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William Adolphus Turnpike
William Adolphus Turnpike

Chapter II

Cover illustration for William Adolphus Turnpike
Context Illustration Reading 1/14 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."
When he arrived at the office on the morning after the insertion of the advertisement, Whimple found William busily engaged in dusting off the lone table in his room.
At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.
As Whimple entered, William greeted him with a cheery "Good-morning, Mr. Whimple."
"Good-morning, what are you doing here?"
0:00 / 0:00
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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.

William Adolphus Turnpike

Chapter II

Reading 1/14 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."
Line 2
When he arrived at the office on the morning after the insertion of the advertisement, Whimple found William busily engaged in dusting off the lone table in his room.
Line 3
At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.
Line 4
As Whimple entered, William greeted him with a cheery "Good-morning, Mr. Whimple."
Line 5
"Good-morning, what are you doing here?"

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “When he arrived at the office on the morning after the insertion of the advertisement, Whimple found William busily engaged in dusting off the lone table in his room.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When he arrived at the office on the morning after the insertion of the advertisement, Whimple found William busily engaged in dusting off the lone table in his room.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Good-morning, what are you doing here?"”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When he arrived at the office on the morning after the insertion of the advertisement, Whimple found William busily engaged in dusting off the lone table in his room.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."”

All words in this reading · 81

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 William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

advertisement

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading When he arrived at the office on the morning after the insertion of the advertisement, Whimple found William busily engaged in dusting off the lone table in his room.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

ante-room

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

From this reading At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading "Good-morning, what are you doing here?"

arrived

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

From this reading When he arrived at the office on the morning after the insertion of the advertisement, Whimple found William busily engaged in dusting off the lone table in his room.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading When he arrived at the office on the morning after the insertion of the advertisement, Whimple found William busily engaged in dusting off the lone table in his room.

back

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

From this reading At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.

barrister

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

boy

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

bright

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

busily

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

From this reading When he arrived at the office on the morning after the insertion of the advertisement, Whimple found William busily engaged in dusting off the lone table in his room.

Charles

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

cheery

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

From this reading As Whimple entered, William greeted him with a cheery "Good-morning, Mr. Whimple."

city

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

doing

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

From this reading "Good-morning, what are you doing here?"

down

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

From this reading At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.

dusting

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

From this reading When he arrived at the office on the morning after the insertion of the advertisement, Whimple found William busily engaged in dusting off the lone table in his room.

earlier

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

From this reading At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.

engaged

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

entered

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

From this reading As Whimple entered, William greeted him with a cheery "Good-morning, Mr. Whimple."

etc

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

eye

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

From this reading At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When he arrived at the office on the morning after the insertion of the advertisement, Whimple found William busily engaged in dusting off the lone table in his room.

friend

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

From this reading At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.

gentleman's

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

Good-morning

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

From this reading As Whimple entered, William greeted him with a cheery "Good-morning, Mr. Whimple."

greeted

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

From this reading As Whimple entered, William greeted him with a cheery "Good-morning, Mr. Whimple."

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading When he arrived at the office on the morning after the insertion of the advertisement, Whimple found William busily engaged in dusting off the lone table in his room.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Good-morning, what are you doing here?"

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading As Whimple entered, William greeted him with a cheery "Good-morning, Mr. Whimple."

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading When he arrived at the office on the morning after the insertion of the advertisement, Whimple found William busily engaged in dusting off the lone table in his room.

hour

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

From this reading At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

insertion

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

From this reading When he arrived at the office on the morning after the insertion of the advertisement, Whimple found William busily engaged in dusting off the lone table in his room.

intelligent

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.

just

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

kept

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

From this reading At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.

knows

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

lone

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

From this reading When he arrived at the office on the morning after the insertion of the advertisement, Whimple found William busily engaged in dusting off the lone table in his room.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When he arrived at the office on the morning after the insertion of the advertisement, Whimple found William busily engaged in dusting off the lone table in his room.

Mr

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When he arrived at the office on the morning after the insertion of the advertisement, Whimple found William busily engaged in dusting off the lone table in his room.

off

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

From this reading When he arrived at the office on the morning after the insertion of the advertisement, Whimple found William busily engaged in dusting off the lone table in his room.

office

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading When he arrived at the office on the morning after the insertion of the advertisement, Whimple found William busily engaged in dusting off the lone table in his room.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

opened

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

From this reading At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.

previously

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

response

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

room

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

From this reading When he arrived at the office on the morning after the insertion of the advertisement, Whimple found William busily engaged in dusting off the lone table in his room.

Simmons

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

From this reading At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.

small

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

From this reading At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.

table

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

From this reading When he arrived at the office on the morning after the insertion of the advertisement, Whimple found William busily engaged in dusting off the lone table in his room.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

things

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

From this reading At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.

up

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

From this reading At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.

usually

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

From this reading At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.

very

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

From this reading At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.

week

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

well

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "Good-morning, what are you doing here?"

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When he arrived at the office on the morning after the insertion of the advertisement, Whimple found William busily engaged in dusting off the lone table in his room.

Whimple

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

William

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading At the back of the office, with its small, very small, ante-room, was the office of his friend, Simmons, and as he was usually down an hour earlier than Whimple, he "opened up" and kept an eye on things for the barrister until he arrived.

work

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

From this reading William had engaged himself to work for Mr. Charles Whimple, "barrister, etc.," just one week previously in response to that gentleman's advertisement for "a bright and intelligent office boy; one who knows the city well."

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Good-morning, what are you doing here?"