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Denzil Quarrier
Denzil Quarrier

Chapter XIII

Cover illustration for Denzil Quarrier
Context Illustration Reading 1/47 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.
By the end of January he had practically forgotten that his position was in any respect insecure.
The risk of betraying himself in an unguarded moment was diminished by the mental habit established during eighteen months of secrecy in London.
Lilian's name was seldom upon his lips, and any inquiry concerning her at once awakened his caution.
Between themselves they never spoke of the past.
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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.

Denzil Quarrier

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/47 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.
Line 2
By the end of January he had practically forgotten that his position was in any respect insecure.
Line 3
The risk of betraying himself in an unguarded moment was diminished by the mental habit established during eighteen months of secrecy in London.
Line 4
Lilian's name was seldom upon his lips, and any inquiry concerning her at once awakened his caution.
Line 5
Between themselves they never spoke of the past.

Learner Dictionary

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

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “Between themselves they never spoke of the past.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “The risk of betraying himself in an unguarded moment was diminished by the mental habit established during eighteen months of secrecy in London.”

Equanimity noun US /ˌek.wəˈnɪm.ə.t̬i/

Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation.

From this reading “There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.”

Forgotten adjective US /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/

Not remembered; lapsed from memory.

From this reading “By the end of January he had practically forgotten that his position was in any respect insecure.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “The risk of betraying himself in an unguarded moment was diminished by the mental habit established during eighteen months of secrecy in London.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.”

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Lilian's name was seldom upon his lips, and any inquiry concerning her at once awakened his caution.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Between themselves they never spoke of the past.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Lilian's name was seldom upon his lips, and any inquiry concerning her at once awakened his caution.”

Themselves pronoun US /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading “Between themselves they never spoke of the past.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.”

All words in this reading · 75

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 There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

all

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

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

allay

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

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The risk of betraying himself in an unguarded moment was diminished by the mental habit established during eighteen months of secrecy in London.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Lilian's name was seldom upon his lips, and any inquiry concerning her at once awakened his caution.

any

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

From this reading By the end of January he had practically forgotten that his position was in any respect insecure.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

awakened

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

From this reading Lilian's name was seldom upon his lips, and any inquiry concerning her at once awakened his caution.

betraying

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

From this reading The risk of betraying himself in an unguarded moment was diminished by the mental habit established during eighteen months of secrecy in London.

BetweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Between themselves they never spoke of the past.

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By the end of January he had practically forgotten that his position was in any respect insecure.

career

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

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

caution

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

From this reading Lilian's name was seldom upon his lips, and any inquiry concerning her at once awakened his caution.

concerning

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

From this reading Lilian's name was seldom upon his lips, and any inquiry concerning her at once awakened his caution.

days

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

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

Denzil

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

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

diminished

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

From this reading The risk of betraying himself in an unguarded moment was diminished by the mental habit established during eighteen months of secrecy in London.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading The risk of betraying himself in an unguarded moment was diminished by the mental habit established during eighteen months of secrecy in London.

eighteen

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

From this reading The risk of betraying himself in an unguarded moment was diminished by the mental habit established during eighteen months of secrecy in London.

end

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

From this reading By the end of January he had practically forgotten that his position was in any respect insecure.

entered

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

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

equanimitynounUS /ˌek.wəˈnɪm.ə.t̬i/

Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation.

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

established

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

From this reading The risk of betraying himself in an unguarded moment was diminished by the mental habit established during eighteen months of secrecy in London.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/

Not remembered; lapsed from memory.

From this reading By the end of January he had practically forgotten that his position was in any respect insecure.

habit

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

From this reading The risk of betraying himself in an unguarded moment was diminished by the mental habit established during eighteen months of secrecy in London.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading By the end of January he had practically forgotten that his position was in any respect insecure.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading By the end of January he had practically forgotten that his position was in any respect insecure.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Lilian's name was seldom upon his lips, and any inquiry concerning her at once awakened his caution.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading The risk of betraying himself in an unguarded moment was diminished by the mental habit established during eighteen months of secrecy in London.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading By the end of January he had practically forgotten that his position was in any respect insecure.

inquiry

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

From this reading Lilian's name was seldom upon his lips, and any inquiry concerning her at once awakened his caution.

insecure

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

From this reading By the end of January he had practically forgotten that his position was in any respect insecure.

January

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

From this reading By the end of January he had practically forgotten that his position was in any respect insecure.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

Lilian's

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

From this reading Lilian's name was seldom upon his lips, and any inquiry concerning her at once awakened his caution.

lips

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

From this reading Lilian's name was seldom upon his lips, and any inquiry concerning her at once awakened his caution.

London

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

From this reading The risk of betraying himself in an unguarded moment was diminished by the mental habit established during eighteen months of secrecy in London.

mental

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

From this reading The risk of betraying himself in an unguarded moment was diminished by the mental habit established during eighteen months of secrecy in London.

moment

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

From this reading The risk of betraying himself in an unguarded moment was diminished by the mental habit established during eighteen months of secrecy in London.

months

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

From this reading The risk of betraying himself in an unguarded moment was diminished by the mental habit established during eighteen months of secrecy in London.

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Lilian's name was seldom upon his lips, and any inquiry concerning her at once awakened his caution.

needed

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

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Between themselves they never spoke of the past.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

once

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

From this reading Lilian's name was seldom upon his lips, and any inquiry concerning her at once awakened his caution.

only

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

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

past

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

From this reading Between themselves they never spoke of the past.

perilous

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

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

Polterham

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

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

position

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

From this reading By the end of January he had practically forgotten that his position was in any respect insecure.

practically

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

From this reading By the end of January he had practically forgotten that his position was in any respect insecure.

respect

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

From this reading By the end of January he had practically forgotten that his position was in any respect insecure.

risk

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

From this reading The risk of betraying himself in an unguarded moment was diminished by the mental habit established during eighteen months of secrecy in London.

secrecy

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

From this reading The risk of betraying himself in an unguarded moment was diminished by the mental habit established during eighteen months of secrecy in London.

seldom

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

From this reading Lilian's name was seldom upon his lips, and any inquiry concerning her at once awakened his caution.

show

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

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

spoke

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

From this reading Between themselves they never spoke of the past.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading By the end of January he had practically forgotten that his position was in any respect insecure.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading Between themselves they never spoke of the past.

There

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

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Between themselves they never spoke of the past.

three

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

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

two

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

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

uneasiness

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

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

unguarded

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

From this reading The risk of betraying himself in an unguarded moment was diminished by the mental habit established during eighteen months of secrecy in London.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading By the end of January he had practically forgotten that his position was in any respect insecure.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading There needed only two or three days of life at Polterham to allay the uneasiness with which, for all his show of equanimity, Denzil entered upon so perilous a career.