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Women in Love
Women in Love

Chapter XIX · Gladiatorial

Cover illustration for Women in Love
Context Illustration Reading 1/76 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
After the fiasco of the proposal, Birkin had hurried blindly away from Beldover, in a whirl of fury.
He felt he had been a complete fool, that the whole scene had been a farce of the first water.
But that did not trouble him at all.
He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.
He went straight to Shortlands.
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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.

Women in Love

Chapter XIX · Gladiatorial

Reading 1/76 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
After the fiasco of the proposal, Birkin had hurried blindly away from Beldover, in a whirl of fury.
Line 2
He felt he had been a complete fool, that the whole scene had been a farce of the first water.
Line 3
But that did not trouble him at all.
Line 4
He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.
Line 5
He went straight to Shortlands.

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 “After the fiasco of the proposal, Birkin had hurried blindly away from Beldover, in a whirl of fury.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “He felt he had been a complete fool, that the whole scene had been a farce of the first water.”

Complete noun US /complete/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He felt he had been a complete fool, that the whole scene had been a farce of the first water.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He felt he had been a complete fool, that the whole scene had been a farce of the first water.”

Fool noun US /fool/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He felt he had been a complete fool, that the whole scene had been a farce of the first water.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He went straight to Shortlands.”

All words in this reading · 59

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 After the fiasco of the proposal, Birkin had hurried blindly away from Beldover, in a whirl of fury.

abstraction

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

From this reading He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading After the fiasco of the proposal, Birkin had hurried blindly away from Beldover, in a whirl of fury.

all

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

From this reading But that did not trouble him at all.

always

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

From this reading He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.

angry

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

From this reading He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading But that did not trouble him at all.

away

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

From this reading After the fiasco of the proposal, Birkin had hurried blindly away from Beldover, in a whirl of fury.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He felt he had been a complete fool, that the whole scene had been a farce of the first water.

Beldover

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

From this reading After the fiasco of the proposal, Birkin had hurried blindly away from Beldover, in a whirl of fury.

Birkin

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

From this reading After the fiasco of the proposal, Birkin had hurried blindly away from Beldover, in a whirl of fury.

blindly

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

From this reading After the fiasco of the proposal, Birkin had hurried blindly away from Beldover, in a whirl of fury.

bright

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

From this reading He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.

bully

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

From this reading He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But that did not trouble him at all.

completenounUS /complete/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He felt he had been a complete fool, that the whole scene had been a farce of the first water.

cry

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

From this reading He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.

deeply

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

From this reading He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading But that did not trouble him at all.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.

farce

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

From this reading He felt he had been a complete fool, that the whole scene had been a farce of the first water.

felt

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

From this reading He felt he had been a complete fool, that the whole scene had been a farce of the first water.

fiasco

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

From this reading After the fiasco of the proposal, Birkin had hurried blindly away from Beldover, in a whirl of fury.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He felt he had been a complete fool, that the whole scene had been a farce of the first water.

foolnounUS /fool/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He felt he had been a complete fool, that the whole scene had been a farce of the first water.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading After the fiasco of the proposal, Birkin had hurried blindly away from Beldover, in a whirl of fury.

fury

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

From this reading After the fiasco of the proposal, Birkin had hurried blindly away from Beldover, in a whirl of fury.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading After the fiasco of the proposal, Birkin had hurried blindly away from Beldover, in a whirl of fury.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He felt he had been a complete fool, that the whole scene had been a farce of the first water.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading But that did not trouble him at all.

hurried

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

From this reading After the fiasco of the proposal, Birkin had hurried blindly away from Beldover, in a whirl of fury.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading After the fiasco of the proposal, Birkin had hurried blindly away from Beldover, in a whirl of fury.

insolent

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

From this reading He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.

mockingly

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

From this reading He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But that did not trouble him at all.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading After the fiasco of the proposal, Birkin had hurried blindly away from Beldover, in a whirl of fury.

old

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

From this reading He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.

persisted

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

From this reading He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.

proposal

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

From this reading After the fiasco of the proposal, Birkin had hurried blindly away from Beldover, in a whirl of fury.

scene

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

From this reading He felt he had been a complete fool, that the whole scene had been a farce of the first water.

Shortlands

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

From this reading He went straight to Shortlands.

straight

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

From this reading He went straight to Shortlands.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He felt he had been a complete fool, that the whole scene had been a farce of the first water.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading After the fiasco of the proposal, Birkin had hurried blindly away from Beldover, in a whirl of fury.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.

trouble

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

From this reading But that did not trouble him at all.

Ursula

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

From this reading He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.

want

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

From this reading He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.

water

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

From this reading He felt he had been a complete fool, that the whole scene had been a farce of the first water.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He went straight to Shortlands.

whirl

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

From this reading After the fiasco of the proposal, Birkin had hurried blindly away from Beldover, in a whirl of fury.

whole

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

From this reading He felt he had been a complete fool, that the whole scene had been a farce of the first water.

Why

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

From this reading He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading He was deeply, mockingly angry that Ursula persisted always in this old cry: “Why do you want to bully me?” and in her bright, insolent abstraction.