller left be congratulated: for the two others had been set down at their respective roadside destinations.

did

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

From this reading He did it with some flourish of ceremony, for a mail journey from London in winter was an achievement to congratulate an adventurous traveller upon.

dirty

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

From this reading The mildewy inside of the coach, with its damp and dirty straw, its disagreeable smell, and its obscurity, was rather like a larger dog-kennel.

disagreeableadjectiveUS /ˌdɪsəˈɡriːəbəl/

unpleasant or not enjoyable

From this reading The mildewy inside of the coach, with its damp and dirty straw, its disagreeable smell, and its obscurity, was rather like a larger dog-kennel.

dog

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

From this reading Mr. Lorry, the passenger, shaking himself out of it in chains of straw, a tangle of shaggy wrapper, flapping hat, and muddy legs, was rather like a larger sort of dog.

dog-kennel

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

From this reading The mildewy inside of the coach, with its damp and dirty straw, its disagreeable smell, and its obscurity, was rather like a larger dog-kennel.

Dover

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

From this reading When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

down

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

From this reading By that time, there was only one adventurous traveller left be congratulated: for the two others had been set down at their respective roadside destinations.

drawer

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

From this reading When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

flapping

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

From this reading Mr. Lorry, the passenger, shaking himself out of it in chains of straw, a tangle of shaggy wrapper, flapping hat, and muddy legs, was rather like a larger sort of dog.

flourish

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

From this reading He did it with some flourish of ceremony, for a mail journey from London in winter was an achievement to congratulate an adventurous traveller upon.

for

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

From this reading He did it with some flourish of ceremony, for a mail journey from London in winter was an achievement to congratulate an adventurous traveller upon.

forenoon

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

From this reading When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

from

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

From this reading He did it with some flourish of ceremony, for a mail journey from London in winter was an achievement to congratulate an adventurous traveller upon.

George

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

From this reading When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

got

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

From this reading When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

had

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

From this reading By that time, there was only one adventurous traveller left be congratulated: for the two others had been set down at their respective roadside destinations.

hat

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

From this reading Mr. Lorry, the passenger, shaking himself out of it in chains of straw, a tangle of shaggy wrapper, flapping hat, and muddy legs, was rather like a larger sort of dog.

He

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

From this reading He did it with some flourish of ceremony, for a mail journey from London in winter was an achievement to congratulate an adventurous traveller upon.

head

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

From this reading When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

himself

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

From this reading Mr. Lorry, the passenger, shaking himself out of it in chains of straw, a tangle of shaggy wrapper, flapping hat, and muddy legs, was rather like a larger sort of dog.

his

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

From this reading When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

Hotel

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

From this reading When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

in

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

From this reading When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

inside

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

From this reading The mildewy inside of the coach, with its damp and dirty straw, its disagreeable smell, and its obscurity, was rather like a larger dog-kennel.

it

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

From this reading He did it with some flourish of ceremony, for a mail journey from London in winter was an achievement to congratulate an adventurous traveller upon.

its

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

From this reading The mildewy inside of the coach, with its damp and dirty straw, its disagreeable smell, and its obscurity, was rather like a larger dog-kennel.

journey

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

From this reading He did it with some flourish of ceremony, for a mail journey from London in winter was an achievement to congratulate an adventurous traveller upon.

larger

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

From this reading The mildewy inside of the coach, with its damp and dirty straw, its disagreeable smell, and its obscurity, was rather like a larger dog-kennel.

left

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

From this reading By that time, there was only one adventurous traveller left be congratulated: for the two others had been set down at their respective roadside destinations.

legs

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

From this reading Mr. Lorry, the passenger, shaking himself out of it in chains of straw, a tangle of shaggy wrapper, flapping hat, and muddy legs, was rather like a larger sort of dog.

like

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

From this reading The mildewy inside of the coach, with its damp and dirty straw, its disagreeable smell, and its obscurity, was rather like a larger dog-kennel.

London

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

From this reading He did it with some flourish of ceremony, for a mail journey from London in winter was an achievement to congratulate an adventurous traveller upon.

Lorry

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

From this reading Mr. Lorry, the passenger, shaking himself out of it in chains of straw, a tangle of shaggy wrapper, flapping hat, and muddy legs, was rather like a larger sort of dog.

mail

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

From this reading When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

mildewy

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

From this reading The mildewy inside of the coach, with its damp and dirty straw, its disagreeable smell, and its obscurity, was rather like a larger dog-kennel.

