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The Cassowary
The Cassowary

Chapter XI

Cover illustration for The Cassowary
Context Illustration Reading 1/38 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE PORTER'S STORY From the beginning of the train's delay the porter of the sleeping car had attracted attention unostentatiously.
This expression perhaps best describes the man's demeanor.
He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.
He was a blonde man, six feet in height.
There was to his bearing a certain dignity.
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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 Cassowary

Chapter XI

Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE PORTER'S STORY From the beginning of the train's delay the porter of the sleeping car had attracted attention unostentatiously.
Line 2
This expression perhaps best describes the man's demeanor.
Line 3
He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.
Line 4
He was a blonde man, six feet in height.
Line 5
There was to his bearing a certain dignity.

Learner Dictionary

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

Beginning noun US /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading “THE PORTER'S STORY From the beginning of the train's delay the porter of the sleeping car had attracted attention unostentatiously.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This expression perhaps best describes the man's demeanor.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.”

All words in this reading · 66

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 He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

age

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

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

apparently

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

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

attention

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

From this reading THE PORTER'S STORY From the beginning of the train's delay the porter of the sleeping car had attracted attention unostentatiously.

attracted

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

From this reading THE PORTER'S STORY From the beginning of the train's delay the porter of the sleeping car had attracted attention unostentatiously.

bearing

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

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading THE PORTER'S STORY From the beginning of the train's delay the porter of the sleeping car had attracted attention unostentatiously.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

best

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

From this reading This expression perhaps best describes the man's demeanor.

blonde

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

From this reading He was a blonde man, six feet in height.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

car

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

From this reading THE PORTER'S STORY From the beginning of the train's delay the porter of the sleeping car had attracted attention unostentatiously.

certain

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

From this reading There was to his bearing a certain dignity.

circumstances

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

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

delay

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

From this reading THE PORTER'S STORY From the beginning of the train's delay the porter of the sleeping car had attracted attention unostentatiously.

demeanor

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

From this reading This expression perhaps best describes the man's demeanor.

describes

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

From this reading This expression perhaps best describes the man's demeanor.

dignity

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

From this reading There was to his bearing a certain dignity.

disadvantage

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

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

expression

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

From this reading This expression perhaps best describes the man's demeanor.

feet

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

From this reading He was a blonde man, six feet in height.

fighting

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

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THE PORTER'S STORY From the beginning of the train's delay the porter of the sleeping car had attracted attention unostentatiously.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading THE PORTER'S STORY From the beginning of the train's delay the porter of the sleeping car had attracted attention unostentatiously.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

height

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

From this reading He was a blonde man, six feet in height.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading There was to his bearing a certain dignity.

human

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

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

indefinable

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

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

man

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

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

man's

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

From this reading This expression perhaps best describes the man's demeanor.

manifests

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

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

much

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

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE PORTER'S STORY From the beginning of the train's delay the porter of the sleeping car had attracted attention unostentatiously.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

perhaps

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

From this reading This expression perhaps best describes the man's demeanor.

porter

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

From this reading THE PORTER'S STORY From the beginning of the train's delay the porter of the sleeping car had attracted attention unostentatiously.

PORTER'S

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

From this reading THE PORTER'S STORY From the beginning of the train's delay the porter of the sleeping car had attracted attention unostentatiously.

six

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

From this reading He was a blonde man, six feet in height.

sleeping

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

From this reading THE PORTER'S STORY From the beginning of the train's delay the porter of the sleeping car had attracted attention unostentatiously.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

STORY

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

From this reading THE PORTER'S STORY From the beginning of the train's delay the porter of the sleeping car had attracted attention unostentatiously.

stress

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

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE PORTER'S STORY From the beginning of the train's delay the porter of the sleeping car had attracted attention unostentatiously.

There

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

From this reading There was to his bearing a certain dignity.

thirty

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

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This expression perhaps best describes the man's demeanor.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading There was to his bearing a certain dignity.

train's

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

From this reading THE PORTER'S STORY From the beginning of the train's delay the porter of the sleeping car had attracted attention unostentatiously.

unfortunate

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

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

unostentatiously

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

From this reading THE PORTER'S STORY From the beginning of the train's delay the porter of the sleeping car had attracted attention unostentatiously.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

white

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

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

world

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

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.

years

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

From this reading He was, apparently, not much over thirty years of age, and a white man, but for that indefinable something which manifests itself in the bearing of a human being who, by unfortunate stress of circumstances, is fighting the world at a disadvantage.