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The Patrician
The Patrician

Chapter XVI

Cover illustration for The Patrician
Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It was not till the morning of polling day itself that Courtier left Monkland Court.
He had already suffered for some time from bad conscience.
For his knee was practically cured, and he knew well that it was Barbara, and Barbara alone, who kept him staying there.
The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.
He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Patrician

Chapter XVI

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It was not till the morning of polling day itself that Courtier left Monkland Court.
Line 2
He had already suffered for some time from bad conscience.
Line 3
For his knee was practically cured, and he knew well that it was Barbara, and Barbara alone, who kept him staying there.
Line 4
The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.
Line 5
He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.

Learner Dictionary

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

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For his knee was practically cured, and he knew well that it was Barbara, and Barbara alone, who kept him staying there.”

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had already suffered for some time from bad conscience.”

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.”

Conscience noun US /ˈkɑːnʃəns/

the inner sense of right and wrong

From this reading “He had already suffered for some time from bad conscience.”

Feeling noun US /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading “The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “It was not till the morning of polling day itself that Courtier left Monkland Court.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was not till the morning of polling day itself that Courtier left Monkland Court.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was not till the morning of polling day itself that Courtier left Monkland Court.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.”

Till preposition US /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “It was not till the morning of polling day itself that Courtier left Monkland Court.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had already suffered for some time from bad conscience.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For his knee was practically cured, and he knew well that it was Barbara, and Barbara alone, who kept him staying there.”

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 felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For his knee was practically cured, and he knew well that it was Barbara, and Barbara alone, who kept him staying there.

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had already suffered for some time from bad conscience.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading For his knee was practically cured, and he knew well that it was Barbara, and Barbara alone, who kept him staying there.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.

army

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

From this reading The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.

atmosphere

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

From this reading The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.

bad

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

From this reading He had already suffered for some time from bad conscience.

Barbara

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

From this reading For his knee was practically cured, and he knew well that it was Barbara, and Barbara alone, who kept him staying there.

big

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

From this reading The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.

consciencenounUS /ˈkɑːnʃəns/

the inner sense of right and wrong

From this reading He had already suffered for some time from bad conscience.

Court

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

From this reading It was not till the morning of polling day itself that Courtier left Monkland Court.

Courtier

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

From this reading It was not till the morning of polling day itself that Courtier left Monkland Court.

cured

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

From this reading For his knee was practically cured, and he knew well that it was Barbara, and Barbara alone, who kept him staying there.

day

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

From this reading It was not till the morning of polling day itself that Courtier left Monkland Court.

doing

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

From this reading The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.

existence

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

From this reading He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.

feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.

felt

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

From this reading He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He had already suffered for some time from bad conscience.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He had already suffered for some time from bad conscience.

galled

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

From this reading The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.

genuine

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

From this reading He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.

greatly

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

From this reading The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He had already suffered for some time from bad conscience.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He had already suffered for some time from bad conscience.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading For his knee was practically cured, and he knew well that it was Barbara, and Barbara alone, who kept him staying there.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading For his knee was practically cured, and he knew well that it was Barbara, and Barbara alone, who kept him staying there.

hopeless

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

From this reading The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.

house

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

From this reading The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.

importance

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

From this reading He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.

impossibility

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

From this reading The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.

insulation

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

From this reading The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was not till the morning of polling day itself that Courtier left Monkland Court.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading It was not till the morning of polling day itself that Courtier left Monkland Court.

kept

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

From this reading For his knee was practically cured, and he knew well that it was Barbara, and Barbara alone, who kept him staying there.

knee

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

From this reading For his knee was practically cured, and he knew well that it was Barbara, and Barbara alone, who kept him staying there.

knew

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

From this reading For his knee was practically cured, and he knew well that it was Barbara, and Barbara alone, who kept him staying there.

lead

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

From this reading He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was not till the morning of polling day itself that Courtier left Monkland Court.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.

Monkland

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

From this reading It was not till the morning of polling day itself that Courtier left Monkland Court.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was not till the morning of polling day itself that Courtier left Monkland Court.

necessitous

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

From this reading The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was not till the morning of polling day itself that Courtier left Monkland Court.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was not till the morning of polling day itself that Courtier left Monkland Court.

own

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

From this reading He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.

people

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

From this reading He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.

pity

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

From this reading He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.

polling

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

From this reading It was not till the morning of polling day itself that Courtier left Monkland Court.

practically

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

From this reading For his knee was practically cured, and he knew well that it was Barbara, and Barbara alone, who kept him staying there.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.

servants

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

From this reading The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.

sides

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

From this reading The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.

smothered

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

From this reading He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.

social

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

From this reading He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.

some

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

From this reading He had already suffered for some time from bad conscience.

staying

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

From this reading For his knee was practically cured, and he knew well that it was Barbara, and Barbara alone, who kept him staying there.

suffered

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

From this reading He had already suffered for some time from bad conscience.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was not till the morning of polling day itself that Courtier left Monkland Court.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It was not till the morning of polling day itself that Courtier left Monkland Court.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.

there

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

From this reading For his knee was practically cured, and he knew well that it was Barbara, and Barbara alone, who kept him staying there.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.

tillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading It was not till the morning of polling day itself that Courtier left Monkland Court.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had already suffered for some time from bad conscience.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.

very

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

From this reading He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.

vivid

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

From this reading The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was not till the morning of polling day itself that Courtier left Monkland Court.

well

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

From this reading For his knee was practically cured, and he knew well that it was Barbara, and Barbara alone, who kept him staying there.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading He felt a very genuine pity for these people who seemed to lead an existence as it were smothered under their own social importance.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading For his knee was practically cured, and he knew well that it was Barbara, and Barbara alone, who kept him staying there.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The atmosphere of that big house with its army of servants, the impossibility of doing anything for himself, and the feeling of hopeless insulation from the vivid and necessitous sides of life, galled him greatly.