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The Tinder-Box
The Tinder-Box

Chapter I

Cover illustration for The Tinder-Box
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.
There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.
And I'm willing to confess that it is generally a woman's fault when such an accident occurs.
That is, it is a mistake of her nature, not one of intent.
But she is learning!
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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 Tinder-Box

Chapter I

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

Line 1
All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.
Line 2
There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.
Line 3
And I'm willing to confess that it is generally a woman's fault when such an accident occurs.
Line 4
That is, it is a mistake of her nature, not one of intent.
Line 5
But she is learning!

Learner Dictionary

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

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.”

Dangerously adverb US /ˈdeɪn.dʒər.əs.li/

In a way that involves danger or risk.

From this reading “There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.”

Either determiner US /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading “All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.”

Strength noun US /ˈstrength/

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

From this reading “All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.”

All words in this reading · 66

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 All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

accident

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

From this reading And I'm willing to confess that it is generally a woman's fault when such an accident occurs.

administer

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

From this reading There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.

All

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

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading And I'm willing to confess that it is generally a woman's fault when such an accident occurs.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

asphyxiation

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

From this reading There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But she is learning!

certain

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

From this reading There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.

character

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

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

condition

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

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

confess

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

From this reading And I'm willing to confess that it is generally a woman's fault when such an accident occurs.

dangerouslyadverbUS /ˈdeɪn.dʒər.əs.li/

In a way that involves danger or risk.

From this reading There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

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

From this reading There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.

eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

especially

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

From this reading There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.

fault

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

From this reading And I'm willing to confess that it is generally a woman's fault when such an accident occurs.

form

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

From this reading There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.

gas

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

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

generally

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

From this reading And I'm willing to confess that it is generally a woman's fault when such an accident occurs.

hearts

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

From this reading There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading That is, it is a mistake of her nature, not one of intent.

I'm

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

From this reading And I'm willing to confess that it is generally a woman's fault when such an accident occurs.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.

intent

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

From this reading That is, it is a mistake of her nature, not one of intent.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

ladled

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

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

learning

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

From this reading But she is learning!

liquefy

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

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

loneliness

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

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

love

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

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

mistake

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

From this reading That is, it is a mistake of her nature, not one of intent.

nature

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

From this reading That is, it is a mistake of her nature, not one of intent.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading That is, it is a mistake of her nature, not one of intent.

occasionally

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

From this reading There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.

occurs

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

From this reading And I'm willing to confess that it is generally a woman's fault when such an accident occurs.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

opposite

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

From this reading There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

other

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

From this reading There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.

out

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

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

people

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

From this reading There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.

religion

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

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

resulting

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

From this reading There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.

sexes

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

From this reading There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading But she is learning!

state

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

From this reading There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.

strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/

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

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading And I'm willing to confess that it is generally a woman's fault when such an accident occurs.

takes

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

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.

There

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

From this reading There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

try

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

From this reading There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

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

From this reading All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another.

volatile

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

From this reading There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading And I'm willing to confess that it is generally a woman's fault when such an accident occurs.

willing

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

From this reading And I'm willing to confess that it is generally a woman's fault when such an accident occurs.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading There is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to both hearts.

woman's

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

From this reading And I'm willing to confess that it is generally a woman's fault when such an accident occurs.