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A Secret Service
A Secret Service

Chapter XI

Cover illustration for A Secret Service
Context Illustration Reading 1/54 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE CONFESSION OF VASSILII.
I met Vassilii Poklévski at the post-house at Durnovskaia, a small village a few miles from Astrakhan.
He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.
I therefore engaged him.
Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Secret Service

Chapter XI

Reading 1/54 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE CONFESSION OF VASSILII.
Line 2
I met Vassilii Poklévski at the post-house at Durnovskaia, a small village a few miles from Astrakhan.
Line 3
He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.
Line 4
I therefore engaged him.
Line 5
Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.”

Journey noun US /ˈjourney/

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

From this reading “He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.”

Therefore adverb US /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading “I therefore engaged him.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.”

All words in this reading · 67

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 met Vassilii Poklévski at the post-house at Durnovskaia, a small village a few miles from Astrakhan.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

ascertained

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

From this reading Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.

assured

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

Astrakhan

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

From this reading I met Vassilii Poklévski at the post-house at Durnovskaia, a small village a few miles from Astrakhan.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I met Vassilii Poklévski at the post-house at Durnovskaia, a small village a few miles from Astrakhan.

average

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

beard

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

From this reading Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.

compelled

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

CONFESSION

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

From this reading THE CONFESSION OF VASSILII.

driver

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

Durnovskaia

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

From this reading I met Vassilii Poklévski at the post-house at Durnovskaia, a small village a few miles from Astrakhan.

education

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

engaged

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

From this reading I therefore engaged him.

faithfully

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

fellow

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

From this reading Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.

few

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

From this reading I met Vassilii Poklévski at the post-house at Durnovskaia, a small village a few miles from Astrakhan.

fluently

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

From this reading Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.

French

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

From this reading Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I met Vassilii Poklévski at the post-house at Durnovskaia, a small village a few miles from Astrakhan.

grey

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

From this reading Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

hair

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

From this reading Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading I therefore engaged him.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I met Vassilii Poklévski at the post-house at Durnovskaia, a small village a few miles from Astrakhan.

intelligent

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

journeynounUS /ˈjourney/

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

met

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

From this reading I met Vassilii Poklévski at the post-house at Durnovskaia, a small village a few miles from Astrakhan.

miles

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

From this reading I met Vassilii Poklévski at the post-house at Durnovskaia, a small village a few miles from Astrakhan.

Muscovite

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE CONFESSION OF VASSILII.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

Outwardly

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

From this reading Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.

Poklévski

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

From this reading I met Vassilii Poklévski at the post-house at Durnovskaia, a small village a few miles from Astrakhan.

post-house

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

From this reading I met Vassilii Poklévski at the post-house at Durnovskaia, a small village a few miles from Astrakhan.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.

read

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

From this reading Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.

recommended

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

rough

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

From this reading Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.

serve

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

small

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

From this reading I met Vassilii Poklévski at the post-house at Durnovskaia, a small village a few miles from Astrakhan.

soon

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

From this reading Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.

spoke

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

From this reading Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.

steady

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

superior

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE CONFESSION OF VASSILII.

thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading I therefore engaged him.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

uncouth-looking

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

From this reading Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.

undertake

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

unkempt

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

From this reading Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.

unshorn

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

From this reading Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.

VASSILII

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

From this reading THE CONFESSION OF VASSILII.

very

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

From this reading Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.

village

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

From this reading I met Vassilii Poklévski at the post-house at Durnovskaia, a small village a few miles from Astrakhan.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

well

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Outwardly, he was a rough, uncouth-looking fellow with unkempt grey hair and unshorn beard, but very soon I ascertained that he was well read, and that he spoke French quite fluently.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.

yamstchik

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

From this reading He had been recommended to me as a steady, intelligent _yamstchik_ (driver) of superior education to the average Muscovite, and he would, I was assured, serve me faithfully and well on the long journey I had been compelled to undertake.