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The Struggles of Brown, Jones, and Robinson
The Struggles of Brown, Jones, and Robinson

Chapter XVIII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
AN EVENING AT THE "GOOSE AND GRIDIRON."
Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.
In some respects they did so, and were perhaps even servile in their imitation.
They divided themselves into parties, of which each had an ostensible leader.
But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Struggles of Brown, Jones, and Robinson

Chapter XVIII

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
AN EVENING AT THE "GOOSE AND GRIDIRON."
Line 2
Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.
Line 3
In some respects they did so, and were perhaps even servile in their imitation.
Line 4
They divided themselves into parties, of which each had an ostensible leader.
Line 5
But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.”

Beneath preposition US /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading “But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.”

Divided noun US /ˈdivided/

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

From this reading “They divided themselves into parties, of which each had an ostensible leader.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In some respects they did so, and were perhaps even servile in their imitation.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.”

Party noun US /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In some respects they did so, and were perhaps even servile in their imitation.”

Themselves pronoun US /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading “They divided themselves into parties, of which each had an ostensible leader.”

Third noun US /third/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.”

All words in this reading · 87

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 But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

always

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

ambitious

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

ANdeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading AN EVENING AT THE "GOOSE AND GRIDIRON."

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading AN EVENING AT THE "GOOSE AND GRIDIRON."

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

aspirants

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

ATprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading AN EVENING AT THE "GOOSE AND GRIDIRON."

become

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

certainly

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

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

copied

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

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

cut

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

debaters

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

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

debating

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

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading In some respects they did so, and were perhaps even servile in their imitation.

dividednounUS /ˈdivided/

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

From this reading They divided themselves into parties, of which each had an ostensible leader.

dominant

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading They divided themselves into parties, of which each had an ostensible leader.

endeavoured

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In some respects they did so, and were perhaps even servile in their imitation.

EVENING

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

From this reading AN EVENING AT THE "GOOSE AND GRIDIRON."

farther

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

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

feet

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

find

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

gather

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

GOOSE

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

From this reading AN EVENING AT THE "GOOSE AND GRIDIRON."

GRIDIRON

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

From this reading AN EVENING AT THE "GOOSE AND GRIDIRON."

ground

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading They divided themselves into parties, of which each had an ostensible leader.

hardly

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

held

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

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

imitation

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

From this reading In some respects they did so, and were perhaps even servile in their imitation.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In some respects they did so, and were perhaps even servile in their imitation.

insinuation

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

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading They divided themselves into parties, of which each had an ostensible leader.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

leader

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

From this reading They divided themselves into parties, of which each had an ostensible leader.

member

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

met

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

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

new

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

ostensible

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

From this reading They divided themselves into parties, of which each had an ostensible leader.

other

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

parties

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

From this reading They divided themselves into parties, of which each had an ostensible leader.

partynounUS /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

perhaps

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

From this reading In some respects they did so, and were perhaps even servile in their imitation.

political

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

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

practices

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

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

respects

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

From this reading In some respects they did so, and were perhaps even servile in their imitation.

round

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

servile

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

From this reading In some respects they did so, and were perhaps even servile in their imitation.

sittings

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

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading In some respects they did so, and were perhaps even servile in their imitation.

society

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

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

some

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

From this reading In some respects they did so, and were perhaps even servile in their imitation.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading AN EVENING AT THE "GOOSE AND GRIDIRON."

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading In some respects they did so, and were perhaps even servile in their imitation.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading They divided themselves into parties, of which each had an ostensible leader.

then

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

there

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

thirdnounUS /third/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

ThosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

together

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

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

trimming

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

trustworthy

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

two

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.

weekly

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

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

west

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

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings farther west.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading But then there was always some ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from beneath his feet by new aspirants.