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The Jungle
The Jungle

Chapter XII

Cover illustration for The Jungle
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
For three weeks after his injury Jurgis never got up from bed.
It was a very obstinate sprain; the swelling would not go down, and the pain still continued.
At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.
No arguments could stop him, and three or four days later he declared that he was going back to work.
He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.
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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 Jungle

Chapter XII

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
For three weeks after his injury Jurgis never got up from bed.
Line 2
It was a very obstinate sprain; the swelling would not go down, and the pain still continued.
Line 3
At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.
Line 4
No arguments could stop him, and three or four days later he declared that he was going back to work.
Line 5
He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “For three weeks after his injury Jurgis never got up from bed.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.”

Continued noun US /ˈcontinued/

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

From this reading “It was a very obstinate sprain; the swelling would not go down, and the pain still continued.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.”

Meantime noun US /ˈmiːntaɪm/

the period of time while something else is happening

From this reading “He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For three weeks after his injury Jurgis never got up from bed.”

Poor noun US /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was a very obstinate sprain; the swelling would not go down, and the pain still continued.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “It was a very obstinate sprain; the swelling would not go down, and the pain still continued.”

All words in this reading · 81

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 It was a very obstinate sprain; the swelling would not go down, and the pain still continued.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading For three weeks after his injury Jurgis never got up from bed.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was a very obstinate sprain; the swelling would not go down, and the pain still continued.

arguments

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

From this reading No arguments could stop him, and three or four days later he declared that he was going back to work.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.

back

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

From this reading No arguments could stop him, and three or four days later he declared that he was going back to work.

bed

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

From this reading For three weeks after his injury Jurgis never got up from bed.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.

better

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

From this reading At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.

boss

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

From this reading He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.

Brown's

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

From this reading He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.

cars

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

From this reading He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.

contain

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

From this reading At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.

continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/

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

From this reading It was a very obstinate sprain; the swelling would not go down, and the pain still continued.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.

day

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

From this reading At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.

days

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

From this reading No arguments could stop him, and three or four days later he declared that he was going back to work.

declared

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

From this reading No arguments could stop him, and three or four days later he declared that he was going back to work.

devil

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

From this reading He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.

down

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

From this reading It was a very obstinate sprain; the swelling would not go down, and the pain still continued.

end

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

From this reading At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For three weeks after his injury Jurgis never got up from bed.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.

four

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

From this reading No arguments could stop him, and three or four days later he declared that he was going back to work.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading For three weeks after his injury Jurgis never got up from bed.

go

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

From this reading It was a very obstinate sprain; the swelling would not go down, and the pain still continued.

going

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

From this reading No arguments could stop him, and three or four days later he declared that he was going back to work.

got

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

From this reading For three weeks after his injury Jurgis never got up from bed.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading No arguments could stop him, and three or four days later he declared that he was going back to work.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.

hired

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

From this reading He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading For three weeks after his injury Jurgis never got up from bed.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.

injury

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

From this reading For three weeks after his injury Jurgis never got up from bed.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a very obstinate sprain; the swelling would not go down, and the pain still continued.

Jurgis

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

From this reading For three weeks after his injury Jurgis never got up from bed.

kept

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

From this reading He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.

laboring

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

From this reading At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.

later

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

From this reading No arguments could stop him, and three or four days later he declared that he was going back to work.

limped

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

From this reading He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.

longer

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

From this reading At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.

meantimenounUS /ˈmiːntaɪm/

the period of time while something else is happening

From this reading He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For three weeks after his injury Jurgis never got up from bed.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was a very obstinate sprain; the swelling would not go down, and the pain still continued.

obstinate

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

From this reading It was a very obstinate sprain; the swelling would not go down, and the pain still continued.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading No arguments could stop him, and three or four days later he declared that he was going back to work.

out

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

From this reading He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.

pain

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

From this reading It was a very obstinate sprain; the swelling would not go down, and the pain still continued.

persuade

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

From this reading At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.

place

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

From this reading He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.

poornounUS /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.

snow

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

From this reading He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.

sprain

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

From this reading It was a very obstinate sprain; the swelling would not go down, and the pain still continued.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a very obstinate sprain; the swelling would not go down, and the pain still continued.

stop

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

From this reading No arguments could stop him, and three or four days later he declared that he was going back to work.

swelling

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

From this reading It was a very obstinate sprain; the swelling would not go down, and the pain still continued.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It was a very obstinate sprain; the swelling would not go down, and the pain still continued.

three

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

From this reading For three weeks after his injury Jurgis never got up from bed.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.

trying

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

From this reading At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.

turn

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

From this reading He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.

up

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

From this reading For three weeks after his injury Jurgis never got up from bed.

very

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

From this reading It was a very obstinate sprain; the swelling would not go down, and the pain still continued.

walk

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

From this reading At the end of that time, however, he could contain himself no longer, and began trying to walk a little every day, laboring to persuade himself that he was better.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was a very obstinate sprain; the swelling would not go down, and the pain still continued.

weeks

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

From this reading For three weeks after his injury Jurgis never got up from bed.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.

willing

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

From this reading He limped to the cars and got to Brown’s, where he found that the boss had kept his place—that is, was willing to turn out into the snow the poor devil he had hired in the meantime.

work

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

From this reading No arguments could stop him, and three or four days later he declared that he was going back to work.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading It was a very obstinate sprain; the swelling would not go down, and the pain still continued.