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Phineas Redux
Phineas Redux

Chapter III

Cover illustration for Phineas Redux
Context Illustration Reading 1/80 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
PHINEAS AND HIS OLD FRIENDS.
Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.
He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.
And now he did think it probable that he should get the seat on a petition.
A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Phineas Redux

Chapter III

Reading 1/80 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
PHINEAS AND HIS OLD FRIENDS.
Line 2
Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.
Line 3
He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.
Line 4
And now he did think it probable that he should get the seat on a petition.
Line 5
A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.”

Believe noun US /ˈbelieve/

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

From this reading “He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.”

Journey noun US /ˈjourney/

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

From this reading “Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.”

Question noun US /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading “He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.”

Returned noun US /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading “Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And now he did think it probable that he should get the seat on a petition.”

Thither adverb US /ˈðɪθɜːr/

an old word meaning “to that place”

From this reading “Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading “Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.”

All words in this reading · 71

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 now he did think it probable that he should get the seat on a petition.

accompanied

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

From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading PHINEAS AND HIS OLD FRIENDS.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.

believenounUS /ˈbelieve/

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

From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.

better

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

From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.

borough

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

From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.

Browborough

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

From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.

business

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

From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.

cost

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

From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading And now he did think it probable that he should get the seat on a petition.

elected

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

From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.

election

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

From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.

existing

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

From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.

expensive

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

From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.

fall

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

From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.

Finn

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

From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.

FRIENDS

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

From this reading PHINEAS AND HIS OLD FRIENDS.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.

get

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

From this reading And now he did think it probable that he should get the seat on a petition.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.

HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading PHINEAS AND HIS OLD FRIENDS.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.

journeynounUS /ˈjourney/

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

From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.

law

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

From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.

London

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

From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.

made

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

From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.

Mr

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

From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.

much

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

From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.

now

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

From this reading And now he did think it probable that he should get the seat on a petition.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.

OLD

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

From this reading PHINEAS AND HIS OLD FRIENDS.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.

out

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

From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.

petition

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

From this reading And now he did think it probable that he should get the seat on a petition.

PHINEAS

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

From this reading PHINEAS AND HIS OLD FRIENDS.

probable

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

From this reading And now he did think it probable that he should get the seat on a petition.

questionnounUS /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.

returnednounUS /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.

scrutiny

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

From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.

seat

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

From this reading And now he did think it probable that he should get the seat on a petition.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.

shoulders

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

From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.

spirits

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

From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.

successful

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

From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.

Tankerville

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

From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.

then

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

From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And now he did think it probable that he should get the seat on a petition.

thitheradverbUS /ˈðɪθɜːr/

an old word meaning “to that place”

From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.

used

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

From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.

very

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

From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.