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Martin Eden
Martin Eden

Chapter XXI

Cover illustration for Martin Eden
Context Illustration Reading 1/44 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Maria Silva was poor, and all the ways of poverty were clear to her.
Poverty, to Ruth, was a word signifying a not-nice condition of existence.
That was her total knowledge on the subject.
She knew Martin was poor, and his condition she associated in her mind with the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln, of Mr. Butler, and of other men who had become successes.
Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.
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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.

Martin Eden

Chapter XXI

Reading 1/44 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Maria Silva was poor, and all the ways of poverty were clear to her.
Line 2
Poverty, to Ruth, was a word signifying a not-nice condition of existence.
Line 3
That was her total knowledge on the subject.
Line 4
She knew Martin was poor, and his condition she associated in her mind with the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln, of Mr. Butler, and of other men who had become successes.
Line 5
Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.

Learner Dictionary

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

Abraham noun US /ˈabraham/

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

From this reading “She knew Martin was poor, and his condition she associated in her mind with the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln, of Mr. Butler, and of other men who had become successes.”

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.”

Feeling noun US /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading “Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She knew Martin was poor, and his condition she associated in her mind with the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln, of Mr. Butler, and of other men who had become successes.”

Poor noun US /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Maria Silva was poor, and all the ways of poverty were clear to her.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.”

All words in this reading · 64

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 Poverty, to Ruth, was a word signifying a not-nice condition of existence.

Abraham

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

From this reading She knew Martin was poor, and his condition she associated in her mind with the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln, of Mr. Butler, and of other men who had become successes.

all

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

From this reading Maria Silva was poor, and all the ways of poverty were clear to her.

Also

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

From this reading Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Maria Silva was poor, and all the ways of poverty were clear to her.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.

associated

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

From this reading She knew Martin was poor, and his condition she associated in her mind with the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln, of Mr. Butler, and of other men who had become successes.

aware

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

From this reading Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.

become

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

From this reading She knew Martin was poor, and his condition she associated in her mind with the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln, of Mr. Butler, and of other men who had become successes.

boyhood

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

From this reading She knew Martin was poor, and his condition she associated in her mind with the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln, of Mr. Butler, and of other men who had become successes.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.

Butler

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

From this reading She knew Martin was poor, and his condition she associated in her mind with the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln, of Mr. Butler, and of other men who had become successes.

clear

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

From this reading Maria Silva was poor, and all the ways of poverty were clear to her.

comfortable

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

From this reading Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.

condition

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

From this reading Poverty, to Ruth, was a word signifying a not-nice condition of existence.

degraded

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

From this reading Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.

delectable

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

From this reading Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.

drudges

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

From this reading Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.

existence

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

From this reading Poverty, to Ruth, was a word signifying a not-nice condition of existence.

feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading She knew Martin was poor, and his condition she associated in her mind with the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln, of Mr. Butler, and of other men who had become successes.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Maria Silva was poor, and all the ways of poverty were clear to her.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading She knew Martin was poor, and his condition she associated in her mind with the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln, of Mr. Butler, and of other men who had become successes.

hopeless

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

From this reading Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She knew Martin was poor, and his condition she associated in her mind with the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln, of Mr. Butler, and of other men who had become successes.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.

knew

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

From this reading She knew Martin was poor, and his condition she associated in her mind with the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln, of Mr. Butler, and of other men who had become successes.

knowledge

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

From this reading That was her total knowledge on the subject.

Lincoln

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

From this reading She knew Martin was poor, and his condition she associated in her mind with the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln, of Mr. Butler, and of other men who had become successes.

Maria

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

From this reading Maria Silva was poor, and all the ways of poverty were clear to her.

Martin

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

From this reading She knew Martin was poor, and his condition she associated in her mind with the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln, of Mr. Butler, and of other men who had become successes.

men

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

From this reading She knew Martin was poor, and his condition she associated in her mind with the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln, of Mr. Butler, and of other men who had become successes.

middle-class

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

From this reading Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She knew Martin was poor, and his condition she associated in her mind with the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln, of Mr. Butler, and of other men who had become successes.

Mr

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

From this reading She knew Martin was poor, and his condition she associated in her mind with the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln, of Mr. Butler, and of other men who had become successes.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.

not-nice

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

From this reading Poverty, to Ruth, was a word signifying a not-nice condition of existence.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Maria Silva was poor, and all the ways of poverty were clear to her.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading That was her total knowledge on the subject.

other

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

From this reading She knew Martin was poor, and his condition she associated in her mind with the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln, of Mr. Butler, and of other men who had become successes.

poornounUS /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Maria Silva was poor, and all the ways of poverty were clear to her.

poverty

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

From this reading Maria Silva was poor, and all the ways of poverty were clear to her.

Ruth

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

From this reading Poverty, to Ruth, was a word signifying a not-nice condition of existence.

salutary

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

From this reading Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.

sharp

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

From this reading Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She knew Martin was poor, and his condition she associated in her mind with the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln, of Mr. Butler, and of other men who had become successes.

signifying

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

From this reading Poverty, to Ruth, was a word signifying a not-nice condition of existence.

Silva

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

From this reading Maria Silva was poor, and all the ways of poverty were clear to her.

spur

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

From this reading Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.

subject

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

From this reading That was her total knowledge on the subject.

success

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

From this reading Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.

successes

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

From this reading She knew Martin was poor, and his condition she associated in her mind with the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln, of Mr. Butler, and of other men who had become successes.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That was her total knowledge on the subject.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Maria Silva was poor, and all the ways of poverty were clear to her.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Maria Silva was poor, and all the ways of poverty were clear to her.

total

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

From this reading That was her total knowledge on the subject.

urged

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

From this reading Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Maria Silva was poor, and all the ways of poverty were clear to her.

ways

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

From this reading Maria Silva was poor, and all the ways of poverty were clear to her.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Maria Silva was poor, and all the ways of poverty were clear to her.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading Also, while aware that poverty was anything but delectable, she had a comfortable middle-class feeling that poverty was salutary, that it was a sharp spur that urged on to success all men who were not degraded and hopeless drudges.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading She knew Martin was poor, and his condition she associated in her mind with the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln, of Mr. Butler, and of other men who had become successes.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading She knew Martin was poor, and his condition she associated in her mind with the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln, of Mr. Butler, and of other men who had become successes.

word

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

From this reading Poverty, to Ruth, was a word signifying a not-nice condition of existence.