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The Pocket R.L.S.
The Pocket R.L.S.

Chapter VIII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/25 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
***** It is surely beyond a doubt that people should be a good deal idle in youth.
For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.
And the same holds true during all the time a lad is educating himself, or suffering others to educate him....
Books are good enough in their own way, but they are a mighty bloodless substitute for life.
It seems a pity to sit, like the Lady of Shalott, peering into a mirror, with your back turned on all the bustle and glamour of reality.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Pocket R.L.S.

Chapter VIII

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
***** It is surely beyond a doubt that people should be a good deal idle in youth.
Line 2
For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.
Line 3
And the same holds true during all the time a lad is educating himself, or suffering others to educate him....
Line 4
Books are good enough in their own way, but they are a mighty bloodless substitute for life.
Line 5
It seems a pity to sit, like the Lady of Shalott, peering into a mirror, with your back turned on all the bustle and glamour of reality.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.”

Beyond preposition US /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading “***** It is surely beyond a doubt that people should be a good deal idle in youth.”

Books noun US /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading “Books are good enough in their own way, but they are a mighty bloodless substitute for life.”

Bustle noun US /ˈbʌsəl/

busy and excited activity

From this reading “It seems a pity to sit, like the Lady of Shalott, peering into a mirror, with your back turned on all the bustle and glamour of reality.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “And the same holds true during all the time a lad is educating himself, or suffering others to educate him....”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “***** It is surely beyond a doubt that people should be a good deal idle in youth.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “And the same holds true during all the time a lad is educating himself, or suffering others to educate him....”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Books are good enough in their own way, but they are a mighty bloodless substitute for life.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.”

Peering verb US /ˈpɪrɪŋ/

looking closely or carefully

From this reading “It seems a pity to sit, like the Lady of Shalott, peering into a mirror, with your back turned on all the bustle and glamour of reality.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And the same holds true during all the time a lad is educating himself, or suffering others to educate him....”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And the same holds true during all the time a lad is educating himself, or suffering others to educate him....”

All words in this reading · 90

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 ***** It is surely beyond a doubt that people should be a good deal idle in youth.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

afterwards

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

all

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Books are good enough in their own way, but they are a mighty bloodless substitute for life.

back

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

From this reading It seems a pity to sit, like the Lady of Shalott, peering into a mirror, with your back turned on all the bustle and glamour of reality.

bankrupt

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading ***** It is surely beyond a doubt that people should be a good deal idle in youth.

begin

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading ***** It is surely beyond a doubt that people should be a good deal idle in youth.

bloodless

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

From this reading Books are good enough in their own way, but they are a mighty bloodless substitute for life.

BooksnounUS /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading Books are good enough in their own way, but they are a mighty bloodless substitute for life.

boys

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

bustlenounUS /ˈbʌsəl/

busy and excited activity

From this reading It seems a pity to sit, like the Lady of Shalott, peering into a mirror, with your back turned on all the bustle and glamour of reality.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Books are good enough in their own way, but they are a mighty bloodless substitute for life.

deal

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

From this reading ***** It is surely beyond a doubt that people should be a good deal idle in youth.

dear

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

doubt

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

From this reading ***** It is surely beyond a doubt that people should be a good deal idle in youth.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading And the same holds true during all the time a lad is educating himself, or suffering others to educate him....

educate

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

From this reading And the same holds true during all the time a lad is educating himself, or suffering others to educate him....

educating

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

From this reading And the same holds true during all the time a lad is educating himself, or suffering others to educate him....

enough

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

From this reading Books are good enough in their own way, but they are a mighty bloodless substitute for life.

escape

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

glamour

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

From this reading It seems a pity to sit, like the Lady of Shalott, peering into a mirror, with your back turned on all the bustle and glamour of reality.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ***** It is surely beyond a doubt that people should be a good deal idle in youth.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading And the same holds true during all the time a lad is educating himself, or suffering others to educate him....

