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Half A Chance
Half A Chance

Chapter XIII

Cover illustration for Half A Chance
Context Illustration Reading 1/53 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.
Lord Ronsdale had greeted John Steele perfunctorily; the other's manner was likewise mechanically courteous.
It could not very well have been otherwise; a number of people were near.
"Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.
"Perhaps--if there is any!"
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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.

Half A Chance

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/53 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.
Line 2
Lord Ronsdale had greeted John Steele perfunctorily; the other's manner was likewise mechanically courteous.
Line 3
It could not very well have been otherwise; a number of people were near.
Line 4
"Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.
Line 5
"Perhaps--if there is any!"

Learner Dictionary

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

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “It could not very well have been otherwise; a number of people were near.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “It could not very well have been otherwise; a number of people were near.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “"Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “It could not very well have been otherwise; a number of people were near.”

John noun US /john/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Lord Ronsdale had greeted John Steele perfunctorily; the other's manner was likewise mechanically courteous.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.”

Mechanically noun US /ˈmechanically/

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

From this reading “Lord Ronsdale had greeted John Steele perfunctorily; the other's manner was likewise mechanically courteous.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Perhaps--if there is any!"”

Shooting noun US /ˈshooting/

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

From this reading “"Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It could not very well have been otherwise; a number of people were near.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.”

All words in this reading · 74

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 A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

any

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

From this reading "Perhaps--if there is any!"

arrived

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

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.

away

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

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It could not very well have been otherwise; a number of people were near.

carelessly

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

From this reading "Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.

ComenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.

CONTEST

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

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading It could not very well have been otherwise; a number of people were near.

courteous

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

From this reading Lord Ronsdale had greeted John Steele perfunctorily; the other's manner was likewise mechanically courteous.

days

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

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

down

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

From this reading "Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.

few

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

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

frosty

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

From this reading "Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.

greeted

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

From this reading Lord Ronsdale had greeted John Steele perfunctorily; the other's manner was likewise mechanically courteous.

guests

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

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Lord Ronsdale had greeted John Steele perfunctorily; the other's manner was likewise mechanically courteous.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading "Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It could not very well have been otherwise; a number of people were near.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading "Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.

hours

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

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

house

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

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "Perhaps--if there is any!"

inseparable

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

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading "Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "Perhaps--if there is any!"

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It could not very well have been otherwise; a number of people were near.

John

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

From this reading Lord Ronsdale had greeted John Steele perfunctorily; the other's manner was likewise mechanically courteous.

likewise

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

From this reading Lord Ronsdale had greeted John Steele perfunctorily; the other's manner was likewise mechanically courteous.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.

Lord

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

From this reading Lord Ronsdale had greeted John Steele perfunctorily; the other's manner was likewise mechanically courteous.

manner

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

From this reading Lord Ronsdale had greeted John Steele perfunctorily; the other's manner was likewise mechanically courteous.

mechanically

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

From this reading Lord Ronsdale had greeted John Steele perfunctorily; the other's manner was likewise mechanically courteous.

near

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

From this reading It could not very well have been otherwise; a number of people were near.

nobleman

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

From this reading "Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It could not very well have been otherwise; a number of people were near.

number

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

From this reading It could not very well have been otherwise; a number of people were near.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

other

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

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

other's

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

From this reading Lord Ronsdale had greeted John Steele perfunctorily; the other's manner was likewise mechanically courteous.

otherwise

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

From this reading It could not very well have been otherwise; a number of people were near.

parties

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

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

pastimes

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

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

people

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

From this reading It could not very well have been otherwise; a number of people were near.

perfunctorily

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

From this reading Lord Ronsdale had greeted John Steele perfunctorily; the other's manner was likewise mechanically courteous.

Perhaps

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

From this reading "Perhaps--if there is any!"

pockets

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

From this reading "Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.

Ronsdale

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

From this reading Lord Ronsdale had greeted John Steele perfunctorily; the other's manner was likewise mechanically courteous.

round

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

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

served

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

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

shootingnounUS /ˈshooting/

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

From this reading "Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.

smile

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

From this reading "Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.

sport

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

From this reading "Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.

Steele

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

From this reading Lord Ronsdale had greeted John Steele perfunctorily; the other's manner was likewise mechanically courteous.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

there

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

From this reading "Perhaps--if there is any!"

thrust

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

From this reading "Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

trousers

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

From this reading "Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.

two

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

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

usual

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

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

very

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

From this reading It could not very well have been otherwise; a number of people were near.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Lord Ronsdale had greeted John Steele perfunctorily; the other's manner was likewise mechanically courteous.

well

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

From this reading It could not very well have been otherwise; a number of people were near.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading It could not very well have been otherwise; a number of people were near.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading A CONTEST A few days passed; the usual round of pastimes inseparable from house parties served to while away the hours; other guests arrived, one or two went.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "Come down for a little sport?" the nobleman, his hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his shooting trousers, had asked with a frosty smile.