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'Doc.' Gordon
'Doc.' Gordon

Chapter XIII

Cover illustration for 'Doc.' Gordon
Context Illustration Reading 1/69 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.
Lately nearly all the practice had devolved upon him.
Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.
Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.
Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.
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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.

'Doc.' Gordon

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/69 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.
Line 2
Lately nearly all the practice had devolved upon him.
Line 3
Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.
Line 4
Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.
Line 5
Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.”

Beginning noun US /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading “About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.”

Doctor noun US /doctor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.”

Smoking noun US /ˈsmoking/

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

From this reading “Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Lately nearly all the practice had devolved upon him.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.”

All words in this reading · 70

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 Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.

AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.

acted

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

From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.

all

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

From this reading Lately nearly all the practice had devolved upon him.

Alton

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

From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.

apathy

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

From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.

aroused

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

From this reading Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.

beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.

calls

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

From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.

death

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

From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.

devolved

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

From this reading Lately nearly all the practice had devolved upon him.

DoctornounUS /doctor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.

fully

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

From this reading Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.

gloomy

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

From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.

Gordon

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

From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.

Gordon's

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

From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Lately nearly all the practice had devolved upon him.

half-asleep

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

From this reading Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.

healthy

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

From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Lately nearly all the practice had devolved upon him.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.

James

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

From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.

just

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

From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.

Lately

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

From this reading Lately nearly all the practice had devolved upon him.

momentary

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

From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.

most

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

From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.

nearly

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

From this reading Lately nearly all the practice had devolved upon him.

necessities

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

From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.

office

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

From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.

Once

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

From this reading Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.

only

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

From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.

patient

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

From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.

post

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

From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.

practice

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

From this reading Lately nearly all the practice had devolved upon him.

round

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

From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.

rouse

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

From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.

sat

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

From this reading Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.

seemingly

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

From this reading Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.

sick

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

From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.

smokingnounUS /ˈsmoking/

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

From this reading Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.

stimulus

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

From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.

sunken

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

From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.

then

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

From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.

two

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

From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.

unusually

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

From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Lately nearly all the practice had devolved upon him.

urgent

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

From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.

very

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

From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Once aroused he was fully himself, but for the most part he sat in his office smoking or seemingly half-asleep.

weeks

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

From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Gordon seemed sunken in a gloomy apathy, from which he could rouse himself only for the most urgent necessities.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading Once in a while a very sick patient acted upon him as a momentary stimulus, but Alton was unusually healthy just then.

wife

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

From this reading About two weeks after the death of Doctor Gordon's wife James went to the post office before beginning his round of calls.