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A Chambermaid's Diary
A Chambermaid's Diary

Chapter XVI

Cover illustration for A Chambermaid's Diary
Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
In what a hurry I am to see Joseph!
With what nervous impatience I await the moment when I shall know what I must hope or fear from destiny!
I can no longer live as I am living now.
Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.
If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Chambermaid's Diary

Chapter XVI

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

Line 1
In what a hurry I am to see Joseph!
Line 2
With what nervous impatience I await the moment when I shall know what I must hope or fear from destiny!
Line 3
I can no longer live as I am living now.
Line 4
Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.
Line 5
If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

Learner Dictionary

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

Among preposition US /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading “Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.”

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.”

Distressed adjective US /dɪˈstrɛst/

suffering from pain, danger, or serious difficulty

From this reading “Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.”

Feeling noun US /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading “If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “With what nervous impatience I await the moment when I shall know what I must hope or fear from destiny!”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “With what nervous impatience I await the moment when I shall know what I must hope or fear from destiny!”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.”

Shall modal verb US /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading “With what nervous impatience I await the moment when I shall know what I must hope or fear from destiny!”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.”

All words in this reading · 85

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 In what a hurry I am to see Joseph!

abyss

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

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

all

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

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading In what a hurry I am to see Joseph!

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading I can no longer live as I am living now.

await

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

From this reading With what nervous impatience I await the moment when I shall know what I must hope or fear from destiny!

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading I can no longer live as I am living now.

continually

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

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

day

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

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

destiny

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

From this reading With what nervous impatience I await the moment when I shall know what I must hope or fear from destiny!

dismal

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

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

distressedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstrɛst/

suffering from pain, danger, or serious difficulty

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

fear

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

From this reading With what nervous impatience I await the moment when I shall know what I must hope or fear from destiny!

feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading With what nervous impatience I await the moment when I shall know what I must hope or fear from destiny!

gives

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

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

growing

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

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

hope

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

From this reading With what nervous impatience I await the moment when I shall know what I must hope or fear from destiny!

hurry

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

From this reading In what a hurry I am to see Joseph!

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading In what a hurry I am to see Joseph!

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

impatience

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

From this reading With what nervous impatience I await the moment when I shall know what I must hope or fear from destiny!

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In what a hurry I am to see Joseph!

interest

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

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

Joseph

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

From this reading In what a hurry I am to see Joseph!

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading With what nervous impatience I await the moment when I shall know what I must hope or fear from destiny!

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

live

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

From this reading I can no longer live as I am living now.

living

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

From this reading I can no longer live as I am living now.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

longer

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

From this reading I can no longer live as I am living now.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

mediocre

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

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

moment

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

From this reading With what nervous impatience I await the moment when I shall know what I must hope or fear from destiny!

more

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

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

mountebanks

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

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading With what nervous impatience I await the moment when I shall know what I must hope or fear from destiny!

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

nervous

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

From this reading With what nervous impatience I await the moment when I shall know what I must hope or fear from destiny!

NevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

new

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

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading I can no longer live as I am living now.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

now

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

From this reading I can no longer live as I am living now.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading With what nervous impatience I await the moment when I shall know what I must hope or fear from destiny!

people

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

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

plunge

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

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

powerful

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

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

present

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

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

see

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

From this reading In what a hurry I am to see Joseph!

serve

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

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading With what nervous impatience I await the moment when I shall know what I must hope or fear from destiny!

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

strange

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

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

stupid

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

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

stupidity

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

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

sustained

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

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading With what nervous impatience I await the moment when I shall know what I must hope or fear from destiny!

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading In what a hurry I am to see Joseph!

too

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

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

vileness

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

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading In what a hurry I am to see Joseph!

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading With what nervous impatience I await the moment when I shall know what I must hope or fear from destiny!

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Never have I been so distressed by this mediocre life that I live, by these people whom I serve, by all these dismal mountebanks around me, among whom I am growing more stupid from day to day.

widening

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

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading With what nervous impatience I await the moment when I shall know what I must hope or fear from destiny!

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading If I were not sustained by the strange feeling that gives a new and powerful interest to my present life, I think it would not be long before I, too, should plunge into the abyss of stupidity and vileness which I see continually widening around me.