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Nancy: A Novel
Nancy: A Novel

Chapter XXI

Cover illustration for Nancy: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/24 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When I return home, I find that Barbara is still no better.
She is still lying in her darkened room, and has asked not to be disturbed.
And even _my_ wrongs are not such as to justify my forcing myself upon the painful privacy of a sick-headache.
How much the better am I then than I was before my late expedition?
I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Nancy: A Novel

Chapter XXI

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When I return home, I find that Barbara is still no better.
Line 2
She is still lying in her darkened room, and has asked not to be disturbed.
Line 3
And even _my_ wrongs are not such as to justify my forcing myself upon the painful privacy of a sick-headache.
Line 4
How much the better am I then than I was before my late expedition?
Line 5
I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

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 “She is still lying in her darkened room, and has asked not to be disturbed.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “How much the better am I then than I was before my late expedition?”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And even _my_ wrongs are not such as to justify my forcing myself upon the painful privacy of a sick-headache.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading “She is still lying in her darkened room, and has asked not to be disturbed.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “And even _my_ wrongs are not such as to justify my forcing myself upon the painful privacy of a sick-headache.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When I return home, I find that Barbara is still no better.”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “And even _my_ wrongs are not such as to justify my forcing myself upon the painful privacy of a sick-headache.”

All words in this reading · 75

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 And even _my_ wrongs are not such as to justify my forcing myself upon the painful privacy of a sick-headache.

absolutely

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

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

addition

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

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading How much the better am I then than I was before my late expedition?

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading She is still lying in her darkened room, and has asked not to be disturbed.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading And even _my_ wrongs are not such as to justify my forcing myself upon the painful privacy of a sick-headache.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading And even _my_ wrongs are not such as to justify my forcing myself upon the painful privacy of a sick-headache.

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She is still lying in her darkened room, and has asked not to be disturbed.

Barbara

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

From this reading When I return home, I find that Barbara is still no better.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading She is still lying in her darkened room, and has asked not to be disturbed.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading How much the better am I then than I was before my late expedition?

better

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

From this reading When I return home, I find that Barbara is still no better.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

certainly

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

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

comes

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

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

communication

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

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

darkened

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

From this reading She is still lying in her darkened room, and has asked not to be disturbed.

disturbed

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

From this reading She is still lying in her darkened room, and has asked not to be disturbed.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And even _my_ wrongs are not such as to justify my forcing myself upon the painful privacy of a sick-headache.

expedition

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

From this reading How much the better am I then than I was before my late expedition?

find

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

From this reading When I return home, I find that Barbara is still no better.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

forcing

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

From this reading And even _my_ wrongs are not such as to justify my forcing myself upon the painful privacy of a sick-headache.

Frank

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

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

fresh

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

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

got

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

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

grievance

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

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading She is still lying in her darkened room, and has asked not to be disturbed.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading She is still lying in her darkened room, and has asked not to be disturbed.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

home

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

From this reading When I return home, I find that Barbara is still no better.

How

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

From this reading How much the better am I then than I was before my late expedition?

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading When I return home, I find that Barbara is still no better.

impart

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

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She is still lying in her darkened room, and has asked not to be disturbed.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading When I return home, I find that Barbara is still no better.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

justify

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

From this reading And even _my_ wrongs are not such as to justify my forcing myself upon the painful privacy of a sick-headache.

late

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

From this reading How much the better am I then than I was before my late expedition?

lying

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

From this reading She is still lying in her darkened room, and has asked not to be disturbed.

much

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

From this reading How much the better am I then than I was before my late expedition?

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading And even _my_ wrongs are not such as to justify my forcing myself upon the painful privacy of a sick-headache.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading And even _my_ wrongs are not such as to justify my forcing myself upon the painful privacy of a sick-headache.

new

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

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading When I return home, I find that Barbara is still no better.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She is still lying in her darkened room, and has asked not to be disturbed.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading And even _my_ wrongs are not such as to justify my forcing myself upon the painful privacy of a sick-headache.

old

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

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

painful

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

From this reading And even _my_ wrongs are not such as to justify my forcing myself upon the painful privacy of a sick-headache.

privacy

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

From this reading And even _my_ wrongs are not such as to justify my forcing myself upon the painful privacy of a sick-headache.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

return

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

From this reading When I return home, I find that Barbara is still no better.

room

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

From this reading She is still lying in her darkened room, and has asked not to be disturbed.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She is still lying in her darkened room, and has asked not to be disturbed.

sick-headache

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

From this reading And even _my_ wrongs are not such as to justify my forcing myself upon the painful privacy of a sick-headache.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When I return home, I find that Barbara is still no better.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading And even _my_ wrongs are not such as to justify my forcing myself upon the painful privacy of a sick-headache.

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading How much the better am I then than I was before my late expedition?

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When I return home, I find that Barbara is still no better.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading And even _my_ wrongs are not such as to justify my forcing myself upon the painful privacy of a sick-headache.

then

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

From this reading How much the better am I then than I was before my late expedition?

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading She is still lying in her darkened room, and has asked not to be disturbed.

unlightened

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

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading And even _my_ wrongs are not such as to justify my forcing myself upon the painful privacy of a sick-headache.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading How much the better am I then than I was before my late expedition?

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When I return home, I find that Barbara is still no better.

whole

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

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I have brought home my old grievance quite whole and unlightened by communication, and I have got a new and fresh one in addition, with absolutely no one to whom to impart it; for, even when Frank comes, I will certainly not tell _him_.

wrongs

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

From this reading And even _my_ wrongs are not such as to justify my forcing myself upon the painful privacy of a sick-headache.