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Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope

Chapter V

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Context Illustration Reading 1/56 · 5 lines
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THE WAR WITH THE DUNCES.
In the Dunciad, published soon after the Odyssey, Pope laments ten years spent as a commentator and translator.
He was not without compensation.
The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.
The task which he actually chose was not calculated to promote his happiness.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Alexander Pope

Chapter V

Reading 1/56 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE WAR WITH THE DUNCES.
Line 2
In the Dunciad, published soon after the Odyssey, Pope laments ten years spent as a commentator and translator.
Line 3
He was not without compensation.
Line 4
The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.
Line 5
The task which he actually chose was not calculated to promote his happiness.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “In the Dunciad, published soon after the Odyssey, Pope laments ten years spent as a commentator and translator.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the Dunciad, published soon after the Odyssey, Pope laments ten years spent as a commentator and translator.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “He was not without compensation.”

All words in this reading · 62

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 the Dunciad, published soon after the Odyssey, Pope laments ten years spent as a commentator and translator.

able

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

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

actually

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

From this reading The task which he actually chose was not calculated to promote his happiness.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading In the Dunciad, published soon after the Odyssey, Pope laments ten years spent as a commentator and translator.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading In the Dunciad, published soon after the Odyssey, Pope laments ten years spent as a commentator and translator.

any

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

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading In the Dunciad, published soon after the Odyssey, Pope laments ten years spent as a commentator and translator.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

calculated

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

From this reading The task which he actually chose was not calculated to promote his happiness.

chose

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

From this reading The task which he actually chose was not calculated to promote his happiness.

commentator

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

From this reading In the Dunciad, published soon after the Odyssey, Pope laments ten years spent as a commentator and translator.

compensation

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

From this reading He was not without compensation.

devote

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

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

drudgery

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

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

DUNCES

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

From this reading THE WAR WITH THE DUNCES.

Dunciad

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

From this reading In the Dunciad, published soon after the Odyssey, Pope laments ten years spent as a commentator and translator.

felt

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

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

forty

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

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

happiness

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

From this reading The task which he actually chose was not calculated to promote his happiness.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was not without compensation.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In the Dunciad, published soon after the Odyssey, Pope laments ten years spent as a commentator and translator.

independent

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

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

laments

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

From this reading In the Dunciad, published soon after the Odyssey, Pope laments ten years spent as a commentator and translator.

latter

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

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He was not without compensation.

Odyssey

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

From this reading In the Dunciad, published soon after the Odyssey, Pope laments ten years spent as a commentator and translator.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

once

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

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

please

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

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

Pope

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

From this reading In the Dunciad, published soon after the Odyssey, Pope laments ten years spent as a commentator and translator.

position

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

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

promote

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

From this reading The task which he actually chose was not calculated to promote his happiness.

published

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

From this reading In the Dunciad, published soon after the Odyssey, Pope laments ten years spent as a commentator and translator.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

side

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

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

soon

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

From this reading In the Dunciad, published soon after the Odyssey, Pope laments ten years spent as a commentator and translator.

spent

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

From this reading In the Dunciad, published soon after the Odyssey, Pope laments ten years spent as a commentator and translator.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

talents

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

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

task

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

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

ten

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

From this reading In the Dunciad, published soon after the Odyssey, Pope laments ten years spent as a commentator and translator.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE WAR WITH THE DUNCES.

thoroughly

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

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

translator

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

From this reading In the Dunciad, published soon after the Odyssey, Pope laments ten years spent as a commentator and translator.

WAR

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

From this reading THE WAR WITH THE DUNCES.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was not without compensation.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The drudgery--for the latter part of his task must have been felt as drudgery--once over, he found himself in a thoroughly independent position, still on the right side of forty, and able to devote his talents to any task which might please him.

WITHprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE WAR WITH THE DUNCES.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading He was not without compensation.

years

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

From this reading In the Dunciad, published soon after the Odyssey, Pope laments ten years spent as a commentator and translator.