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The Mutable Many: A Novel
The Mutable Many: A Novel

Chapter XXVI

Cover illustration for The Mutable Many: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.
Although he dismissed none who had taken part in the strike, he rearranged, with a dogged ruthlessness, the whole service of the works.
Few men got their old jobs back again, or their old wages.
There were promotions and retrogradations, although no one was discharged.
At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Mutable Many: A Novel

Chapter XXVI

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.
Line 2
Although he dismissed none who had taken part in the strike, he rearranged, with a dogged ruthlessness, the whole service of the works.
Line 3
Few men got their old jobs back again, or their old wages.
Line 4
There were promotions and retrogradations, although no one was discharged.
Line 5
At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Few men got their old jobs back again, or their old wages.”

Although noun US /ˈalthough/

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

From this reading “Although he dismissed none who had taken part in the strike, he rearranged, with a dogged ruthlessness, the whole service of the works.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.”

Discharged verb US /dɪsˈtʃɑrdʒd/

released from a duty or job

From this reading “There were promotions and retrogradations, although no one was discharged.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.”

None pronoun US /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading “Although he dismissed none who had taken part in the strike, he rearranged, with a dogged ruthlessness, the whole service of the works.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “There were promotions and retrogradations, although no one was discharged.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Although he dismissed none who had taken part in the strike, he rearranged, with a dogged ruthlessness, the whole service of the works.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.”

Wages plural noun US /ˈweɪdʒɪz/

money or a reward earned for work

From this reading “Few men got their old jobs back again, or their old wages.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.”

All words in this reading · 80

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 Although he dismissed none who had taken part in the strike, he rearranged, with a dogged ruthlessness, the whole service of the works.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Few men got their old jobs back again, or their old wages.

AlthoughnounUS /ˈalthough/

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

From this reading Although he dismissed none who had taken part in the strike, he rearranged, with a dogged ruthlessness, the whole service of the works.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

back

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

From this reading SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.

Barney

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

From this reading SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

brutal

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

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

busy

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

From this reading SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

caprice

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

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.

daughter

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

From this reading SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.

dischargedverbUS /dɪsˈtʃɑrdʒd/

released from a duty or job

From this reading There were promotions and retrogradations, although no one was discharged.

dismissed

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

From this reading Although he dismissed none who had taken part in the strike, he rearranged, with a dogged ruthlessness, the whole service of the works.

display

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

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

dogged

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

From this reading Although he dismissed none who had taken part in the strike, he rearranged, with a dogged ruthlessness, the whole service of the works.

Few

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

From this reading Few men got their old jobs back again, or their old wages.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.

glimmering

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

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

got

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

From this reading Few men got their old jobs back again, or their old wages.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.

Hope

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

From this reading SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Although he dismissed none who had taken part in the strike, he rearranged, with a dogged ruthlessness, the whole service of the works.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

jobs

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

From this reading Few men got their old jobs back again, or their old wages.

men

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

From this reading SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.

mere

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

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

method

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

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading There were promotions and retrogradations, although no one was discharged.

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading Although he dismissed none who had taken part in the strike, he rearranged, with a dogged ruthlessness, the whole service of the works.

now

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

From this reading SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Although he dismissed none who had taken part in the strike, he rearranged, with a dogged ruthlessness, the whole service of the works.

old

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

From this reading Few men got their old jobs back again, or their old wages.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading There were promotions and retrogradations, although no one was discharged.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Few men got their old jobs back again, or their old wages.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Although he dismissed none who had taken part in the strike, he rearranged, with a dogged ruthlessness, the whole service of the works.

power

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

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

presided

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

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

promotions

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

From this reading There were promotions and retrogradations, although no one was discharged.

rearranged

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

From this reading Although he dismissed none who had taken part in the strike, he rearranged, with a dogged ruthlessness, the whole service of the works.

retrogradations

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

From this reading There were promotions and retrogradations, although no one was discharged.

ruthlessness

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

From this reading Although he dismissed none who had taken part in the strike, he rearranged, with a dogged ruthlessness, the whole service of the works.

SARTWELL

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

From this reading SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.

see

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

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

service

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

From this reading Although he dismissed none who had taken part in the strike, he rearranged, with a dogged ruthlessness, the whole service of the works.

strike

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

From this reading Although he dismissed none who had taken part in the strike, he rearranged, with a dogged ruthlessness, the whole service of the works.

taken

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

From this reading Although he dismissed none who had taken part in the strike, he rearranged, with a dogged ruthlessness, the whole service of the works.

telegraphed

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

From this reading SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Few men got their old jobs back again, or their old wages.

There

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

From this reading There were promotions and retrogradations, although no one was discharged.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.

very

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

From this reading SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.

wagesplural nounUS /ˈweɪdʒɪz/

money or a reward earned for work

From this reading Few men got their old jobs back again, or their old wages.

wanton

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

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There were promotions and retrogradations, although no one was discharged.

weaving

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

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

web

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

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At first it seemed to the men that this was a mere brutal display of power, presided over by wanton caprice, but as time went on they began to see the glimmering of a method in the weaving of the web.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading There were promotions and retrogradations, although no one was discharged.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Although he dismissed none who had taken part in the strike, he rearranged, with a dogged ruthlessness, the whole service of the works.

whole

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

From this reading Although he dismissed none who had taken part in the strike, he rearranged, with a dogged ruthlessness, the whole service of the works.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Although he dismissed none who had taken part in the strike, he rearranged, with a dogged ruthlessness, the whole service of the works.

works

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

From this reading Although he dismissed none who had taken part in the strike, he rearranged, with a dogged ruthlessness, the whole service of the works.

written

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

From this reading SARTWELL, as he had written to his daughter and telegraphed to Barney Hope, found himself very busy, now the men had come back.