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Carità
Carità

Chapter XIV

Cover illustration for Carità
Context Illustration Reading 1/43 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SUNDAY EVENING.
To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.
Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.
He was not calm enough to do this.
He had not thought of any pain involved, but snatched at the chance of carrying out his hopes and spending the evening in her society without thinking of any results.
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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.

Carità

Chapter XIV

Reading 1/43 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SUNDAY EVENING.
Line 2
To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.
Line 3
Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.
Line 4
He was not calm enough to do this.
Line 5
He had not thought of any pain involved, but snatched at the chance of carrying out his hopes and spending the evening in her society without thinking of any results.

Learner Dictionary

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

Ancient adjective US /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading “To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.”

Balance noun US /ˈbalance/

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

From this reading “Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.”

Everybody pronoun US /ˈevribɑːdi/

every person

From this reading “Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.”

Spending noun US /ˈspending/

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

From this reading “He had not thought of any pain involved, but snatched at the chance of carrying out his hopes and spending the evening in her society without thinking of any results.”

Thinking noun US /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had not thought of any pain involved, but snatched at the chance of carrying out his hopes and spending the evening in her society without thinking of any results.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had not thought of any pain involved, but snatched at the chance of carrying out his hopes and spending the evening in her society without thinking of any results.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “He had not thought of any pain involved, but snatched at the chance of carrying out his hopes and spending the evening in her society without thinking of any results.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.”

All words in this reading · 105

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 To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

able

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

according

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

all

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

any

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

From this reading He had not thought of any pain involved, but snatched at the chance of carrying out his hopes and spending the evening in her society without thinking of any results.

arrayed

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

balancenounUS /ˈbalance/

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

bare-shouldered

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

blue

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

Burchell

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

calm

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

From this reading He was not calm enough to do this.

came

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

Cara's

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

carrying

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

From this reading He had not thought of any pain involved, but snatched at the chance of carrying out his hopes and spending the evening in her society without thinking of any results.

cause

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

chance

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

From this reading He had not thought of any pain involved, but snatched at the chance of carrying out his hopes and spending the evening in her society without thinking of any results.

clothes

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

conscious

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

correct

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

cost

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

count

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

decorous

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

demi-toilette

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

despair

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

dinner-table

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading He was not calm enough to do this.

down

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

dress

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

enough

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

From this reading He was not calm enough to do this.

EVENING

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

From this reading SUNDAY EVENING.

everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/

every person

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

exercised

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He had not thought of any pain involved, but snatched at the chance of carrying out his hopes and spending the evening in her society without thinking of any results.

hopes

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

From this reading He had not thought of any pain involved, but snatched at the chance of carrying out his hopes and spending the evening in her society without thinking of any results.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

indeed

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

involved

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

From this reading He had not thought of any pain involved, but snatched at the chance of carrying out his hopes and spending the evening in her society without thinking of any results.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

ladies

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

men

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

Meredith

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

Mrs

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

near

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

niceties

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

out

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

From this reading He had not thought of any pain involved, but snatched at the chance of carrying out his hopes and spending the evening in her society without thinking of any results.

pain

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

painfully

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

pin

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

pleasure

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

procured

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

resist

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

results

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From this reading He had not thought of any pain involved, but snatched at the chance of carrying out his hopes and spending the evening in her society without thinking of any results.

Roger

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

sensitive

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

sit

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

small

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

snatched

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

From this reading He had not thought of any pain involved, but snatched at the chance of carrying out his hopes and spending the evening in her society without thinking of any results.

society

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

spell

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

spendingnounUS /ˈspending/

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

From this reading He had not thought of any pain involved, but snatched at the chance of carrying out his hopes and spending the evening in her society without thinking of any results.

spent

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

strike

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

SUNDAY

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

From this reading SUNDAY EVENING.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

thin-skinned

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

thinkingnounUS /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had not thought of any pain involved, but snatched at the chance of carrying out his hopes and spending the evening in her society without thinking of any results.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading He was not calm enough to do this.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had not thought of any pain involved, but snatched at the chance of carrying out his hopes and spending the evening in her society without thinking of any results.

three

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

tie

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

trial

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

two

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

use

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

vulgar

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was not calm enough to do this.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading He had not thought of any pain involved, but snatched at the chance of carrying out his hopes and spending the evening in her society without thinking of any results.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Roger Burchell had not been able to resist the spell which Mrs. Meredith exercised upon everybody who came near her, nor had he been able to count the cost of that evening spent in Cara’s society, and to strike a balance between the pain it would cause him and the pleasure to be procured from it.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.

youth

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

From this reading To sit down in your morning clothes, painfully conscious of a blue tie with a pin it, at a decorous dinner-table with three men in correct evening dress, and two ladies--not indeed bare-shouldered according to ancient use, but yet arrayed in all the niceties of that demi-toilette which is the despair of the vulgar--is in itself no small trial to a sensitive and thin-skinned youth.