Mr

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

From this reading Mr. Lorry, the passenger, shaking himself out of it in chains of straw, a tangle of shaggy wrapper, flapping hat, and muddy legs, was rather like a larger sort of dog.

muddy

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

From this reading Mr. Lorry, the passenger, shaking himself out of it in chains of straw, a tangle of shaggy wrapper, flapping hat, and muddy legs, was rather like a larger sort of dog.

obscurity

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

From this reading The mildewy inside of the coach, with its damp and dirty straw, its disagreeable smell, and its obscurity, was rather like a larger dog-kennel.

of

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

From this reading When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

one

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

From this reading By that time, there was only one adventurous traveller left be congratulated: for the two others had been set down at their respective roadside destinations.

only

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

From this reading By that time, there was only one adventurous traveller left be congratulated: for the two others had been set down at their respective roadside destinations.

opened

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

From this reading When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

others

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

From this reading By that time, there was only one adventurous traveller left be congratulated: for the two others had been set down at their respective roadside destinations.

out

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

From this reading Mr. Lorry, the passenger, shaking himself out of it in chains of straw, a tangle of shaggy wrapper, flapping hat, and muddy legs, was rather like a larger sort of dog.

passenger

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

From this reading Mr. Lorry, the passenger, shaking himself out of it in chains of straw, a tangle of shaggy wrapper, flapping hat, and muddy legs, was rather like a larger sort of dog.

rather

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

From this reading The mildewy inside of the coach, with its damp and dirty straw, its disagreeable smell, and its obscurity, was rather like a larger dog-kennel.

respective

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

From this reading By that time, there was only one adventurous traveller left be congratulated: for the two others had been set down at their respective roadside destinations.

roadside

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

From this reading By that time, there was only one adventurous traveller left be congratulated: for the two others had been set down at their respective roadside destinations.

Royal

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

From this reading When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

set

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

From this reading By that time, there was only one adventurous traveller left be congratulated: for the two others had been set down at their respective roadside destinations.

shaggy

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

From this reading Mr. Lorry, the passenger, shaking himself out of it in chains of straw, a tangle of shaggy wrapper, flapping hat, and muddy legs, was rather like a larger sort of dog.

shaking

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

From this reading Mr. Lorry, the passenger, shaking himself out of it in chains of straw, a tangle of shaggy wrapper, flapping hat, and muddy legs, was rather like a larger sort of dog.

smell

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

From this reading The mildewy inside of the coach, with its damp and dirty straw, its disagreeable smell, and its obscurity, was rather like a larger dog-kennel.

some

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

From this reading He did it with some flourish of ceremony, for a mail journey from London in winter was an achievement to congratulate an adventurous traveller upon.

sort

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

From this reading Mr. Lorry, the passenger, shaking himself out of it in chains of straw, a tangle of shaggy wrapper, flapping hat, and muddy legs, was rather like a larger sort of dog.

straw

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

From this reading The mildewy inside of the coach, with its damp and dirty straw, its disagreeable smell, and its obscurity, was rather like a larger dog-kennel.

successfullyadverbUS /səkˈsesfəli/

in a way that achieves the intended result

From this reading When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

tangle

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

From this reading Mr. Lorry, the passenger, shaking himself out of it in chains of straw, a tangle of shaggy wrapper, flapping hat, and muddy legs, was rather like a larger sort of dog.

that

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

From this reading By that time, there was only one adventurous traveller left be congratulated: for the two others had been set down at their respective roadside destinations.

the

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

From this reading When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

their

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

From this reading By that time, there was only one adventurous traveller left be congratulated: for the two others had been set down at their respective roadside destinations.

there

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

From this reading By that time, there was only one adventurous traveller left be congratulated: for the two others had been set down at their respective roadside destinations.

time

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

From this reading By that time, there was only one adventurous traveller left be congratulated: for the two others had been set down at their respective roadside destinations.

to

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

From this reading When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

traveller

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

From this reading He did it with some flourish of ceremony, for a mail journey from London in winter was an achievement to congratulate an adventurous traveller upon.

two

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

From this reading By that time, there was only one adventurous traveller left be congratulated: for the two others had been set down at their respective roadside destinations.

upon

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

From this reading He did it with some flourish of ceremony, for a mail journey from London in winter was an achievement to congratulate an adventurous traveller upon.

was

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

From this reading When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

When

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

From this reading When the mail got successfully to Dover, in the course of the forenoon, the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the coach-door as his custom was.

winter

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

From this reading He did it with some flourish of ceremony, for a mail journey from London in winter was an achievement to congratulate an adventurous traveller upon.

with

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

From this reading He did it with some flourish of ceremony, for a mail journey from London in winter was an achievement to congratulate an adventurous traveller upon.

wrapper

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

From this reading Mr. Lorry, the passenger, shaking himself out of it in chains of straw, a tangle of shaggy wrapper, flapping hat, and muddy legs, was rather like a larger sort of dog.