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Confidence
Confidence

Chapter XIV

Cover illustration for Confidence
Context Illustration Reading 1/38 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Gordon asked him no questions for twenty-four hours after his return, then suddenly he began:
“Well, have n’t you something to say to me?”
It was at the hotel, in Gordon’s apartment, late in the afternoon.
A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.
At last the deluge abated, the clouds began to break--there was a promise of a fine evening.
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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.

Confidence

Chapter XIV

Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Gordon asked him no questions for twenty-four hours after his return, then suddenly he began:
Line 2
“Well, have n’t you something to say to me?”
Line 3
It was at the hotel, in Gordon’s apartment, late in the afternoon.
Line 4
A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.
Line 5
At last the deluge abated, the clouds began to break--there was a promise of a fine evening.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Gordon asked him no questions for twenty-four hours after his return, then suddenly he began:”

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading “It was at the hotel, in Gordon’s apartment, late in the afternoon.”

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Gordon asked him no questions for twenty-four hours after his return, then suddenly he began:”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Gordon asked him no questions for twenty-four hours after his return, then suddenly he began:”

Broken noun US /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.”

Fine noun US /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At last the deluge abated, the clouds began to break--there was a promise of a fine evening.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading ““Well, have n’t you something to say to me?””

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At last the deluge abated, the clouds began to break--there was a promise of a fine evening.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading ““Well, have n’t you something to say to me?””

Standing noun US /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading “A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading “Gordon asked him no questions for twenty-four hours after his return, then suddenly he began:”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Well, have n’t you something to say to me?””

All words in this reading · 71

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 A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

abated

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

From this reading At last the deluge abated, the clouds began to break--there was a promise of a fine evening.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Gordon asked him no questions for twenty-four hours after his return, then suddenly he began:

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading It was at the hotel, in Gordon’s apartment, late in the afternoon.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

apartment

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

From this reading It was at the hotel, in Gordon’s apartment, late in the afternoon.

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Gordon asked him no questions for twenty-four hours after his return, then suddenly he began:

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was at the hotel, in Gordon’s apartment, late in the afternoon.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Gordon asked him no questions for twenty-four hours after his return, then suddenly he began:

Bernard

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

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

break

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

From this reading At last the deluge abated, the clouds began to break--there was a promise of a fine evening.

brokennounUS /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

clouds

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

From this reading At last the deluge abated, the clouds began to break--there was a promise of a fine evening.

dance

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

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

deluge

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

From this reading At last the deluge abated, the clouds began to break--there was a promise of a fine evening.

empty

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

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

evening

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

From this reading At last the deluge abated, the clouds began to break--there was a promise of a fine evening.

finenounUS /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At last the deluge abated, the clouds began to break--there was a promise of a fine evening.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Gordon asked him no questions for twenty-four hours after his return, then suddenly he began:

friend's

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

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

Gordon

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

From this reading Gordon asked him no questions for twenty-four hours after his return, then suddenly he began:

Gordon's

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

From this reading It was at the hotel, in Gordon’s apartment, late in the afternoon.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Well, have n’t you something to say to me?”

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Gordon asked him no questions for twenty-four hours after his return, then suddenly he began:

heavy

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

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Gordon asked him no questions for twenty-four hours after his return, then suddenly he began:

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Gordon asked him no questions for twenty-four hours after his return, then suddenly he began:

hotel

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

From this reading It was at the hotel, in Gordon’s apartment, late in the afternoon.

hour

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

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

hours

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

From this reading Gordon asked him no questions for twenty-four hours after his return, then suddenly he began:

idly

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

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was at the hotel, in Gordon’s apartment, late in the afternoon.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was at the hotel, in Gordon’s apartment, late in the afternoon.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At last the deluge abated, the clouds began to break--there was a promise of a fine evening.

late

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

From this reading It was at the hotel, in Gordon’s apartment, late in the afternoon.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “Well, have n’t you something to say to me?”

n't

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

From this reading “Well, have n’t you something to say to me?”

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Gordon asked him no questions for twenty-four hours after his return, then suddenly he began:

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

pavements

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

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

place

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

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

pockets

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

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

promise

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

From this reading At last the deluge abated, the clouds began to break--there was a promise of a fine evening.

questions

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

From this reading Gordon asked him no questions for twenty-four hours after his return, then suddenly he began:

rain-torrents

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

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

rather

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

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

return

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

From this reading Gordon asked him no questions for twenty-four hours after his return, then suddenly he began:

say

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

From this reading “Well, have n’t you something to say to me?”

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “Well, have n’t you something to say to me?”

standingnounUS /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading Gordon asked him no questions for twenty-four hours after his return, then suddenly he began:

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It was at the hotel, in Gordon’s apartment, late in the afternoon.

then

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

From this reading Gordon asked him no questions for twenty-four hours after his return, then suddenly he began:

there

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

From this reading At last the deluge abated, the clouds began to break--there was a promise of a fine evening.

thunder-storm

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

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “Well, have n’t you something to say to me?”

twenty-four

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

From this reading Gordon asked him no questions for twenty-four hours after his return, then suddenly he began:

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was at the hotel, in Gordon’s apartment, late in the afternoon.

watching

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

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

Well

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

From this reading “Well, have n’t you something to say to me?”

windows

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

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A heavy thunder-storm had broken over the place an hour before, and Bernard had been standing at one of his friend’s windows, rather idly, with his hands in his pockets, watching the rain-torrents dance upon the empty pavements.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Well, have n’t you something to say to me?”