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Wilfrid Cumbermede
Wilfrid Cumbermede

Chapter XXXV

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Context Illustration Reading 1/53 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE LAST VISION.
I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.
The gathering was chiefly for talk, and was a kind of thing I disliked, finding its aimlessness and flicker depressing.
Indeed, partly from the peculiar circumstances of my childhood, partly from what I had suffered, I always found my spirits highest when alone.
Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Wilfrid Cumbermede

Chapter XXXV

Reading 1/53 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE LAST VISION.
Line 2
I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.
Line 3
The gathering was chiefly for talk, and was a kind of thing I disliked, finding its aimlessness and flicker depressing.
Line 4
Indeed, partly from the peculiar circumstances of my childhood, partly from what I had suffered, I always found my spirits highest when alone.
Line 5
Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

Learner Dictionary

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

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Indeed, partly from the peculiar circumstances of my childhood, partly from what I had suffered, I always found my spirits highest when alone.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading “Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.”

LAST noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE LAST VISION.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.”

Ought modal verb US /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading “Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.”

Partly noun US /partly/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Indeed, partly from the peculiar circumstances of my childhood, partly from what I had suffered, I always found my spirits highest when alone.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The gathering was chiefly for talk, and was a kind of thing I disliked, finding its aimlessness and flicker depressing.”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.”

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 The gathering was chiefly for talk, and was a kind of thing I disliked, finding its aimlessness and flicker depressing.

accompany

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

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.

affections

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

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

aimlessness

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

From this reading The gathering was chiefly for talk, and was a kind of thing I disliked, finding its aimlessness and flicker depressing.

alive

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

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Indeed, partly from the peculiar circumstances of my childhood, partly from what I had suffered, I always found my spirits highest when alone.

always

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

From this reading Indeed, partly from the peculiar circumstances of my childhood, partly from what I had suffered, I always found my spirits highest when alone.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The gathering was chiefly for talk, and was a kind of thing I disliked, finding its aimlessness and flicker depressing.

apart

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

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

barrister-friends

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

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

Charley's

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

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.

chiefly

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

From this reading The gathering was chiefly for talk, and was a kind of thing I disliked, finding its aimlessness and flicker depressing.

childhood

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

From this reading Indeed, partly from the peculiar circumstances of my childhood, partly from what I had suffered, I always found my spirits highest when alone.

circumstances

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

From this reading Indeed, partly from the peculiar circumstances of my childhood, partly from what I had suffered, I always found my spirits highest when alone.

considerable

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

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.

deeper

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

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

depressing

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

From this reading The gathering was chiefly for talk, and was a kind of thing I disliked, finding its aimlessness and flicker depressing.

disliked

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

From this reading The gathering was chiefly for talk, and was a kind of thing I disliked, finding its aimlessness and flicker depressing.

endure

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

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

engaged

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

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.

evening

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

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.

family

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

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.

father's

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

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.

felt

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

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

finding

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

From this reading The gathering was chiefly for talk, and was a kind of thing I disliked, finding its aimlessness and flicker depressing.

flicker

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

From this reading The gathering was chiefly for talk, and was a kind of thing I disliked, finding its aimlessness and flicker depressing.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The gathering was chiefly for talk, and was a kind of thing I disliked, finding its aimlessness and flicker depressing.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.

friendliness

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

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

friends

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

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Indeed, partly from the peculiar circumstances of my childhood, partly from what I had suffered, I always found my spirits highest when alone.

gathering

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

From this reading The gathering was chiefly for talk, and was a kind of thing I disliked, finding its aimlessness and flicker depressing.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

highest

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

From this reading Indeed, partly from the peculiar circumstances of my childhood, partly from what I had suffered, I always found my spirits highest when alone.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.

house

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

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.

humanity

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

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.

Indeed

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

From this reading Indeed, partly from the peculiar circumstances of my childhood, partly from what I had suffered, I always found my spirits highest when alone.

irksomeness

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

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The gathering was chiefly for talk, and was a kind of thing I disliked, finding its aimlessness and flicker depressing.

keeping

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

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

kind

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

From this reading The gathering was chiefly for talk, and was a kind of thing I disliked, finding its aimlessness and flicker depressing.

LASTnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE LAST VISION.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Indeed, partly from the peculiar circumstances of my childhood, partly from what I had suffered, I always found my spirits highest when alone.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

nourishment

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

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.

only

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

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

out

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

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

partly

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

From this reading Indeed, partly from the peculiar circumstances of my childhood, partly from what I had suffered, I always found my spirits highest when alone.

peculiar

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

From this reading Indeed, partly from the peculiar circumstances of my childhood, partly from what I had suffered, I always found my spirits highest when alone.

sake

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

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

satisfaction

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

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.

shut

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

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

society

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

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.

some

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

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.

spend

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

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.

spirits

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

From this reading Indeed, partly from the peculiar circumstances of my childhood, partly from what I had suffered, I always found my spirits highest when alone.

StillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

study

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

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

suffered

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

From this reading Indeed, partly from the peculiar circumstances of my childhood, partly from what I had suffered, I always found my spirits highest when alone.

surface

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

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

talk

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

From this reading The gathering was chiefly for talk, and was a kind of thing I disliked, finding its aimlessness and flicker depressing.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE LAST VISION.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The gathering was chiefly for talk, and was a kind of thing I disliked, finding its aimlessness and flicker depressing.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.

value

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

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

VISION

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

From this reading THE LAST VISION.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The gathering was chiefly for talk, and was a kind of thing I disliked, finding its aimlessness and flicker depressing.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Indeed, partly from the peculiar circumstances of my childhood, partly from what I had suffered, I always found my spirits highest when alone.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Indeed, partly from the peculiar circumstances of my childhood, partly from what I had suffered, I always found my spirits highest when alone.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Still, the study of humanity apart, I felt that I ought not to shut myself out from my kind, but endure some little irksomeness, if only for the sake of keeping alive that surface friendliness which has its value in the nourishment of the deeper affections.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I had engaged to accompany one of Charley’s barrister-friends, in whose society I had found considerable satisfaction, to his father’s house--to spend the evening with some friends of the family.