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Biographical Stories
Biographical Stories

Chapter II

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Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune.
Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.
When a man's eyes have grown old with gazing at the ways of the world, it does not seem such a terrible misfortune to have them bandaged.
Little Emily Robinson sat by Edward's side with the air of an accomplished nurse.
As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.
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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.

Biographical Stories

Chapter II

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune.
Line 2
Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.
Line 3
When a man's eyes have grown old with gazing at the ways of the world, it does not seem such a terrible misfortune to have them bandaged.
Line 4
Little Emily Robinson sat by Edward's side with the air of an accomplished nurse.
Line 5
As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.”

Disposed noun US /ˈdisposed/

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

From this reading “When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Little Emily Robinson sat by Edward's side with the air of an accomplished nurse.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.”

Terrible noun US /ˈterrible/

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

From this reading “When a man's eyes have grown old with gazing at the ways of the world, it does not seem such a terrible misfortune to have them bandaged.”

Tongue noun US /tongue/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.”

All words in this reading · 93

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 Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

accomplished

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

From this reading Little Emily Robinson sat by Edward's side with the air of an accomplished nurse.

air

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

From this reading Little Emily Robinson sat by Edward's side with the air of an accomplished nurse.

all

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

From this reading As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Little Emily Robinson sat by Edward's side with the air of an accomplished nurse.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune.

anticipate

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

From this reading As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading When a man's eyes have grown old with gazing at the ways of the world, it does not seem such a terrible misfortune to have them bandaged.

bandaged

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

From this reading When a man's eyes have grown old with gazing at the ways of the world, it does not seem such a terrible misfortune to have them bandaged.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.

boy

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

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

came

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

From this reading When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune.

chamber

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

From this reading As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.

comfortable

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

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

considerably

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

From this reading When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.

dimly

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

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

disposednounUS /ˈdisposed/

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

From this reading When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune.

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading When a man's eyes have grown old with gazing at the ways of the world, it does not seem such a terrible misfortune to have them bandaged.

duskiness

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

From this reading As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.

easy-chair

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

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

Edward

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

From this reading When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune.

Edward's

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

From this reading Little Emily Robinson sat by Edward's side with the air of an accomplished nurse.

Emily

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

From this reading Little Emily Robinson sat by Edward's side with the air of an accomplished nurse.

envied

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

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

evening

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

From this reading When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune.

expression

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

From this reading As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.

eyes

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

From this reading When a man's eyes have grown old with gazing at the ways of the world, it does not seem such a terrible misfortune to have them bandaged.

face

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

From this reading As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.

figure

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

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

firelight

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

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune.

gazing

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

From this reading When a man's eyes have grown old with gazing at the ways of the world, it does not seem such a terrible misfortune to have them bandaged.

grown

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

From this reading When a man's eyes have grown old with gazing at the ways of the world, it does not seem such a terrible misfortune to have them bandaged.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune.

hun

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

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune.

Indeed

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

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

LittlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Little Emily Robinson sat by Edward's side with the air of an accomplished nurse.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

man's

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

From this reading When a man's eyes have grown old with gazing at the ways of the world, it does not seem such a terrible misfortune to have them bandaged.

many

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

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

misfortune

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

From this reading When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune.

motions

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

From this reading As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.

Mr

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

From this reading When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading When a man's eyes have grown old with gazing at the ways of the world, it does not seem such a terrible misfortune to have them bandaged.

nurse

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

From this reading Little Emily Robinson sat by Edward's side with the air of an accomplished nurse.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

old

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

From this reading When a man's eyes have grown old with gazing at the ways of the world, it does not seem such a terrible misfortune to have them bandaged.

patient's

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

From this reading As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.

people

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

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

permit

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

From this reading As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.

reclining

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

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

resigned

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

From this reading When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune.

revived

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

From this reading When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune.

Robinson

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

From this reading Little Emily Robinson sat by Edward's side with the air of an accomplished nurse.

sat

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

From this reading Little Emily Robinson sat by Edward's side with the air of an accomplished nurse.

seem

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

From this reading When a man's eyes have grown old with gazing at the ways of the world, it does not seem such a terrible misfortune to have them bandaged.

seen

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

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.

side

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

From this reading Little Emily Robinson sat by Edward's side with the air of an accomplished nurse.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

spirits

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

From this reading When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading When a man's eyes have grown old with gazing at the ways of the world, it does not seem such a terrible misfortune to have them bandaged.

Temple

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

From this reading When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune.

terriblenounUS /ˈterrible/

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

From this reading When a man's eyes have grown old with gazing at the ways of the world, it does not seem such a terrible misfortune to have them bandaged.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading When a man's eyes have grown old with gazing at the ways of the world, it does not seem such a terrible misfortune to have them bandaged.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune.

tonguenounUS /tongue/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.

tried

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

From this reading As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.

utter

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

From this reading As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.

varying

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

From this reading As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.

very

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

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

watched

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

From this reading As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.

ways

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

From this reading When a man's eyes have grown old with gazing at the ways of the world, it does not seem such a terrible misfortune to have them bandaged.

well

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

From this reading As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.

well-stuffed

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

From this reading Indeed, the figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied hun.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune.

wishes

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

From this reading As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading When a man's eyes have grown old with gazing at the ways of the world, it does not seem such a terrible misfortune to have them bandaged.

world

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

From this reading When a man's eyes have grown old with gazing at the ways of the world, it does not seem such a terrible misfortune to have them bandaged.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue could utter them.