Chapter XXV
George choked. For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion. “How can I help but be?” he said. “No, no.” She soothed him.
The Magnificent Ambersons
Chapter XXV
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George
choked.
For
an
instant
he
was
on
the
point
of
breaking
down,
but
he
commanded
himself,
bravely
dismissing
the
self-pity
roused
by
her
compassion.
“How
can
I
help
but
be?”
he
said.
“No,
no.”
She
soothed
him.
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Line 1
George
choked.
Line 2
For
an
instant
he
was
on
the
point
of
breaking
down,
but
he
commanded
himself,
bravely
dismissing
the
self-pity
roused
by
her
compassion.
Line 3
“How
can
I
help
but
be?”
he
said.
Line 4
“No,
no.”
/noʊ noʊ/
Line 5
She
soothed
him.
Learner Dictionary
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
Help
noun
US /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ““How can I help but be?” he said.”
Himself
pronoun
US /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion.”
Point
noun
US /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading “For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion.”
All words in this reading · 33
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “How can I help but be?” he said.
bravely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion.
breaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “How can I help but be?” he said.
choked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading George choked.
commanded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion.
compassion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion.
dismissing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion.
George
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading George choked.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion.
helpnounUS /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “How can I help but be?” he said.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She soothed him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How can I help but be?” he said.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “How can I help but be?” he said.
instant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading “No, no.”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion.
roused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How can I help but be?” he said.
self-pity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She soothed him.
soothed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She soothed him.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For an instant he was on the point of breaking down, but he commanded himself, bravely dismissing the self-pity roused by her compassion.