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 We had leave to make a party and go up to Cairo and the Pyramids.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
adopted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
Alexandria
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
allusion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
America
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
boys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
Brandywine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
Cairo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had leave to make a party and go up to Cairo and the Pyramids.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
changed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
common
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were common enough in the old days, when people in the other hemisphere talked of the United States as little as we do of Paraguay.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were common enough in the old days, when people in the other hemisphere talked of the United States as little as we do of Paraguay.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading These were common enough in the old days, when people in the other hemisphere talked of the United States as little as we do of Paraguay.
donkeys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
Dons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were common enough in the old days, when people in the other hemisphere talked of the United States as little as we do of Paraguay.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
gentlemennounUS /gentlemen/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had leave to make a party and go up to Cairo and the Pyramids.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
hemisphere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were common enough in the old days, when people in the other hemisphere talked of the United States as little as we do of Paraguay.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
hung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
jogged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
joined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had leave to make a party and go up to Cairo and the Pyramids.
lend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading These were common enough in the old days, when people in the other hemisphere talked of the United States as little as we do of Paraguay.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We had leave to make a party and go up to Cairo and the Pyramids.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
navy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
Nolan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
officers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were common enough in the old days, when people in the other hemisphere talked of the United States as little as we do of Paraguay.
older
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
Paraguay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were common enough in the old days, when people in the other hemisphere talked of the United States as little as we do of Paraguay.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We had leave to make a party and go up to Cairo and the Pyramids.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were common enough in the old days, when people in the other hemisphere talked of the United States as little as we do of Paraguay.
permitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
phrase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
port
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
published
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
Pyramids
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had leave to make a party and go up to Cairo and the Pyramids.
reading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
shipnounUS /ship/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
shore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
someonepronounUS /ˈsʌmwʌn/
a person, without saying who
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
States
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were common enough in the old days, when people in the other hemisphere talked of the United States as little as we do of Paraguay.
system
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
talked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were common enough in the old days, when people in the other hemisphere talked of the United States as little as we do of Paraguay.
talking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These were common enough in the old days, when people in the other hemisphere talked of the United States as little as we do of Paraguay.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We had leave to make a party and go up to Cairo and the Pyramids.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
United
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were common enough in the old days, when people in the other hemisphere talked of the United States as little as we do of Paraguay.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had leave to make a party and go up to Cairo and the Pyramids.
vessel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading As he was almost never permitted to go on shore, even though the vessel lay in port for months, his time at the best hung heavy; and everybody was permitted to lend him books, if they were not published in America and made no allusion to it.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading These were common enough in the old days, when people in the other hemisphere talked of the United States as little as we do of Paraguay.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I remember, soon after I joined the navy, I was on shore with some of the older officers from our ship and from the _Brandywine_, which we had met at Alexandria.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading As we jogged along (you went on donkeys then), some of the gentlemen (we boys called them "Dons," but the phrase was long since changed) fell to talking about Nolan, and someone told the system which was adopted from the first about his books and other reading.
