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The Willoughby Captains
The Willoughby Captains

Chapter IV

Cover illustration for The Willoughby Captains
Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE NEW CAPTAIN ENTERS ON HIS DUTIES.
The morning that witnessed the collapse of the famous Monitors' Petition had not been idly spent by the new captain.
He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.
What worried him was not so much that he felt himself unpopular, or that he knew all Willoughby was in arms against him.
That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Willoughby Captains

Chapter IV

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE NEW CAPTAIN ENTERS ON HIS DUTIES.
Line 2
The morning that witnessed the collapse of the famous Monitors' Petition had not been idly spent by the new captain.
Line 3
He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.
Line 4
What worried him was not so much that he felt himself unpopular, or that he knew all Willoughby was in arms against him.
Line 5
That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.

Learner Dictionary

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

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “What worried him was not so much that he felt himself unpopular, or that he knew all Willoughby was in arms against him.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “The morning that witnessed the collapse of the famous Monitors' Petition had not been idly spent by the new captain.”

CAPTAIN noun US /ˈcaptain/

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

From this reading “THE NEW CAPTAIN ENTERS ON HIS DUTIES.”

Expect verb US /ɪkˈspekt/

to think that something will happen

From this reading “He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.”

Feeling noun US /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading “That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The morning that witnessed the collapse of the famous Monitors' Petition had not been idly spent by the new captain.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.”

All words in this reading · 84

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading What worried him was not so much that he felt himself unpopular, or that he knew all Willoughby was in arms against him.

all

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

From this reading What worried him was not so much that he felt himself unpopular, or that he knew all Willoughby was in arms against him.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

arms

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

From this reading What worried him was not so much that he felt himself unpopular, or that he knew all Willoughby was in arms against him.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.

awake

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

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The morning that witnessed the collapse of the famous Monitors' Petition had not been idly spent by the new captain.

brooding

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

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The morning that witnessed the collapse of the famous Monitors' Petition had not been idly spent by the new captain.

CAPTAINnounUS /ˈcaptain/

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

From this reading THE NEW CAPTAIN ENTERS ON HIS DUTIES.

certainly

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

From this reading That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.

cheerful

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

From this reading That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.

collapse

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

From this reading The morning that witnessed the collapse of the famous Monitors' Petition had not been idly spent by the new captain.

cope

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

From this reading That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.

difficulties

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

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

disheartening

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

From this reading That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.

DUTIES

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

From this reading THE NEW CAPTAIN ENTERS ON HIS DUTIES.

ENTERS

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

From this reading THE NEW CAPTAIN ENTERS ON HIS DUTIES.

expectverbUS /ɪkˈspekt/

to think that something will happen

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

face

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

From this reading That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.

famous

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

From this reading The morning that witnessed the collapse of the famous Monitors' Petition had not been idly spent by the new captain.

feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.

fellow's

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

From this reading That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.

felt

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

From this reading What worried him was not so much that he felt himself unpopular, or that he knew all Willoughby was in arms against him.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The morning that witnessed the collapse of the famous Monitors' Petition had not been idly spent by the new captain.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading What worried him was not so much that he felt himself unpopular, or that he knew all Willoughby was in arms against him.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading THE NEW CAPTAIN ENTERS ON HIS DUTIES.

idly

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

From this reading The morning that witnessed the collapse of the famous Monitors' Petition had not been idly spent by the new captain.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading What worried him was not so much that he felt himself unpopular, or that he knew all Willoughby was in arms against him.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.

knew

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

From this reading What worried him was not so much that he felt himself unpopular, or that he knew all Willoughby was in arms against him.

lying

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

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

made

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

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

misery

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

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

Monitors

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

From this reading The morning that witnessed the collapse of the famous Monitors' Petition had not been idly spent by the new captain.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The morning that witnessed the collapse of the famous Monitors' Petition had not been idly spent by the new captain.

much

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

From this reading What worried him was not so much that he felt himself unpopular, or that he knew all Willoughby was in arms against him.

nearly

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

From this reading That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.

nervous

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

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

NEW

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

From this reading THE NEW CAPTAIN ENTERS ON HIS DUTIES.

night

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

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The morning that witnessed the collapse of the famous Monitors' Petition had not been idly spent by the new captain.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The morning that witnessed the collapse of the famous Monitors' Petition had not been idly spent by the new captain.

ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE NEW CAPTAIN ENTERS ON HIS DUTIES.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading What worried him was not so much that he felt himself unpopular, or that he knew all Willoughby was in arms against him.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

Petition

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

From this reading The morning that witnessed the collapse of the famous Monitors' Petition had not been idly spent by the new captain.

possible

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

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

precisely

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

From this reading That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.

preparation

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

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

public

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

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

school

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

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

self-esteem

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

From this reading That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading What worried him was not so much that he felt himself unpopular, or that he knew all Willoughby was in arms against him.

solacing

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

From this reading That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.

spent

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

From this reading The morning that witnessed the collapse of the famous Monitors' Petition had not been idly spent by the new captain.

state

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

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The morning that witnessed the collapse of the famous Monitors' Petition had not been idly spent by the new captain.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE NEW CAPTAIN ENTERS ON HIS DUTIES.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.

unequal

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

From this reading That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.

unlike

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

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

unpopular

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

From this reading What worried him was not so much that he felt himself unpopular, or that he knew all Willoughby was in arms against him.

very

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

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading What worried him was not so much that he felt himself unpopular, or that he knew all Willoughby was in arms against him.

wasn't

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

From this reading That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

Willoughby

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

From this reading What worried him was not so much that he felt himself unpopular, or that he knew all Willoughby was in arms against him.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.

witnessed

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

From this reading The morning that witnessed the collapse of the famous Monitors' Petition had not been idly spent by the new captain.

working

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

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

worried

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

From this reading What worried him was not so much that he felt himself unpopular, or that he knew all Willoughby was in arms against him.

worst

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

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.