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The Threatening Eye
The Threatening Eye

Chapter II

Cover illustration for The Threatening Eye
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
ON THE ROAD TO RUIN.
It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.
How many of us look back with a sigh of regret to that old jovial free bachelor life in the snug chambers!
Indeed, those were pleasant days.
To those who have led that life how full of associations is busy Fleet Street!
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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 Threatening Eye

Chapter II

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
ON THE ROAD TO RUIN.
Line 2
It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.
Line 3
How many of us look back with a sigh of regret to that old jovial free bachelor life in the snug chambers!
Line 4
Indeed, those were pleasant days.
Line 5
To those who have led that life how full of associations is busy Fleet Street!

Learner Dictionary

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

Ancient adjective US /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading “It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.”

Free adjective US /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading “How many of us look back with a sigh of regret to that old jovial free bachelor life in the snug chambers!”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “To those who have led that life how full of associations is busy Fleet Street!”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “How many of us look back with a sigh of regret to that old jovial free bachelor life in the snug chambers!”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “How many of us look back with a sigh of regret to that old jovial free bachelor life in the snug chambers!”

Pleasant noun US /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Indeed, those were pleasant days.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading “Indeed, those were pleasant days.”

All words in this reading · 58

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 How many of us look back with a sigh of regret to that old jovial free bachelor life in the snug chambers!

ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.

associations

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

From this reading To those who have led that life how full of associations is busy Fleet Street!

bachelor

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From this reading How many of us look back with a sigh of regret to that old jovial free bachelor life in the snug chambers!

back

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

From this reading How many of us look back with a sigh of regret to that old jovial free bachelor life in the snug chambers!

barristers

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

From this reading It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.

busy

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

From this reading To those who have led that life how full of associations is busy Fleet Street!

chambers

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

From this reading How many of us look back with a sigh of regret to that old jovial free bachelor life in the snug chambers!

Court

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

From this reading It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.

custom

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

From this reading It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.

days

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

From this reading Indeed, those were pleasant days.

Fleet

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

From this reading To those who have led that life how full of associations is busy Fleet Street!

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.

formerly

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

From this reading It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.

freeadjectiveUS /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading How many of us look back with a sigh of regret to that old jovial free bachelor life in the snug chambers!

full

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

From this reading To those who have led that life how full of associations is busy Fleet Street!

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading To those who have led that life how full of associations is busy Fleet Street!

How

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

From this reading How many of us look back with a sigh of regret to that old jovial free bachelor life in the snug chambers!

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.

Indeed

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

From this reading Indeed, those were pleasant days.

Inns

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

From this reading It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.

jovial

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

From this reading How many of us look back with a sigh of regret to that old jovial free bachelor life in the snug chambers!

led

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

From this reading To those who have led that life how full of associations is busy Fleet Street!

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading How many of us look back with a sigh of regret to that old jovial free bachelor life in the snug chambers!

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading How many of us look back with a sigh of regret to that old jovial free bachelor life in the snug chambers!

many

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

From this reading How many of us look back with a sigh of regret to that old jovial free bachelor life in the snug chambers!

men

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

From this reading It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.

much

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

From this reading It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.

now

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

From this reading It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.

old

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

From this reading How many of us look back with a sigh of regret to that old jovial free bachelor life in the snug chambers!

ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading ON THE ROAD TO RUIN.

other

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

From this reading It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.

others

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

From this reading It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.

pleasantnounUS /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Indeed, those were pleasant days.

regret

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

From this reading How many of us look back with a sigh of regret to that old jovial free bachelor life in the snug chambers!

reside

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

From this reading It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.

ROAD

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

From this reading ON THE ROAD TO RUIN.

RUIN

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

From this reading ON THE ROAD TO RUIN.

sigh

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

From this reading How many of us look back with a sigh of regret to that old jovial free bachelor life in the snug chambers!

snug

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

From this reading How many of us look back with a sigh of regret to that old jovial free bachelor life in the snug chambers!

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.

Street

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

From this reading To those who have led that life how full of associations is busy Fleet Street!

Temple

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

From this reading It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading How many of us look back with a sigh of regret to that old jovial free bachelor life in the snug chambers!

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading ON THE ROAD TO RUIN.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading Indeed, those were pleasant days.

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading ON THE ROAD TO RUIN.

unmarried

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

From this reading It is not so much the custom now as formerly for unmarried men, barristers and others, to reside in the Temple and the other ancient Inns of Court.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading How many of us look back with a sigh of regret to that old jovial free bachelor life in the snug chambers!

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Indeed, those were pleasant days.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading To those who have led that life how full of associations is busy Fleet Street!

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading How many of us look back with a sigh of regret to that old jovial free bachelor life in the snug chambers!