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A Flat Iron for a Farthing
A Flat Iron for a Farthing

Chapter XII

Cover illustration for A Flat Iron for a Farthing
Context Illustration Reading 1/16 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE DROWNED DOLL "Mr. Buckle, sir, can you oblige me with eight farthings for twopence?"
I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.
Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.
I began to have my doubts about saddlery as a profession.
Truth to say, a want beyond the cutting and punching of leather had begun to stir within me.
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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.

A Flat Iron for a Farthing

Chapter XII

Reading 1/16 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE DROWNED DOLL "Mr. Buckle, sir, can you oblige me with eight farthings for twopence?"
Line 2
I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.
Line 3
Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.
Line 4
I began to have my doubts about saddlery as a profession.
Line 5
Truth to say, a want beyond the cutting and punching of leather had begun to stir within me.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.”

AGAIN noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE DROWNED DOLL "Mr. Buckle, sir, can you oblige me with eight farthings for twopence?"”

Apprentice noun US /əˈprɛntɪs/

a person learning a trade from an experienced worker

From this reading “I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I began to have my doubts about saddlery as a profession.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.”

Beyond preposition US /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading “Truth to say, a want beyond the cutting and punching of leather had begun to stir within me.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.”

LITTLE noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE DROWNED DOLL "Mr. Buckle, sir, can you oblige me with eight farthings for twopence?"”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “Truth to say, a want beyond the cutting and punching of leather had begun to stir within me.”

All words in this reading · 78

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 I began to have my doubts about saddlery as a profession.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.

adventure

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

From this reading Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.

AGAINnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE DROWNED DOLL "Mr. Buckle, sir, can you oblige me with eight farthings for twopence?"

all

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

From this reading Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Truth to say, a want beyond the cutting and punching of leather had begun to stir within me.

apprenticenounUS /əˈprɛntɪs/

a person learning a trade from an experienced worker

From this reading I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I began to have my doubts about saddlery as a profession.

begun

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

From this reading Truth to say, a want beyond the cutting and punching of leather had begun to stir within me.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading Truth to say, a want beyond the cutting and punching of leather had begun to stir within me.

Buckle

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

From this reading THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE DROWNED DOLL "Mr. Buckle, sir, can you oblige me with eight farthings for twopence?"

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE DROWNED DOLL "Mr. Buckle, sir, can you oblige me with eight farthings for twopence?"

closely

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

From this reading I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.

copied

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

From this reading I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.

cutting

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

From this reading Truth to say, a want beyond the cutting and punching of leather had begun to stir within me.

days

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

From this reading Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.

DOLL

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

From this reading THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE DROWNED DOLL "Mr. Buckle, sir, can you oblige me with eight farthings for twopence?"

doubts

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

From this reading I began to have my doubts about saddlery as a profession.

DROWNED

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

From this reading THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE DROWNED DOLL "Mr. Buckle, sir, can you oblige me with eight farthings for twopence?"

eight

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

From this reading THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE DROWNED DOLL "Mr. Buckle, sir, can you oblige me with eight farthings for twopence?"

endeavoured

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

From this reading I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.

extent

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

From this reading Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.

farthings

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

From this reading THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE DROWNED DOLL "Mr. Buckle, sir, can you oblige me with eight farthings for twopence?"

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE DROWNED DOLL "Mr. Buckle, sir, can you oblige me with eight farthings for twopence?"

form

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

From this reading I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.

imitate

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

From this reading I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.

LADIES

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

From this reading THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE DROWNED DOLL "Mr. Buckle, sir, can you oblige me with eight farthings for twopence?"

leather

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

From this reading Truth to say, a want beyond the cutting and punching of leather had begun to stir within me.

LITTLEnounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE DROWNED DOLL "Mr. Buckle, sir, can you oblige me with eight farthings for twopence?"

many

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

From this reading Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.

matters

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

From this reading Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE DROWNED DOLL "Mr. Buckle, sir, can you oblige me with eight farthings for twopence?"

MEADS

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

From this reading THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE DROWNED DOLL "Mr. Buckle, sir, can you oblige me with eight farthings for twopence?"

Mr

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

From this reading THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE DROWNED DOLL "Mr. Buckle, sir, can you oblige me with eight farthings for twopence?"

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.

oblige

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

From this reading THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE DROWNED DOLL "Mr. Buckle, sir, can you oblige me with eight farthings for twopence?"

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.

pocket

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

From this reading Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.

pondering

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

From this reading Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.

profession

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

From this reading I began to have my doubts about saddlery as a profession.

punching

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

From this reading Truth to say, a want beyond the cutting and punching of leather had begun to stir within me.

resources

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

From this reading Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.

saddlery

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

From this reading I began to have my doubts about saddlery as a profession.

said

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

From this reading I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.

say

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

From this reading Truth to say, a want beyond the cutting and punching of leather had begun to stir within me.

sir

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

From this reading THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE DROWNED DOLL "Mr. Buckle, sir, can you oblige me with eight farthings for twopence?"

some

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

From this reading Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.

speech

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

From this reading I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.

stir

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

From this reading Truth to say, a want beyond the cutting and punching of leather had begun to stir within me.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE DROWNED DOLL "Mr. Buckle, sir, can you oblige me with eight farthings for twopence?"

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.

Thus

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

From this reading Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.

tinsmith's

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

From this reading Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.

Truth

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

From this reading Truth to say, a want beyond the cutting and punching of leather had begun to stir within me.

twopence

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

From this reading THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE DROWNED DOLL "Mr. Buckle, sir, can you oblige me with eight farthings for twopence?"

want

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

From this reading Truth to say, a want beyond the cutting and punching of leather had begun to stir within me.

way

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

From this reading I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.

ways

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

From this reading I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.

wealth

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

From this reading Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading I had closely copied this form of speech from the apprentice, whose ways, as I have said, I endeavoured in every way to imitate.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE DROWNED DOLL "Mr. Buckle, sir, can you oblige me with eight farthings for twopence?"

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading Truth to say, a want beyond the cutting and punching of leather had begun to stir within me.

worldly

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

From this reading Thus, twopence being at that time the extent of my resources, I went about for some days after my adventure at the tinsmith's with all my worldly wealth in my pocket in farthings, pondering many matters.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE DROWNED DOLL "Mr. Buckle, sir, can you oblige me with eight farthings for twopence?"