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The New Rector
The New Rector

Chapter XVIII · A Friend in Need

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Context Illustration Reading 1/46 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.
Oh, the pity of it!
The change from that boy to this, from that morning to this evening!
How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!
How little did he enter into it or deserve it!
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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 XVIII · A Friend in Need

Reading 1/46 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.
Line 2
Oh, the pity of it!
Line 3
The change from that boy to this, from that morning to this evening!
Line 4
How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!
Line 5
How little did he enter into it or deserve it!

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 “I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “How little did he enter into it or deserve it!”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The change from that boy to this, from that morning to this evening!”

Standing noun US /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading “How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!”

All words in this reading · 71

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 I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

anticipation

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

bang

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!

bitterest

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

boy

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

change

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

From this reading The change from that boy to this, from that morning to this evening!

cheeks

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

From this reading How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!

closed

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

deserve

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

From this reading How little did he enter into it or deserve it!

desk

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!

enter

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

From this reading How little did he enter into it or deserve it!

estimate

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

From this reading How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!

evening

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

From this reading The change from that boy to this, from that morning to this evening!

feels

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The change from that boy to this, from that morning to this evening!

full

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

grammar

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

From this reading How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

happiness

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

From this reading How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!

happy

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

heard

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

holidays

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

hour

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

How

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

From this reading How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

inadequately

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

From this reading How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading How little did he enter into it or deserve it!

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Oh, the pity of it!

joyous

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

key

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

From this reading How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!

lad

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

From this reading How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading How little did he enter into it or deserve it!

meanly

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

From this reading How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!

moment

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The change from that boy to this, from that morning to this evening!

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

Oh

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

From this reading Oh, the pity of it!

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

opens

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading How little did he enter into it or deserve it!

pang

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

pity

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

From this reading Oh, the pity of it!

real

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

From this reading How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!

recalls

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

reserved

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

returning

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

school

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

seems

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

From this reading How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!

smudged

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

From this reading How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!

standingnounUS /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading The change from that boy to this, from that morning to this evening!

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

turned

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

From this reading How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!

urchin

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

From this reading How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!

well-remembered

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

From this reading How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading How meanly, how inadequately—so it seems to the urchin standing with smudged cheeks before the well-remembered grammar—did the lad who turned the key estimate his real happiness!

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I have heard that the bitterest pang a boy feels on returning to school after his first holidays is reserved for the moment when he opens his desk and recalls the happy hour, full of joyous anticipation, when he had closed that desk with a bang.