Chapter II
“You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air. “You want work. What can you do?” What can you do? A fatal question.
Tales from Two Hemispheres
Chapter II
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“You
are
a
Norwegian,
I
hear,”
said
the
merchant,
looking
around
over
his
shoulder
at
the
supplicant,
with
a
preoccupied
air.
“You
want
work.
What
can
you
do?”
What
can
you
do?
A
fatal
question.
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Line 1
“You
are
a
Norwegian,
I
hear,”
said
the
merchant,
looking
around
over
his
shoulder
at
the
supplicant,
with
a
preoccupied
air.
Line 2
“You
want
work.
Line 3
What
can
you
do?”
/wʌt kæn juː duː/
Line 4
What
can
you
do?
/wʌt kæn juː duː/
Line 5
A
fatal
question.
Learner Dictionary
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
Around
preposition
US /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading ““You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air.”
Hear
noun
US /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ““You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air.”
Merchant
noun
US /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/
A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.
From this reading ““You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air.”
Over
preposition
US /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading ““You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air.”
Question
noun
US /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “A fatal question.”
All words in this reading · 26
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 “You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading “You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading What can you do?”
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading What can you do?”
fatal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fatal question.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air.
merchantnounUS /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/
A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.
From this reading “You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air.
Norwegian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air.
preoccupied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A fatal question.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air.
shoulder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air.
supplicant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air.
want
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You want work.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What can you do?”
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You want work.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air.