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"My Novel" — Complete
"My Novel" — Complete

Chapter XIV

Cover illustration for "My Novel" — Complete
Context Illustration Reading 1/84 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Leonard had been about six weeks with his uncle, and those weeks were well spent.
Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.
This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.
Leonard made rapid strides, and learned more in those six weeks than many a cleverish boy does in twice as many months.
These hours which Leonard devoted to study Richard usually spent from home,--sometimes at the houses of his grand acquaintances in the Abbey Gardens, sometimes in the Reading-Room appropriated to those aristocrats.
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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.

"My Novel" — Complete

Chapter XIV

Reading 1/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Leonard had been about six weeks with his uncle, and those weeks were well spent.
Line 2
Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.
Line 3
This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.
Line 4
Leonard made rapid strides, and learned more in those six weeks than many a cleverish boy does in twice as many months.
Line 5
These hours which Leonard devoted to study Richard usually spent from home,--sometimes at the houses of his grand acquaintances in the Abbey Gardens, sometimes in the Reading-Room appropriated to those aristocrats.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Leonard had been about six weeks with his uncle, and those weeks were well spent.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Leonard had been about six weeks with his uncle, and those weeks were well spent.”

Double noun US /double/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.”

Gentleman noun US /ˈgentleman/

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

From this reading “This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.”

Pleased noun US /ˈpleased/

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

From this reading “This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.”

Sometimes noun US /sometimes/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “These hours which Leonard devoted to study Richard usually spent from home,--sometimes at the houses of his grand acquaintances in the Abbey Gardens, sometimes in the Reading-Room appropriated to those aristocrats.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “These hours which Leonard devoted to study Richard usually spent from home,--sometimes at the houses of his grand acquaintances in the Abbey Gardens, sometimes in the Reading-Room appropriated to those aristocrats.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “Leonard had been about six weeks with his uncle, and those weeks were well spent.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Leonard had been about six weeks with his uncle, and those weeks were well spent.”

All words in this reading · 109

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 This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

Abbey

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

From this reading These hours which Leonard devoted to study Richard usually spent from home,--sometimes at the houses of his grand acquaintances in the Abbey Gardens, sometimes in the Reading-Room appropriated to those aristocrats.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Leonard had been about six weeks with his uncle, and those weeks were well spent.

acquaintances

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

From this reading These hours which Leonard devoted to study Richard usually spent from home,--sometimes at the houses of his grand acquaintances in the Abbey Gardens, sometimes in the Reading-Room appropriated to those aristocrats.

acute

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

afforded

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Leonard had been about six weeks with his uncle, and those weeks were well spent.

appropriated

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

From this reading These hours which Leonard devoted to study Richard usually spent from home,--sometimes at the houses of his grand acquaintances in the Abbey Gardens, sometimes in the Reading-Room appropriated to those aristocrats.

aristocrats

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

From this reading These hours which Leonard devoted to study Richard usually spent from home,--sometimes at the houses of his grand acquaintances in the Abbey Gardens, sometimes in the Reading-Room appropriated to those aristocrats.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Leonard made rapid strides, and learned more in those six weeks than many a cleverish boy does in twice as many months.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading These hours which Leonard devoted to study Richard usually spent from home,--sometimes at the houses of his grand acquaintances in the Abbey Gardens, sometimes in the Reading-Room appropriated to those aristocrats.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Leonard had been about six weeks with his uncle, and those weeks were well spent.

best

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

boy

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

From this reading Leonard made rapid strides, and learned more in those six weeks than many a cleverish boy does in twice as many months.

business

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

cleverish

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

From this reading Leonard made rapid strides, and learned more in those six weeks than many a cleverish boy does in twice as many months.

counting-house

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

delightedly

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

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

devoted

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

From this reading These hours which Leonard devoted to study Richard usually spent from home,--sometimes at the houses of his grand acquaintances in the Abbey Gardens, sometimes in the Reading-Room appropriated to those aristocrats.

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

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

From this reading Leonard made rapid strides, and learned more in those six weeks than many a cleverish boy does in twice as many months.

double

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

dull

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

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

eight

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

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

enforced

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

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

engaged

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

entry

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

evening

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

exactly

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

felt

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading These hours which Leonard devoted to study Richard usually spent from home,--sometimes at the houses of his grand acquaintances in the Abbey Gardens, sometimes in the Reading-Room appropriated to those aristocrats.

