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Confidence
Confidence

Chapter XVII

Cover illustration for Confidence
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.
Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.
Bernard’s sense of the anomaly grew rapidly less acute; he made various observations which helped it to seem natural.
Blanche was wonderfully pretty; she was very graceful, innocent, amusing.
Since Gordon had determined to marry a little goose, he had chosen the animal with extreme discernment.
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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 XVII

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.
Line 2
Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.
Line 3
Bernard’s sense of the anomaly grew rapidly less acute; he made various observations which helped it to seem natural.
Line 4
Blanche was wonderfully pretty; she was very graceful, innocent, amusing.
Line 5
Since Gordon had determined to marry a little goose, he had chosen the animal with extreme discernment.

Learner Dictionary

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

Determined adjective US /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/

having firmly decided to do something

From this reading “Since Gordon had determined to marry a little goose, he had chosen the animal with extreme discernment.”

Discernment noun US /dɪˈsɝːn.mənt/

The ability to judge well and perceive the true nature of events.

From this reading “Since Gordon had determined to marry a little goose, he had chosen the animal with extreme discernment.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Since Gordon had determined to marry a little goose, he had chosen the animal with extreme discernment.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “Since Gordon had determined to marry a little goose, he had chosen the animal with extreme discernment.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.”

All words in this reading · 103

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 Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

acute

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

From this reading Bernard’s sense of the anomaly grew rapidly less acute; he made various observations which helped it to seem natural.

amusing

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

From this reading Blanche was wonderfully pretty; she was very graceful, innocent, amusing.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

Angela

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

animal

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

From this reading Since Gordon had determined to marry a little goose, he had chosen the animal with extreme discernment.

anomaly

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

From this reading Bernard’s sense of the anomaly grew rapidly less acute; he made various observations which helped it to seem natural.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

aside

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

aspired

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

awkwardness

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

Bernard

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

From this reading Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.

Bernard's

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

From this reading Bernard’s sense of the anomaly grew rapidly less acute; he made various observations which helped it to seem natural.

Blanche

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

From this reading Blanche was wonderfully pretty; she was very graceful, innocent, amusing.

certain

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

chosen

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

From this reading Since Gordon had determined to marry a little goose, he had chosen the animal with extreme discernment.

conscious

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

From this reading Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.

critic

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

days

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

From this reading Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.

declined

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/

having firmly decided to do something

From this reading Since Gordon had determined to marry a little goose, he had chosen the animal with extreme discernment.

discernmentnounUS /dɪˈsɝːn.mənt/

The ability to judge well and perceive the true nature of events.

From this reading Since Gordon had determined to marry a little goose, he had chosen the animal with extreme discernment.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.

ease

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

extreme

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

From this reading Since Gordon had determined to marry a little goose, he had chosen the animal with extreme discernment.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.

force

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

friend

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

From this reading Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.

gave

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

Ghost

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

girl

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

goose

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

From this reading Since Gordon had determined to marry a little goose, he had chosen the animal with extreme discernment.

Gordon

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

graceful

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

From this reading Blanche was wonderfully pretty; she was very graceful, innocent, amusing.

grew

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

From this reading Bernard’s sense of the anomaly grew rapidly less acute; he made various observations which helped it to seem natural.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

Hamlet

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

hand

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.

helped

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

From this reading Bernard’s sense of the anomaly grew rapidly less acute; he made various observations which helped it to seem natural.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.

ill

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

inferior

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

innocent

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

From this reading Blanche was wonderfully pretty; she was very graceful, innocent, amusing.

intelligent

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

irreverent

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

kept

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

knew

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

knowledge

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

lady

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

less

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

From this reading Bernard’s sense of the anomaly grew rapidly less acute; he made various observations which helped it to seem natural.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Since Gordon had determined to marry a little goose, he had chosen the animal with extreme discernment.

made

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

From this reading Bernard’s sense of the anomaly grew rapidly less acute; he made various observations which helped it to seem natural.

man

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

marry

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

From this reading Since Gordon had determined to marry a little goose, he had chosen the animal with extreme discernment.

Miss

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

much

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

natural

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

From this reading Bernard’s sense of the anomaly grew rapidly less acute; he made various observations which helped it to seem natural.

observations

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

From this reading Bernard’s sense of the anomaly grew rapidly less acute; he made various observations which helped it to seem natural.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.

once

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.

other

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

pitiable

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

pretty

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

From this reading Blanche was wonderfully pretty; she was very graceful, innocent, amusing.

putting

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

rapidly

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

From this reading Bernard’s sense of the anomaly grew rapidly less acute; he made various observations which helped it to seem natural.

reflected

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From this reading Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.

says

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From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

seem

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

sense

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

From this reading Bernard’s sense of the anomaly grew rapidly less acute; he made various observations which helped it to seem natural.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Blanche was wonderfully pretty; she was very graceful, innocent, amusing.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Since Gordon had determined to marry a little goose, he had chosen the animal with extreme discernment.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.

strange

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.

things

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

three

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

From this reading Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.

two

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

From this reading Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.

understanding

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

various

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

From this reading Bernard’s sense of the anomaly grew rapidly less acute; he made various observations which helped it to seem natural.

very

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

From this reading Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.

visit

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

From this reading Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.

Vivian

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

Vivian's

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Bernard’s sense of the anomaly grew rapidly less acute; he made various observations which helped it to seem natural.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Since Gordon had determined to marry a little goose, he had chosen the animal with extreme discernment.

wonderfully

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

From this reading Blanche was wonderfully pretty; she was very graceful, innocent, amusing.

Yes

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

From this reading Yes, he was conscious--he was very conscious; so Bernard reflected during the two or three first days of his visit to his friend.

young

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

From this reading Gordon knew it must seem strange to so irreverent a critic that a man who had once aspired to the hand of so intelligent a girl--putting other things aside--as Angela Vivian should, as the Ghost in “Hamlet” says, have “declined upon” a young lady who, in force of understanding, was so very much Miss Vivian’s inferior; and this knowledge kept him ill at his ease and gave him a certain pitiable awkwardness.