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Half a Hero: A Novel
Half a Hero: A Novel

Chapter II

Cover illustration for Half a Hero: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HOSPITALITY _EX OFFICIO_.
"I confess to being very much alarmed," said Mr. Kilshaw, "and I think Capital generally shares the feeling."
"If I thought he could last, I should share it myself," said Sir Robert Perry.
"He may easily last long enough to half ruin my business.
Large concerns are delicate concerns."
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Half a Hero: A Novel

Chapter II

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HOSPITALITY _EX OFFICIO_.
Line 2
"I confess to being very much alarmed," said Mr. Kilshaw, "and I think Capital generally shares the feeling."
Line 3
"If I thought he could last, I should share it myself," said Sir Robert Perry.
Line 4
"He may easily last long enough to half ruin my business.
Line 5
Large concerns are delicate concerns."

Learner Dictionary

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

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “"I confess to being very much alarmed," said Mr. Kilshaw, "and I think Capital generally shares the feeling."”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “"If I thought he could last, I should share it myself," said Sir Robert Perry.”

Feeling noun US /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading “"I confess to being very much alarmed," said Mr. Kilshaw, "and I think Capital generally shares the feeling."”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"He may easily last long enough to half ruin my business.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"If I thought he could last, I should share it myself," said Sir Robert Perry.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"He may easily last long enough to half ruin my business.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “"He may easily last long enough to half ruin my business.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “"If I thought he could last, I should share it myself," said Sir Robert Perry.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"I confess to being very much alarmed," said Mr. Kilshaw, "and I think Capital generally shares the feeling."”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"If I thought he could last, I should share it myself," said Sir Robert Perry.”

All words in this reading · 44

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

alarmed

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

From this reading "I confess to being very much alarmed," said Mr. Kilshaw, "and I think Capital generally shares the feeling."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "I confess to being very much alarmed," said Mr. Kilshaw, "and I think Capital generally shares the feeling."

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Large concerns are delicate concerns."

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading "I confess to being very much alarmed," said Mr. Kilshaw, "and I think Capital generally shares the feeling."

business

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

From this reading "He may easily last long enough to half ruin my business.

Capital

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

From this reading "I confess to being very much alarmed," said Mr. Kilshaw, "and I think Capital generally shares the feeling."

concerns

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

From this reading Large concerns are delicate concerns."

confess

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

From this reading "I confess to being very much alarmed," said Mr. Kilshaw, "and I think Capital generally shares the feeling."

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading "If I thought he could last, I should share it myself," said Sir Robert Perry.

delicate

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

From this reading Large concerns are delicate concerns."

easily

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

From this reading "He may easily last long enough to half ruin my business.

enough

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

From this reading "He may easily last long enough to half ruin my business.

EX

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

From this reading HOSPITALITY _EX OFFICIO_.

feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading "I confess to being very much alarmed," said Mr. Kilshaw, "and I think Capital generally shares the feeling."

generally

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

From this reading "I confess to being very much alarmed," said Mr. Kilshaw, "and I think Capital generally shares the feeling."

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "He may easily last long enough to half ruin my business.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "If I thought he could last, I should share it myself," said Sir Robert Perry.

HOSPITALITY

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

From this reading HOSPITALITY _EX OFFICIO_.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "I confess to being very much alarmed," said Mr. Kilshaw, "and I think Capital generally shares the feeling."

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "If I thought he could last, I should share it myself," said Sir Robert Perry.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "If I thought he could last, I should share it myself," said Sir Robert Perry.

Kilshaw

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

From this reading "I confess to being very much alarmed," said Mr. Kilshaw, "and I think Capital generally shares the feeling."

Large

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

From this reading Large concerns are delicate concerns."

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "If I thought he could last, I should share it myself," said Sir Robert Perry.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "He may easily last long enough to half ruin my business.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading "He may easily last long enough to half ruin my business.

Mr

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

From this reading "I confess to being very much alarmed," said Mr. Kilshaw, "and I think Capital generally shares the feeling."

much

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

From this reading "I confess to being very much alarmed," said Mr. Kilshaw, "and I think Capital generally shares the feeling."

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "He may easily last long enough to half ruin my business.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading "If I thought he could last, I should share it myself," said Sir Robert Perry.

OFFICIO

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

From this reading HOSPITALITY _EX OFFICIO_.

Perry

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

From this reading "If I thought he could last, I should share it myself," said Sir Robert Perry.

Robert

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

From this reading "If I thought he could last, I should share it myself," said Sir Robert Perry.

ruin

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

From this reading "He may easily last long enough to half ruin my business.

said

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

From this reading "I confess to being very much alarmed," said Mr. Kilshaw, "and I think Capital generally shares the feeling."

share

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

From this reading "If I thought he could last, I should share it myself," said Sir Robert Perry.

shares

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

From this reading "I confess to being very much alarmed," said Mr. Kilshaw, "and I think Capital generally shares the feeling."

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading "If I thought he could last, I should share it myself," said Sir Robert Perry.

Sir

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

From this reading "If I thought he could last, I should share it myself," said Sir Robert Perry.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "I confess to being very much alarmed," said Mr. Kilshaw, "and I think Capital generally shares the feeling."

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "I confess to being very much alarmed," said Mr. Kilshaw, "and I think Capital generally shares the feeling."

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "If I thought he could last, I should share it myself," said Sir Robert Perry.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "I confess to being very much alarmed," said Mr. Kilshaw, "and I think Capital generally shares the feeling."

very

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

From this reading "I confess to being very much alarmed," said Mr. Kilshaw, "and I think Capital generally shares the feeling."