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The Joss: A Reversion
The Joss: A Reversion

Chapter V · The Missionary’s Letter

Cover illustration for The Joss: A Reversion
Context Illustration Reading 1/36 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The question was, what was to become of us?
With no friends one cannot live long on fifteen shillings.
Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.
Mr. Paine, however, postponed the solution of the difficulty by suggesting that I should arrange nothing until I had had a talk with him.
I was willing; though what he had to do with it was more than I could guess; unless, like they used to do in the fairy tales, he was all of a sudden going to turn out to be my fairy godpapa.
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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 Joss: A Reversion

Chapter V · The Missionary’s Letter

Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The question was, what was to become of us?
Line 2
With no friends one cannot live long on fifteen shillings.
Line 3
Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.
Line 4
Mr. Paine, however, postponed the solution of the difficulty by suggesting that I should arrange nothing until I had had a talk with him.
Line 5
I was willing; though what he had to do with it was more than I could guess; unless, like they used to do in the fairy tales, he was all of a sudden going to turn out to be my fairy godpapa.

Learner Dictionary

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

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “Mr. Paine, however, postponed the solution of the difficulty by suggesting that I should arrange nothing until I had had a talk with him.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “With no friends one cannot live long on fifteen shillings.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “Mr. Paine, however, postponed the solution of the difficulty by suggesting that I should arrange nothing until I had had a talk with him.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “With no friends one cannot live long on fifteen shillings.”

Question noun US /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading “The question was, what was to become of us?”

Sudden noun US /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I was willing; though what he had to do with it was more than I could guess; unless, like they used to do in the fairy tales, he was all of a sudden going to turn out to be my fairy godpapa.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “I was willing; though what he had to do with it was more than I could guess; unless, like they used to do in the fairy tales, he was all of a sudden going to turn out to be my fairy godpapa.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.”

Unless conjunction US /ənˈles/

except if; if not

From this reading “I was willing; though what he had to do with it was more than I could guess; unless, like they used to do in the fairy tales, he was all of a sudden going to turn out to be my fairy godpapa.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “Mr. Paine, however, postponed the solution of the difficulty by suggesting that I should arrange nothing until I had had a talk with him.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.”

All words in this reading · 79

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 Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

all

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

From this reading I was willing; though what he had to do with it was more than I could guess; unless, like they used to do in the fairy tales, he was all of a sudden going to turn out to be my fairy godpapa.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

arrange

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

From this reading Mr. Paine, however, postponed the solution of the difficulty by suggesting that I should arrange nothing until I had had a talk with him.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

become

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

From this reading The question was, what was to become of us?

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Mr. Paine, however, postponed the solution of the difficulty by suggesting that I should arrange nothing until I had had a talk with him.

cannot

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

From this reading With no friends one cannot live long on fifteen shillings.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

difficulty

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

From this reading Mr. Paine, however, postponed the solution of the difficulty by suggesting that I should arrange nothing until I had had a talk with him.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading I was willing; though what he had to do with it was more than I could guess; unless, like they used to do in the fairy tales, he was all of a sudden going to turn out to be my fairy godpapa.

EvennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

expected

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

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

fairy

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

From this reading I was willing; though what he had to do with it was more than I could guess; unless, like they used to do in the fairy tales, he was all of a sudden going to turn out to be my fairy godpapa.

fifteen

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

From this reading With no friends one cannot live long on fifteen shillings.

fortnight

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

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

fortunate

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

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

fresh

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

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

friends

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

From this reading With no friends one cannot live long on fifteen shillings.

godpapa

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

From this reading I was willing; though what he had to do with it was more than I could guess; unless, like they used to do in the fairy tales, he was all of a sudden going to turn out to be my fairy godpapa.

going

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

From this reading I was willing; though what he had to do with it was more than I could guess; unless, like they used to do in the fairy tales, he was all of a sudden going to turn out to be my fairy godpapa.