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

holds

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

From this reading And the same holds true during all the time a lad is educating himself, or suffering others to educate him....

honours

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

idle

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

From this reading ***** It is surely beyond a doubt that people should be a good deal idle in youth.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading ***** It is surely beyond a doubt that people should be a good deal idle in youth.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading It seems a pity to sit, like the Lady of Shalott, peering into a mirror, with your back turned on all the bustle and glamour of reality.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading ***** It is surely beyond a doubt that people should be a good deal idle in youth.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading ***** It is surely beyond a doubt that people should be a good deal idle in youth.

lad

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

From this reading And the same holds true during all the time a lad is educating himself, or suffering others to educate him....

Lady

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

From this reading It seems a pity to sit, like the Lady of Shalott, peering into a mirror, with your back turned on all the bustle and glamour of reality.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Books are good enough in their own way, but they are a mighty bloodless substitute for life.

like

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

From this reading It seems a pity to sit, like the Lady of Shalott, peering into a mirror, with your back turned on all the bustle and glamour of reality.

locker

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

Lord

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

Macaulay

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

medals

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

mighty

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

From this reading Books are good enough in their own way, but they are a mighty bloodless substitute for life.

mirror

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

From this reading It seems a pity to sit, like the Lady of Shalott, peering into a mirror, with your back turned on all the bustle and glamour of reality.

most

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It seems a pity to sit, like the Lady of Shalott, peering into a mirror, with your back turned on all the bustle and glamour of reality.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It seems a pity to sit, like the Lady of Shalott, peering into a mirror, with your back turned on all the bustle and glamour of reality.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading And the same holds true during all the time a lad is educating himself, or suffering others to educate him....

others

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

From this reading And the same holds true during all the time a lad is educating himself, or suffering others to educate him....

own

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

From this reading Books are good enough in their own way, but they are a mighty bloodless substitute for life.

pay

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

peeringverbUS /ˈpɪrɪŋ/

looking closely or carefully

From this reading It seems a pity to sit, like the Lady of Shalott, peering into a mirror, with your back turned on all the bustle and glamour of reality.

people

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

From this reading ***** It is surely beyond a doubt that people should be a good deal idle in youth.

pity

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

From this reading It seems a pity to sit, like the Lady of Shalott, peering into a mirror, with your back turned on all the bustle and glamour of reality.

reality

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

From this reading It seems a pity to sit, like the Lady of Shalott, peering into a mirror, with your back turned on all the bustle and glamour of reality.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And the same holds true during all the time a lad is educating himself, or suffering others to educate him....

school

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

seems

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

From this reading It seems a pity to sit, like the Lady of Shalott, peering into a mirror, with your back turned on all the bustle and glamour of reality.

Shalott

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

From this reading It seems a pity to sit, like the Lady of Shalott, peering into a mirror, with your back turned on all the bustle and glamour of reality.

shot

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading ***** It is surely beyond a doubt that people should be a good deal idle in youth.

sit

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

From this reading It seems a pity to sit, like the Lady of Shalott, peering into a mirror, with your back turned on all the bustle and glamour of reality.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

substitute

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

From this reading Books are good enough in their own way, but they are a mighty bloodless substitute for life.

suffering

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

From this reading And the same holds true during all the time a lad is educating himself, or suffering others to educate him....

surely

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

From this reading ***** It is surely beyond a doubt that people should be a good deal idle in youth.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading ***** It is surely beyond a doubt that people should be a good deal idle in youth.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

there

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And the same holds true during all the time a lad is educating himself, or suffering others to educate him....

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading And the same holds true during all the time a lad is educating himself, or suffering others to educate him....

true

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

From this reading And the same holds true during all the time a lad is educating himself, or suffering others to educate him....

turned

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

From this reading It seems a pity to sit, like the Lady of Shalott, peering into a mirror, with your back turned on all the bustle and glamour of reality.

way

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

From this reading Books are good enough in their own way, but they are a mighty bloodless substitute for life.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

wits

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

world

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

From this reading For though here and there a Lord Macaulay may escape from school honours with all his wits about him, most boys pay so dear for their medals that they never afterwards have a shot in their locker, and begin the world bankrupt.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading It seems a pity to sit, like the Lady of Shalott, peering into a mirror, with your back turned on all the bustle and glamour of reality.

youth

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

From this reading ***** It is surely beyond a doubt that people should be a good deal idle in youth.