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The American Claimant
The American Claimant

Chapter X

Cover illustration for The American Claimant
Context Illustration Reading 1/46 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”
In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.
His first effort was to get an upper clerkship in one of the departments, where his Oxford education could come into play and do him service.
But he stood no chance whatever.
There, competency was no recommendation; political backing, without competency, was worth six of it.
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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.

The American Claimant

Chapter X

Reading 1/46 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”
Line 2
In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.
Line 3
His first effort was to get an upper clerkship in one of the departments, where his Oxford education could come into play and do him service.
Line 4
But he stood no chance whatever.
Line 5
There, competency was no recommendation; political backing, without competency, was worth six of it.

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 “During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.””

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His first effort was to get an upper clerkship in one of the departments, where his Oxford education could come into play and do him service.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “His first effort was to get an upper clerkship in one of the departments, where his Oxford education could come into play and do him service.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.””

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.””

Fitted adjective US /ˈfɪtɪd/

prepared and equipped for a particular purpose

From this reading “In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.””

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “His first effort was to get an upper clerkship in one of the departments, where his Oxford education could come into play and do him service.”

Recommendation noun US /ˌrɛkəmɛnˈdeɪʃən/

a quality or fact that makes someone or something suitable

From this reading “There, competency was no recommendation; political backing, without competency, was worth six of it.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But he stood no chance whatever.”

Stopped noun US /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.”

Whatever determiner US /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading “But he stood no chance whatever.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “There, competency was no recommendation; political backing, without competency, was worth six of it.”

All words in this reading · 78

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 During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

all

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

From this reading During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading His first effort was to get an upper clerkship in one of the departments, where his Oxford education could come into play and do him service.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

backing

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

From this reading There, competency was no recommendation; political backing, without competency, was worth six of it.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

bread

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

From this reading During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

chance

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

From this reading But he stood no chance whatever.

clerkship

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

From this reading His first effort was to get an upper clerkship in one of the departments, where his Oxford education could come into play and do him service.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His first effort was to get an upper clerkship in one of the departments, where his Oxford education could come into play and do him service.

competency

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

From this reading There, competency was no recommendation; political backing, without competency, was worth six of it.

convenience

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

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading His first effort was to get an upper clerkship in one of the departments, where his Oxford education could come into play and do him service.

days

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

From this reading During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

departments

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

From this reading His first effort was to get an upper clerkship in one of the departments, where his Oxford education could come into play and do him service.

diligently

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

From this reading During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading His first effort was to get an upper clerkship in one of the departments, where his Oxford education could come into play and do him service.

doubtful

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

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

down

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

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

education

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

From this reading His first effort was to get an upper clerkship in one of the departments, where his Oxford education could come into play and do him service.

effort

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

From this reading His first effort was to get an upper clerkship in one of the departments, where his Oxford education could come into play and do him service.

fact

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

From this reading During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

fatigued

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

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

few

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

From this reading During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtɪd/

prepared and equipped for a particular purpose

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

get

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

From this reading His first effort was to get an upper clerkship in one of the departments, where his Oxford education could come into play and do him service.

got

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

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading His first effort was to get an upper clerkship in one of the departments, where his Oxford education could come into play and do him service.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

hummed

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

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading His first effort was to get an upper clerkship in one of the departments, where his Oxford education could come into play and do him service.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

kept

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

From this reading During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

land

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

From this reading During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading But he stood no chance whatever.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading His first effort was to get an upper clerkship in one of the departments, where his Oxford education could come into play and do him service.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading His first effort was to get an upper clerkship in one of the departments, where his Oxford education could come into play and do him service.

Oxford

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

From this reading His first effort was to get an upper clerkship in one of the departments, where his Oxford education could come into play and do him service.

play

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

From this reading His first effort was to get an upper clerkship in one of the departments, where his Oxford education could come into play and do him service.

political

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

From this reading There, competency was no recommendation; political backing, without competency, was worth six of it.

presently

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

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

ran

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

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

recommendationnounUS /ˌrɛkəmɛnˈdeɪʃən/

a quality or fact that makes someone or something suitable

From this reading There, competency was no recommendation; political backing, without competency, was worth six of it.

sake

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

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

service

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

From this reading His first effort was to get an upper clerkship in one of the departments, where his Oxford education could come into play and do him service.

six

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

From this reading There, competency was no recommendation; political backing, without competency, was worth six of it.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But he stood no chance whatever.

stoppednounUS /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

there

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

From this reading During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

tune

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

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

upper

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

From this reading His first effort was to get an upper clerkship in one of the departments, where his Oxford education could come into play and do him service.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading But he stood no chance whatever.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading There, competency was no recommendation; political backing, without competency, was worth six of it.

wore

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

From this reading In fact, for convenience’ sake he fitted it to a little tune and hummed it to himself; but as time wore on the fact itself began to take on a doubtful look, and next the tune got fatigued and presently ran down and stopped.

work

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

From this reading During the first few days he kept the fact diligently before his mind that he was in a land where there was “work and bread for all.”

worth

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

From this reading There, competency was no recommendation; political backing, without competency, was worth six of it.