got

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

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

guess

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

From this reading I was willing; though what he had to do with it was more than I could guess; unless, like they used to do in the fairy tales, he was all of a sudden going to turn out to be my fairy godpapa.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Mr. Paine, however, postponed the solution of the difficulty by suggesting that I should arrange nothing until I had had a talk with him.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading I was willing; though what he had to do with it was more than I could guess; unless, like they used to do in the fairy tales, he was all of a sudden going to turn out to be my fairy godpapa.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Mr. Paine, however, postponed the solution of the difficulty by suggesting that I should arrange nothing until I had had a talk with him.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Mr. Paine, however, postponed the solution of the difficulty by suggesting that I should arrange nothing until I had had a talk with him.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

like

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

From this reading I was willing; though what he had to do with it was more than I could guess; unless, like they used to do in the fairy tales, he was all of a sudden going to turn out to be my fairy godpapa.

live

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

From this reading With no friends one cannot live long on fifteen shillings.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading With no friends one cannot live long on fifteen shillings.

made

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

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

management

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

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

money

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

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

more

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

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

Mr

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

From this reading Mr. Paine, however, postponed the solution of the difficulty by suggesting that I should arrange nothing until I had had a talk with him.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I was willing; though what he had to do with it was more than I could guess; unless, like they used to do in the fairy tales, he was all of a sudden going to turn out to be my fairy godpapa.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading With no friends one cannot live long on fifteen shillings.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Mr. Paine, however, postponed the solution of the difficulty by suggesting that I should arrange nothing until I had had a talk with him.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The question was, what was to become of us?

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading With no friends one cannot live long on fifteen shillings.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading With no friends one cannot live long on fifteen shillings.

only

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

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

out

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

From this reading I was willing; though what he had to do with it was more than I could guess; unless, like they used to do in the fairy tales, he was all of a sudden going to turn out to be my fairy godpapa.

Paine

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

From this reading Mr. Paine, however, postponed the solution of the difficulty by suggesting that I should arrange nothing until I had had a talk with him.

postponed

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

From this reading Mr. Paine, however, postponed the solution of the difficulty by suggesting that I should arrange nothing until I had had a talk with him.

questionnounUS /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading The question was, what was to become of us?

shillings

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

From this reading With no friends one cannot live long on fifteen shillings.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

situations

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

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

solution

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

From this reading Mr. Paine, however, postponed the solution of the difficulty by suggesting that I should arrange nothing until I had had a talk with him.

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I was willing; though what he had to do with it was more than I could guess; unless, like they used to do in the fairy tales, he was all of a sudden going to turn out to be my fairy godpapa.

suggesting

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

From this reading Mr. Paine, however, postponed the solution of the difficulty by suggesting that I should arrange nothing until I had had a talk with him.

tales

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

From this reading I was willing; though what he had to do with it was more than I could guess; unless, like they used to do in the fairy tales, he was all of a sudden going to turn out to be my fairy godpapa.

talk

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

From this reading Mr. Paine, however, postponed the solution of the difficulty by suggesting that I should arrange nothing until I had had a talk with him.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The question was, what was to become of us?

then

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

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading I was willing; though what he had to do with it was more than I could guess; unless, like they used to do in the fairy tales, he was all of a sudden going to turn out to be my fairy godpapa.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading I was willing; though what he had to do with it was more than I could guess; unless, like they used to do in the fairy tales, he was all of a sudden going to turn out to be my fairy godpapa.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The question was, what was to become of us?

turn

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

From this reading I was willing; though what he had to do with it was more than I could guess; unless, like they used to do in the fairy tales, he was all of a sudden going to turn out to be my fairy godpapa.

unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/

except if; if not

From this reading I was willing; though what he had to do with it was more than I could guess; unless, like they used to do in the fairy tales, he was all of a sudden going to turn out to be my fairy godpapa.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Mr. Paine, however, postponed the solution of the difficulty by suggesting that I should arrange nothing until I had had a talk with him.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The question was, what was to become of us?

used

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

From this reading I was willing; though what he had to do with it was more than I could guess; unless, like they used to do in the fairy tales, he was all of a sudden going to turn out to be my fairy godpapa.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The question was, what was to become of us?

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading The question was, what was to become of us?

willing

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

From this reading I was willing; though what he had to do with it was more than I could guess; unless, like they used to do in the fairy tales, he was all of a sudden going to turn out to be my fairy godpapa.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading With no friends one cannot live long on fifteen shillings.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Even if we got fresh situations in a fortnight it would only be with management that the money could be made to last that time; and, if we did, then we should be more fortunate than I expected to be.