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The New Rector
The New Rector

Chapter IX · Town Talk

Cover illustration for The New Rector
Context Illustration Reading 1/39 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
Naturally the rector was the first to speak.
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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 New Rector

Chapter IX · Town Talk

Reading 1/39 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
Line 2
The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
Line 3
He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
Line 4
But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
Line 5
Naturally the rector was the first to speak.

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 “But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.”

Beneath preposition US /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading “The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Naturally the rector was the first to speak.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.”

Impulse noun US /ˈɪmpʌls/

a sudden strong desire to act

From this reading “The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.”

Nay exclamation US /neɪ/

an old word for “no”

From this reading “He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.”

Speak noun US /speak/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Naturally the rector was the first to speak.”

Surprised noun US /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.”

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 He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

afterward

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

From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

anguish

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

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.

betray

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

From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

candle

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

From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.

chief

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

From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.

comfort

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

From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.

cool-headed

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

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

darkness

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

From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.

difficulty

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

From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.

discovery

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

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

embarrassment

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

From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.

escape

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

From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.

eyes

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

From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.

faint

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

From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.

felt

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

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Naturally the rector was the first to speak.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

forced

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

From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.

full

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

From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.

gathered

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

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

hand

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

From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.

impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpʌls/

a sudden strong desire to act

From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.

light

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

From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.

likeness

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

From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.

lips

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

From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.

man

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

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

many

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

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

meet

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

From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.

moment

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

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

Naturally

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

From this reading Naturally the rector was the first to speak.

nayexclamationUS /neɪ/

an old word for “no”

From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

overturn

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

From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.

perhaps

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

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

reader

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

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

rector

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

From this reading Naturally the rector was the first to speak.

rector's

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

From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.

reflection

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

From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.

repress

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

From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.

repressed

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

From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.

scene

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

From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.

servant

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

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

shifts

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

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

shook

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

From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.

smile

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

From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

speak

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

From this reading Naturally the rector was the first to speak.

surprisednounUS /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

table

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

From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.

too

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

From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.

tortured

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

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

twisted

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

From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

wild

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

From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.