Chapter II
I first saw the light in the city of Boston in the year 1857. "What!" you say, "eighteen fifty-seven? That is an odd slip. He means nineteen fifty-seven, of course." I beg pardon, but there is no mistake.
Looking Backward: 2000-1887
Chapter II
English subtitles · tap any word to listen
1 / 5
I
first
saw
the
light
in
the
city
of
Boston
in
the
year
1857.
"What!"
you
say,
"eighteen
fifty-seven?
That
is
an
odd
slip.
He
means
nineteen
fifty-seven,
of
course."
I
beg
pardon,
but
there
is
no
mistake.
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Line 1
I
first
saw
the
light
in
the
city
of
Boston
in
the
year
1857.
Line 2
"What!"
you
say,
"eighteen
fifty-seven?
Line 3
That
is
an
odd
slip.
Line 4
He
means
nineteen
fifty-seven,
of
course."
Line 5
I
beg
pardon,
but
there
is
no
mistake.
Learner Dictionary
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
Course
noun
US /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He means nineteen fifty-seven, of course."”
First
noun
US /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I first saw the light in the city of Boston in the year 1857.”
Nineteen
noun
US /ˈnineteen/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “He means nineteen fifty-seven, of course."”
All words in this reading · 31
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
1857
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I first saw the light in the city of Boston in the year 1857.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading That is an odd slip.
beg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I beg pardon, but there is no mistake.
Boston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I first saw the light in the city of Boston in the year 1857.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I beg pardon, but there is no mistake.
city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I first saw the light in the city of Boston in the year 1857.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He means nineteen fifty-seven, of course."
eighteen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What!" you say, "eighteen fifty-seven?
fifty-seven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What!" you say, "eighteen fifty-seven?
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I first saw the light in the city of Boston in the year 1857.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He means nineteen fifty-seven, of course."
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I first saw the light in the city of Boston in the year 1857.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I first saw the light in the city of Boston in the year 1857.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That is an odd slip.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I first saw the light in the city of Boston in the year 1857.
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He means nineteen fifty-seven, of course."
mistake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I beg pardon, but there is no mistake.
nineteennounUS /ˈnineteen/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He means nineteen fifty-seven, of course."
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading I beg pardon, but there is no mistake.
odd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is an odd slip.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I first saw the light in the city of Boston in the year 1857.
pardon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I beg pardon, but there is no mistake.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I first saw the light in the city of Boston in the year 1857.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What!" you say, "eighteen fifty-seven?
slip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is an odd slip.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That is an odd slip.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I first saw the light in the city of Boston in the year 1857.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I beg pardon, but there is no mistake.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What!" you say, "eighteen fifty-seven?
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I first saw the light in the city of Boston in the year 1857.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What!" you say, "eighteen fifty-seven?