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The Dumpling
The Dumpling

Chapter XIV

Cover illustration for The Dumpling
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE INEXPLICABLE CONDUCT OF MISS CLARA.
A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.
But, on the whole, I was not inclined to be altogether dissatisfied with the interview.
Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.
But her words and her acts of to-day--so it seemed to me--were a tacit admission that the barrier had been removed.
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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 Dumpling

Chapter XIV

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE INEXPLICABLE CONDUCT OF MISS CLARA.
Line 2
A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.
Line 3
But, on the whole, I was not inclined to be altogether dissatisfied with the interview.
Line 4
Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.
Line 5
But her words and her acts of to-day--so it seemed to me--were a tacit admission that the barrier had been removed.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.”

Disposed noun US /ˈdisposed/

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

From this reading “A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.”

INEXPLICABLE noun US /inexplicable/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE INEXPLICABLE CONDUCT OF MISS CLARA.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But her words and her acts of to-day--so it seemed to me--were a tacit admission that the barrier had been removed.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.”

All words in this reading · 84

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 A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

acts

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

From this reading But her words and her acts of to-day--so it seemed to me--were a tacit admission that the barrier had been removed.

admission

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

From this reading But her words and her acts of to-day--so it seemed to me--were a tacit admission that the barrier had been removed.

altogether

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

From this reading But, on the whole, I was not inclined to be altogether dissatisfied with the interview.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

barrier

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

From this reading But her words and her acts of to-day--so it seemed to me--were a tacit admission that the barrier had been removed.

barriers

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

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading But, on the whole, I was not inclined to be altogether dissatisfied with the interview.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But, on the whole, I was not inclined to be altogether dissatisfied with the interview.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

CLARA

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

From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE CONDUCT OF MISS CLARA.

conceivably

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

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

CONDUCT

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

From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE CONDUCT OF MISS CLARA.

convention

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

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

custom

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

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

depths

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

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

despair

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

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

disposednounUS /ˈdisposed/

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

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

dissatisfied

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

From this reading But, on the whole, I was not inclined to be altogether dissatisfied with the interview.

distance

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

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

existed

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

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

failed

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

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

hated

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

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

inclined

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

From this reading But, on the whole, I was not inclined to be altogether dissatisfied with the interview.

INEXPLICABLEnounUS /inexplicable/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE CONDUCT OF MISS CLARA.

interview

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

From this reading But, on the whole, I was not inclined to be altogether dissatisfied with the interview.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But her words and her acts of to-day--so it seemed to me--were a tacit admission that the barrier had been removed.

kept

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

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

loved

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

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

man

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

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

manner

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

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

MISS

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

From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE CONDUCT OF MISS CLARA.

more

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

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

necessarily

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

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

NevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But, on the whole, I was not inclined to be altogether dissatisfied with the interview.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE CONDUCT OF MISS CLARA.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But, on the whole, I was not inclined to be altogether dissatisfied with the interview.

pessimistically

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

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

plunged

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

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

realise

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

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

removed

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

From this reading But her words and her acts of to-day--so it seemed to me--were a tacit admission that the barrier had been removed.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But her words and her acts of to-day--so it seemed to me--were a tacit admission that the barrier had been removed.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But her words and her acts of to-day--so it seemed to me--were a tacit admission that the barrier had been removed.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

stranger

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

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

sympathetic

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

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

tacit

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

From this reading But her words and her acts of to-day--so it seemed to me--were a tacit admission that the barrier had been removed.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE CONDUCT OF MISS CLARA.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

thus

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

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading But, on the whole, I was not inclined to be altogether dissatisfied with the interview.

to-day

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

From this reading But her words and her acts of to-day--so it seemed to me--were a tacit admission that the barrier had been removed.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

unkindly

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

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

unvouched-for

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

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But, on the whole, I was not inclined to be altogether dissatisfied with the interview.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

whole

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

From this reading But, on the whole, I was not inclined to be altogether dissatisfied with the interview.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading But, on the whole, I was not inclined to be altogether dissatisfied with the interview.

woman

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

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.

words

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

From this reading Never before--even though her words were sympathetic and her manner not unkindly--had she failed to make me realise that I was kept at a distance; that I was an unvouched-for stranger, between whom and her the barriers of custom and convention still necessarily existed.

younger

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

From this reading A younger and more pessimistically disposed man than I might conceivably have been plunged into the depths of despair at being thus told by the woman he loved that she hated him.