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Nobody's Man
Nobody's Man

Chapter X

Cover illustration for Nobody's Man
Context Illustration Reading 1/43 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Tallente, obeying an urgent telephone message, made his way to Claridge's and sent his card up to his wife.
Her maid came down and invited him to her suite, an invitation which he promptly declined.
In about a quarter of an hour she descended to the lounge, dressed for the street.
She showed no signs of confusion or nervousness at his visit.
She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.
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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.

Nobody's Man

Chapter X

Reading 1/43 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Tallente, obeying an urgent telephone message, made his way to Claridge's and sent his card up to his wife.
Line 2
Her maid came down and invited him to her suite, an invitation which he promptly declined.
Line 3
In about a quarter of an hour she descended to the lounge, dressed for the street.
Line 4
She showed no signs of confusion or nervousness at his visit.
Line 5
She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.

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 “In about a quarter of an hour she descended to the lounge, dressed for the street.”

Descended noun US /ˈdescended/

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

From this reading “In about a quarter of an hour she descended to the lounge, dressed for the street.”

Fair noun US /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.”

All words in this reading · 69

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 In about a quarter of an hour she descended to the lounge, dressed for the street.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading In about a quarter of an hour she descended to the lounge, dressed for the street.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Tallente, obeying an urgent telephone message, made his way to Claridge's and sent his card up to his wife.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Tallente, obeying an urgent telephone message, made his way to Claridge's and sent his card up to his wife.

arm

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

From this reading She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She showed no signs of confusion or nervousness at his visit.

background

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

From this reading She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.

came

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

From this reading Her maid came down and invited him to her suite, an invitation which he promptly declined.

card

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

From this reading Tallente, obeying an urgent telephone message, made his way to Claridge's and sent his card up to his wife.

case

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

From this reading She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.

Claridge's

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

From this reading Tallente, obeying an urgent telephone message, made his way to Claridge's and sent his card up to his wife.

cold

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

From this reading She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.

confusion

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

From this reading She showed no signs of confusion or nervousness at his visit.

declined

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

From this reading Her maid came down and invited him to her suite, an invitation which he promptly declined.

descendednounUS /ˈdescended/

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

From this reading In about a quarter of an hour she descended to the lounge, dressed for the street.

down

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

From this reading Her maid came down and invited him to her suite, an invitation which he promptly declined.

dressed

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

From this reading In about a quarter of an hour she descended to the lounge, dressed for the street.

fairnounUS /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading In about a quarter of an hour she descended to the lounge, dressed for the street.

fraudulent

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

From this reading She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.

hand

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

From this reading She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.

hard

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

From this reading She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Her maid came down and invited him to her suite, an invitation which he promptly declined.

HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Her maid came down and invited him to her suite, an invitation which he promptly declined.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Her maid came down and invited him to her suite, an invitation which he promptly declined.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Tallente, obeying an urgent telephone message, made his way to Claridge's and sent his card up to his wife.

hour

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

From this reading In about a quarter of an hour she descended to the lounge, dressed for the street.

hovering

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

From this reading She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In about a quarter of an hour she descended to the lounge, dressed for the street.

invitation

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

From this reading Her maid came down and invited him to her suite, an invitation which he promptly declined.

invited

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

From this reading Her maid came down and invited him to her suite, an invitation which he promptly declined.

jewel

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

From this reading She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.

lips

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

From this reading She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.

lounge

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

From this reading In about a quarter of an hour she descended to the lounge, dressed for the street.

made

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

From this reading Tallente, obeying an urgent telephone message, made his way to Claridge's and sent his card up to his wife.

maid

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

From this reading Her maid came down and invited him to her suite, an invitation which he promptly declined.

message

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

From this reading Tallente, obeying an urgent telephone message, made his way to Claridge's and sent his card up to his wife.

nervousness

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

From this reading She showed no signs of confusion or nervousness at his visit.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading She showed no signs of confusion or nervousness at his visit.

obeying

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

From this reading Tallente, obeying an urgent telephone message, made his way to Claridge's and sent his card up to his wife.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In about a quarter of an hour she descended to the lounge, dressed for the street.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading She showed no signs of confusion or nervousness at his visit.

other

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

From this reading She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.

Pekinese

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

From this reading She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.

perfection

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

From this reading She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.

promptly

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

From this reading Her maid came down and invited him to her suite, an invitation which he promptly declined.

quarter

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

From this reading In about a quarter of an hour she descended to the lounge, dressed for the street.

sent

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

From this reading Tallente, obeying an urgent telephone message, made his way to Claridge's and sent his card up to his wife.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading In about a quarter of an hour she descended to the lounge, dressed for the street.

showed

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

From this reading She showed no signs of confusion or nervousness at his visit.

signs

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

From this reading She showed no signs of confusion or nervousness at his visit.

smile

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

From this reading She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.

street

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

From this reading In about a quarter of an hour she descended to the lounge, dressed for the street.

suite

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

From this reading Her maid came down and invited him to her suite, an invitation which he promptly declined.

Tallente

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

From this reading Tallente, obeying an urgent telephone message, made his way to Claridge's and sent his card up to his wife.

telephone

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

From this reading Tallente, obeying an urgent telephone message, made his way to Claridge's and sent his card up to his wife.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading In about a quarter of an hour she descended to the lounge, dressed for the street.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Tallente, obeying an urgent telephone message, made his way to Claridge's and sent his card up to his wife.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.

up

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

From this reading Tallente, obeying an urgent telephone message, made his way to Claridge's and sent his card up to his wife.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.

urgent

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

From this reading Tallente, obeying an urgent telephone message, made his way to Claridge's and sent his card up to his wife.

visit

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

From this reading She showed no signs of confusion or nervousness at his visit.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.

way

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

From this reading Tallente, obeying an urgent telephone message, made his way to Claridge's and sent his card up to his wife.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Her maid came down and invited him to her suite, an invitation which he promptly declined.

wife

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

From this reading Tallente, obeying an urgent telephone message, made his way to Claridge's and sent his card up to his wife.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading She was hard and cold and fair, with a fraudulent smile upon her lips, dressed to perfection, her maid hovering in the background with a Pekinese under one arm and a jewel case in her other hand.