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Clayhanger
Clayhanger

Chapter XVIII

Cover illustration for Clayhanger
Context Illustration Reading 1/84 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"I say you must go your own road," said his father.
"But at this rate I should never be able to marry!"
"Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"
And he waited an answer with the august calm of one who is aware that he is unanswerable.
But he might with equal propriety have tied his son's hands behind him and then diverted himself by punching his head.
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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.

Clayhanger

Chapter XVIII

Reading 1/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"I say you must go your own road," said his father.
Line 2
"But at this rate I should never be able to marry!"
Line 3
"Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"
Line 4
And he waited an answer with the august calm of one who is aware that he is unanswerable.
Line 5
But he might with equal propriety have tied his son's hands behind him and then diverted himself by punching his head.

Learner Dictionary

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

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “But he might with equal propriety have tied his son's hands behind him and then diverted himself by punching his head.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “But he might with equal propriety have tied his son's hands behind him and then diverted himself by punching his head.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “But he might with equal propriety have tied his son's hands behind him and then diverted himself by punching his head.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “But he might with equal propriety have tied his son's hands behind him and then diverted himself by punching his head.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “But he might with equal propriety have tied his son's hands behind him and then diverted himself by punching his head.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “"I say you must go your own road," said his father.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"But at this rate I should never be able to marry!"”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “"Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"”

All words in this reading · 70

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

able

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

From this reading "But at this rate I should never be able to marry!"

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading And he waited an answer with the august calm of one who is aware that he is unanswerable.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And he waited an answer with the august calm of one who is aware that he is unanswerable.

answer

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

From this reading And he waited an answer with the august calm of one who is aware that he is unanswerable.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "But at this rate I should never be able to marry!"

august

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

From this reading And he waited an answer with the august calm of one who is aware that he is unanswerable.

aware

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

From this reading And he waited an answer with the august calm of one who is aware that he is unanswerable.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "But at this rate I should never be able to marry!"

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading But he might with equal propriety have tied his son's hands behind him and then diverted himself by punching his head.

business

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

From this reading "Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "But at this rate I should never be able to marry!"

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading But he might with equal propriety have tied his son's hands behind him and then diverted himself by punching his head.

calm

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

From this reading And he waited an answer with the august calm of one who is aware that he is unanswerable.

cold

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

From this reading "Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"

Darius

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

From this reading "Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"

diverted

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

From this reading But he might with equal propriety have tied his son's hands behind him and then diverted himself by punching his head.

Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"

equal

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

From this reading But he might with equal propriety have tied his son's hands behind him and then diverted himself by punching his head.

father

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

From this reading "I say you must go your own road," said his father.

getting

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

From this reading "Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"

go

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

From this reading "I say you must go your own road," said his father.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading But he might with equal propriety have tied his son's hands behind him and then diverted himself by punching his head.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading But he might with equal propriety have tied his son's hands behind him and then diverted himself by punching his head.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading And he waited an answer with the august calm of one who is aware that he is unanswerable.

head

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

From this reading But he might with equal propriety have tied his son's hands behind him and then diverted himself by punching his head.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading But he might with equal propriety have tied his son's hands behind him and then diverted himself by punching his head.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading But he might with equal propriety have tied his son's hands behind him and then diverted himself by punching his head.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading "I say you must go your own road," said his father.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I say you must go your own road," said his father.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading And he waited an answer with the august calm of one who is aware that he is unanswerable.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"

married

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

From this reading "Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"

marry

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

From this reading "But at this rate I should never be able to marry!"

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading But he might with equal propriety have tied his son's hands behind him and then diverted himself by punching his head.

mild

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

From this reading "Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"

more

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

From this reading "Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading "I say you must go your own road," said his father.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "But at this rate I should never be able to marry!"

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading And he waited an answer with the august calm of one who is aware that he is unanswerable.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"

own

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

From this reading "I say you must go your own road," said his father.

penny

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

From this reading "Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"

propriety

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

From this reading But he might with equal propriety have tied his son's hands behind him and then diverted himself by punching his head.

punching

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

From this reading But he might with equal propriety have tied his son's hands behind him and then diverted himself by punching his head.

rate

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

From this reading "But at this rate I should never be able to marry!"

reckon

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

From this reading "Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"

road

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

From this reading "I say you must go your own road," said his father.

said

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

From this reading "I say you must go your own road," said his father.

say

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

From this reading "I say you must go your own road," said his father.

scorn

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

From this reading "Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"

services

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

From this reading "Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading "But at this rate I should never be able to marry!"

son's

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

From this reading But he might with equal propriety have tied his son's hands behind him and then diverted himself by punching his head.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And he waited an answer with the august calm of one who is aware that he is unanswerable.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading And he waited an answer with the august calm of one who is aware that he is unanswerable.

then

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

From this reading But he might with equal propriety have tied his son's hands behind him and then diverted himself by punching his head.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading "But at this rate I should never be able to marry!"

tied

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

From this reading But he might with equal propriety have tied his son's hands behind him and then diverted himself by punching his head.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "But at this rate I should never be able to marry!"

unanswerable

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

From this reading And he waited an answer with the august calm of one who is aware that he is unanswerable.

waited

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

From this reading And he waited an answer with the august calm of one who is aware that he is unanswerable.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading And he waited an answer with the august calm of one who is aware that he is unanswerable.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"

worth

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

From this reading "Do you reckon," asked Darius, with mild cold scorn, "as you getting married will make your services worth one penny more to my business?"

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "I say you must go your own road," said his father.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "I say you must go your own road," said his father.