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A Young Man's Year
A Young Man's Year

Chapter XVII

Cover illustration for A Young Man's Year
Context Illustration Reading 1/47 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON!
Norton Ward on a country visit gave the impression of a locomotive engine in a siding.
His repose was so obviously temporary and at the mercy of any signal.
He was not moving, but his thoughts were all of movement--of his own moves, of other people's, of his counter-moves; or of his party's moves, and the other party's counter-moves.
He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Young Man's Year

Chapter XVII

Reading 1/47 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON!
Line 2
Norton Ward on a country visit gave the impression of a locomotive engine in a siding.
Line 3
His repose was so obviously temporary and at the mercy of any signal.
Line 4
He was not moving, but his thoughts were all of movement--of his own moves, of other people's, of his counter-moves; or of his party's moves, and the other party's counter-moves.
Line 5
He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.”

All words in this reading · 66

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 Norton Ward on a country visit gave the impression of a locomotive engine in a siding.

actual

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

From this reading He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.

all

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

From this reading He was not moving, but his thoughts were all of movement--of his own moves, of other people's, of his counter-moves; or of his party's moves, and the other party's counter-moves.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading His repose was so obviously temporary and at the mercy of any signal.

any

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

From this reading His repose was so obviously temporary and at the mercy of any signal.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading His repose was so obviously temporary and at the mercy of any signal.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He was not moving, but his thoughts were all of movement--of his own moves, of other people's, of his counter-moves; or of his party's moves, and the other party's counter-moves.

clay

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

From this reading He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.

contemplating

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

From this reading He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.

counter-moves

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

From this reading He was not moving, but his thoughts were all of movement--of his own moves, of other people's, of his counter-moves; or of his party's moves, and the other party's counter-moves.

country

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

From this reading Norton Ward on a country visit gave the impression of a locomotive engine in a siding.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.

engine

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

From this reading Norton Ward on a country visit gave the impression of a locomotive engine in a siding.

FORprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON!

gave

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

From this reading Norton Ward on a country visit gave the impression of a locomotive engine in a siding.

get

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

From this reading He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was not moving, but his thoughts were all of movement--of his own moves, of other people's, of his counter-moves; or of his party's moves, and the other party's counter-moves.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading His repose was so obviously temporary and at the mercy of any signal.

impression

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

From this reading Norton Ward on a country visit gave the impression of a locomotive engine in a siding.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Norton Ward on a country visit gave the impression of a locomotive engine in a siding.

intervals

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

From this reading He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.

like

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

From this reading He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.

locomotive

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

From this reading Norton Ward on a country visit gave the impression of a locomotive engine in a siding.

mercy

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

From this reading His repose was so obviously temporary and at the mercy of any signal.

moment

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

From this reading He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.

moulding

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

From this reading He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.

movement

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

From this reading He was not moving, but his thoughts were all of movement--of his own moves, of other people's, of his counter-moves; or of his party's moves, and the other party's counter-moves.

moves

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

From this reading He was not moving, but his thoughts were all of movement--of his own moves, of other people's, of his counter-moves; or of his party's moves, and the other party's counter-moves.

moving

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

From this reading He was not moving, but his thoughts were all of movement--of his own moves, of other people's, of his counter-moves; or of his party's moves, and the other party's counter-moves.

NOdeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON!

Norton

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

From this reading Norton Ward on a country visit gave the impression of a locomotive engine in a siding.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He was not moving, but his thoughts were all of movement--of his own moves, of other people's, of his counter-moves; or of his party's moves, and the other party's counter-moves.

obviously

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

From this reading His repose was so obviously temporary and at the mercy of any signal.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Norton Ward on a country visit gave the impression of a locomotive engine in a siding.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Norton Ward on a country visit gave the impression of a locomotive engine in a siding.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He was not moving, but his thoughts were all of movement--of his own moves, of other people's, of his counter-moves; or of his party's moves, and the other party's counter-moves.

other

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

From this reading He was not moving, but his thoughts were all of movement--of his own moves, of other people's, of his counter-moves; or of his party's moves, and the other party's counter-moves.

own

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

From this reading He was not moving, but his thoughts were all of movement--of his own moves, of other people's, of his counter-moves; or of his party's moves, and the other party's counter-moves.

PARTICULAR

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

From this reading FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON!

party's

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

From this reading He was not moving, but his thoughts were all of movement--of his own moves, of other people's, of his counter-moves; or of his party's moves, and the other party's counter-moves.

people's

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

From this reading He was not moving, but his thoughts were all of movement--of his own moves, of other people's, of his counter-moves; or of his party's moves, and the other party's counter-moves.

planning

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

From this reading He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.

REASON

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

From this reading FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON!

repose

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

From this reading His repose was so obviously temporary and at the mercy of any signal.

sculptor

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

From this reading He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.

shaping

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

From this reading He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.

siding

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

From this reading Norton Ward on a country visit gave the impression of a locomotive engine in a siding.

signal

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

From this reading His repose was so obviously temporary and at the mercy of any signal.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading His repose was so obviously temporary and at the mercy of any signal.

soon

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

From this reading He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.

temporary

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

From this reading His repose was so obviously temporary and at the mercy of any signal.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Norton Ward on a country visit gave the impression of a locomotive engine in a siding.

thoughts

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

From this reading He was not moving, but his thoughts were all of movement--of his own moves, of other people's, of his counter-moves; or of his party's moves, and the other party's counter-moves.

visit

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

From this reading Norton Ward on a country visit gave the impression of a locomotive engine in a siding.

Ward

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

From this reading Norton Ward on a country visit gave the impression of a locomotive engine in a siding.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading His repose was so obviously temporary and at the mercy of any signal.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading He was not moving, but his thoughts were all of movement--of his own moves, of other people's, of his counter-moves; or of his party's moves, and the other party's counter-moves.

work

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

From this reading He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading He could not at the moment be moulding and shaping his life; but, like a sculptor, he was contemplating the clay in the intervals of actual work, and planning all that he would do, so soon as he could get at it again.