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Demos

Chapter XXV

Cover illustration for Demos
Context Illustration Reading 1/61 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Mutimer did not come to the Manor for luncheon.
Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.
He, Alice, and Adela made pretence of a midday meal; then he went into the library to smoke a cigar and meditate.
The main subject of his meditation was an interview with Adela which he purposed seeking in the course of the afternoon.
But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it was well to get off hand.
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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.

Demos

Chapter XXV

Reading 1/61 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Mutimer did not come to the Manor for luncheon.
Line 2
Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.
Line 3
He, Alice, and Adela made pretence of a midday meal; then he went into the library to smoke a cigar and meditate.
Line 4
The main subject of his meditation was an interview with Adela which he purposed seeking in the course of the afternoon.
Line 5
But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it was well to get off hand.

Learner Dictionary

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

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading “The main subject of his meditation was an interview with Adela which he purposed seeking in the course of the afternoon.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mutimer did not come to the Manor for luncheon.”

Course noun US /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The main subject of his meditation was an interview with Adela which he purposed seeking in the course of the afternoon.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it was well to get off hand.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it was well to get off hand.”

Order noun US /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.”

Spending noun US /ˈspending/

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

From this reading “Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it was well to get off hand.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it was well to get off hand.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He, Alice, and Adela made pretence of a midday meal; then he went into the library to smoke a cigar and meditate.”

All words in this reading · 77

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

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

Adela

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

From this reading He, Alice, and Adela made pretence of a midday meal; then he went into the library to smoke a cigar and meditate.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading The main subject of his meditation was an interview with Adela which he purposed seeking in the course of the afternoon.

Alice

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

From this reading He, Alice, and Adela made pretence of a midday meal; then he went into the library to smoke a cigar and meditate.

also

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

From this reading But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it was well to get off hand.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

business

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

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it was well to get off hand.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it was well to get off hand.

cigar

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

From this reading He, Alice, and Adela made pretence of a midday meal; then he went into the library to smoke a cigar and meditate.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Mutimer did not come to the Manor for luncheon.

coursenounUS /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The main subject of his meditation was an interview with Adela which he purposed seeking in the course of the afternoon.

despatch

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

From this reading But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it was well to get off hand.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Mutimer did not come to the Manor for luncheon.

evening

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

From this reading But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it was well to get off hand.

finished

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

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it was well to get off hand.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Mutimer did not come to the Manor for luncheon.

get

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

From this reading But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it was well to get off hand.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

half-a-dozen

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

From this reading But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it was well to get off hand.

hand

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

From this reading But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it was well to get off hand.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He, Alice, and Adela made pretence of a midday meal; then he went into the library to smoke a cigar and meditate.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The main subject of his meditation was an interview with Adela which he purposed seeking in the course of the afternoon.

host

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

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

hour

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

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

importance

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

From this reading But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it was well to get off hand.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

interview

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

From this reading The main subject of his meditation was an interview with Adela which he purposed seeking in the course of the afternoon.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He, Alice, and Adela made pretence of a midday meal; then he went into the library to smoke a cigar and meditate.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it was well to get off hand.

letters

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

From this reading But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it was well to get off hand.

library

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

From this reading He, Alice, and Adela made pretence of a midday meal; then he went into the library to smoke a cigar and meditate.

luncheon

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

From this reading Mutimer did not come to the Manor for luncheon.

made

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

From this reading He, Alice, and Adela made pretence of a midday meal; then he went into the library to smoke a cigar and meditate.

main

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

From this reading The main subject of his meditation was an interview with Adela which he purposed seeking in the course of the afternoon.

Manor

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

From this reading Mutimer did not come to the Manor for luncheon.

meal

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

From this reading He, Alice, and Adela made pretence of a midday meal; then he went into the library to smoke a cigar and meditate.

meditate

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

From this reading He, Alice, and Adela made pretence of a midday meal; then he went into the library to smoke a cigar and meditate.

meditation

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

From this reading The main subject of his meditation was an interview with Adela which he purposed seeking in the course of the afternoon.

midday

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

From this reading He, Alice, and Adela made pretence of a midday meal; then he went into the library to smoke a cigar and meditate.

Mutimer

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

From this reading Mutimer did not come to the Manor for luncheon.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Mutimer did not come to the Manor for luncheon.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

off

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

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

ordernounUS /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

post

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

From this reading But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it was well to get off hand.

pressed

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

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

pretence

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

From this reading He, Alice, and Adela made pretence of a midday meal; then he went into the library to smoke a cigar and meditate.

purposed

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

From this reading The main subject of his meditation was an interview with Adela which he purposed seeking in the course of the afternoon.

put

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

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

Rodman

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

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

seeking

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

From this reading The main subject of his meditation was an interview with Adela which he purposed seeking in the course of the afternoon.

smoke

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

From this reading He, Alice, and Adela made pretence of a midday meal; then he went into the library to smoke a cigar and meditate.

spendingnounUS /ˈspending/

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

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

subject

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

From this reading The main subject of his meditation was an interview with Adela which he purposed seeking in the course of the afternoon.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Mutimer did not come to the Manor for luncheon.

then

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

From this reading He, Alice, and Adela made pretence of a midday meal; then he went into the library to smoke a cigar and meditate.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it was well to get off hand.

things

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

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Mutimer did not come to the Manor for luncheon.

town

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

From this reading But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it was well to get off hand.

unexpectedly

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

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The main subject of his meditation was an interview with Adela which he purposed seeking in the course of the afternoon.

well

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

From this reading But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it was well to get off hand.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He, Alice, and Adela made pretence of a midday meal; then he went into the library to smoke a cigar and meditate.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The main subject of his meditation was an interview with Adela which he purposed seeking in the course of the afternoon.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The main subject of his meditation was an interview with Adela which he purposed seeking in the course of the afternoon.

word

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

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

works

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

From this reading Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.