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Oxford Days
Oxford Days

Chapter V

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Context Illustration Reading 1/13 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE LONG VACATION.
There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.
There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.
But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.
How familiar the road was!
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Oxford Days

Chapter V

Reading 1/13 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE LONG VACATION.
Line 2
There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.
Line 3
There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.
Line 4
But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.
Line 5
How familiar the road was!

Learner Dictionary

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

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.”

John noun US /john/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.”

LONG noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE LONG VACATION.”

Mixed verb US /mɪkst/

involved with or connected to

From this reading “There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.”

Pleasant noun US /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.”

All words in this reading · 73

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 There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.

admiring

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

From this reading But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.

alighted

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

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.

brothers

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

From this reading But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.

chief

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

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

commencement

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

From this reading There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.

condition

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

From this reading There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.

deal

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

From this reading There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.

dilate

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

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

factotum

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

From this reading But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.

familiar

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

From this reading How familiar the road was!

felt

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

From this reading There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.

few

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

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.

hard

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

From this reading But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.

holidays

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

From this reading There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.

How

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

From this reading How familiar the road was!

hurried

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

From this reading But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.

inquiries

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

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

John

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

From this reading But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.

knew

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

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

LONGnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE LONG VACATION.

made

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

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

matter

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

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

mixedverbUS /mɪkst/

involved with or connected to

From this reading There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.

new

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

From this reading There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.

now

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

From this reading But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.

off

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

From this reading But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.

old

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

From this reading But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

only

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

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

Oxford

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

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

passengers

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

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

people

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

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

platform

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

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

pleasantnounUS /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

pleasure

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

From this reading There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.

pony-carriage

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

From this reading But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.

Porchester

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

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

pride

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

From this reading There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.

road

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

From this reading How familiar the road was!

sat

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

From this reading But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.

school-boy's

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

From this reading There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.

seated

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

From this reading But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.

side

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

From this reading But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.

soon

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

From this reading But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.

talking

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

From this reading But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE LONG VACATION.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

There

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

From this reading There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

topic

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

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

two

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

From this reading But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

VACATION

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

From this reading THE LONG VACATION.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading There were only a few passengers for Porchester, and only a few people on the platform when he alighted; but the few there were knew him, and Oxford made the chief matter of their inquiries, and a pleasant topic for him to dilate upon.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading There was a good deal of the school-boy’s pleasure in the commencement of the holidays, mixed with the pride that he felt in his new condition.

younger

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

From this reading But he was soon hurried off by two of his admiring younger brothers, and seated at the side of old John, the factotum, in the pony-carriage, talking hard, now to him, now to his brothers, who sat behind.