Gardens

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

From this reading These hours which Leonard devoted to study Richard usually spent from home,--sometimes at the houses of his grand acquaintances in the Abbey Gardens, sometimes in the Reading-Room appropriated to those aristocrats.

gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/

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

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

grammar

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

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

grand

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

From this reading These hours which Leonard devoted to study Richard usually spent from home,--sometimes at the houses of his grand acquaintances in the Abbey Gardens, sometimes in the Reading-Room appropriated to those aristocrats.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Leonard had been about six weeks with his uncle, and those weeks were well spent.

head

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

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Leonard had been about six weeks with his uncle, and those weeks were well spent.

home

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

From this reading These hours which Leonard devoted to study Richard usually spent from home,--sometimes at the houses of his grand acquaintances in the Abbey Gardens, sometimes in the Reading-Room appropriated to those aristocrats.

hours

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

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

houses

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

From this reading These hours which Leonard devoted to study Richard usually spent from home,--sometimes at the houses of his grand acquaintances in the Abbey Gardens, sometimes in the Reading-Room appropriated to those aristocrats.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

initiated

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

instinctively

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

instructions

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

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

large

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

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

Latin

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

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

learned

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

From this reading Leonard made rapid strides, and learned more in those six weeks than many a cleverish boy does in twice as many months.

Leonard

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

From this reading Leonard had been about six weeks with his uncle, and those weeks were well spent.

lessons

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

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

made

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

From this reading Leonard made rapid strides, and learned more in those six weeks than many a cleverish boy does in twice as many months.

man's

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

many

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

From this reading Leonard made rapid strides, and learned more in those six weeks than many a cleverish boy does in twice as many months.

master

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

matters

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

months

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

From this reading Leonard made rapid strides, and learned more in those six weeks than many a cleverish boy does in twice as many months.

more

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

From this reading Leonard made rapid strides, and learned more in those six weeks than many a cleverish boy does in twice as many months.

Mr

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

mysteries

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

nephew

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

o'clock

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

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

pleasednounUS /ˈpleased/

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

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

pupil

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

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

rapid

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

From this reading Leonard made rapid strides, and learned more in those six weeks than many a cleverish boy does in twice as many months.

read

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

readiness

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

Reading-Room

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

From this reading These hours which Leonard devoted to study Richard usually spent from home,--sometimes at the houses of his grand acquaintances in the Abbey Gardens, sometimes in the Reading-Room appropriated to those aristocrats.

return

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

Richard

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

routine

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

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

school

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

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

six

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

From this reading Leonard had been about six weeks with his uncle, and those weeks were well spent.

sometimes

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

From this reading These hours which Leonard devoted to study Richard usually spent from home,--sometimes at the houses of his grand acquaintances in the Abbey Gardens, sometimes in the Reading-Room appropriated to those aristocrats.

spent

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

From this reading Leonard had been about six weeks with his uncle, and those weeks were well spent.

strides

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

From this reading Leonard made rapid strides, and learned more in those six weeks than many a cleverish boy does in twice as many months.

study

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

From this reading These hours which Leonard devoted to study Richard usually spent from home,--sometimes at the houses of his grand acquaintances in the Abbey Gardens, sometimes in the Reading-Room appropriated to those aristocrats.

taken

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

tastes

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Leonard made rapid strides, and learned more in those six weeks than many a cleverish boy does in twice as many months.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading These hours which Leonard devoted to study Richard usually spent from home,--sometimes at the houses of his grand acquaintances in the Abbey Gardens, sometimes in the Reading-Room appropriated to those aristocrats.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Leonard had been about six weeks with his uncle, and those weeks were well spent.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

town

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

trader

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

twice

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

From this reading Leonard made rapid strides, and learned more in those six weeks than many a cleverish boy does in twice as many months.

uncle

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

From this reading Leonard had been about six weeks with his uncle, and those weeks were well spent.

usher

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

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

usually

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

From this reading These hours which Leonard devoted to study Richard usually spent from home,--sometimes at the houses of his grand acquaintances in the Abbey Gardens, sometimes in the Reading-Room appropriated to those aristocrats.

vary

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

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

weeks

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

From this reading Leonard had been about six weeks with his uncle, and those weeks were well spent.

well

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

From this reading Leonard had been about six weeks with his uncle, and those weeks were well spent.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Leonard had been about six weeks with his uncle, and those weeks were well spent.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading This gentleman was the head usher of a large school, who had his hours to himself after eight o’clock, and was pleased to vary the dull routine of enforced lessons by instructions to a pupil who took delightedly even to the Latin grammar.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Leonard had been about six weeks with his uncle, and those weeks were well spent.

young

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.

zeal

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

From this reading Mr. Richard had taken him to his counting-house, and initiated him into business and the mysteries of double entry; and in return for the young man’s readiness and zeal in matters which the acute trader instinctively felt were not exactly to his tastes, Richard engaged the best master the town afforded to read with his nephew in the evening.