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Confidence
Confidence

Chapter XXIV

Cover illustration for Confidence
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Bernard prepared for Gordon’s arrival in Paris, which, according to his letter, would take place in a few days.
He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.
“I have given her a choice of Rome or the Nile,” said Gordon, “but she tells me she does n’t care a fig where we go.”
I say that Bernard prepared to receive his friends, and I mean that he prepared morally--or even intellectually.
Materially speaking, he could simply hold himself in readiness to engage an apartment at a hotel and to go to meet them at the station.
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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 XXIV

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

Line 1
Bernard prepared for Gordon’s arrival in Paris, which, according to his letter, would take place in a few days.
Line 2
He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.
Line 3
“I have given her a choice of Rome or the Nile,” said Gordon, “but she tells me she does n’t care a fig where we go.”
Line 4
I say that Bernard prepared to receive his friends, and I mean that he prepared morally--or even intellectually.
Line 5
Materially speaking, he could simply hold himself in readiness to engage an apartment at a hotel and to go to meet them at the station.

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 “He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “Materially speaking, he could simply hold himself in readiness to engage an apartment at a hotel and to go to meet them at the station.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I say that Bernard prepared to receive his friends, and I mean that he prepared morally--or even intellectually.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading ““I have given her a choice of Rome or the Nile,” said Gordon, “but she tells me she does n’t care a fig where we go.””

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “Materially speaking, he could simply hold himself in readiness to engage an apartment at a hotel and to go to meet them at the station.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Bernard prepared for Gordon’s arrival in Paris, which, according to his letter, would take place in a few days.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Bernard prepared for Gordon’s arrival in Paris, which, according to his letter, would take place in a few days.”

All words in this reading · 87

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 Bernard prepared for Gordon’s arrival in Paris, which, according to his letter, would take place in a few days.

according

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

From this reading Bernard prepared for Gordon’s arrival in Paris, which, according to his letter, would take place in a few days.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Materially speaking, he could simply hold himself in readiness to engage an apartment at a hotel and to go to meet them at the station.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I say that Bernard prepared to receive his friends, and I mean that he prepared morally--or even intellectually.

apartment

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

From this reading Materially speaking, he could simply hold himself in readiness to engage an apartment at a hotel and to go to meet them at the station.

arrival

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

From this reading Bernard prepared for Gordon’s arrival in Paris, which, according to his letter, would take place in a few days.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Materially speaking, he could simply hold himself in readiness to engage an apartment at a hotel and to go to meet them at the station.

Bernard

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

From this reading Bernard prepared for Gordon’s arrival in Paris, which, according to his letter, would take place in a few days.

Blanche

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

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “I have given her a choice of Rome or the Nile,” said Gordon, “but she tells me she does n’t care a fig where we go.”

capital

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

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

care

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

From this reading “I have given her a choice of Rome or the Nile,” said Gordon, “but she tells me she does n’t care a fig where we go.”

choice

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

From this reading “I have given her a choice of Rome or the Nile,” said Gordon, “but she tells me she does n’t care a fig where we go.”

confer

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

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Materially speaking, he could simply hold himself in readiness to engage an apartment at a hotel and to go to meet them at the station.

days

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

From this reading Bernard prepared for Gordon’s arrival in Paris, which, according to his letter, would take place in a few days.

desired

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

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

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

From this reading “I have given her a choice of Rome or the Nile,” said Gordon, “but she tells me she does n’t care a fig where we go.”

East

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

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

engage

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

From this reading Materially speaking, he could simply hold himself in readiness to engage an apartment at a hotel and to go to meet them at the station.

England

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

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I say that Bernard prepared to receive his friends, and I mean that he prepared morally--or even intellectually.

few

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

From this reading Bernard prepared for Gordon’s arrival in Paris, which, according to his letter, would take place in a few days.

fig

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

From this reading “I have given her a choice of Rome or the Nile,” said Gordon, “but she tells me she does n’t care a fig where we go.”

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Bernard prepared for Gordon’s arrival in Paris, which, according to his letter, would take place in a few days.

French

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

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

friends

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

From this reading I say that Bernard prepared to receive his friends, and I mean that he prepared morally--or even intellectually.

given

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

From this reading “I have given her a choice of Rome or the Nile,” said Gordon, “but she tells me she does n’t care a fig where we go.”

go

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

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

Gordon

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

From this reading “I have given her a choice of Rome or the Nile,” said Gordon, “but she tells me she does n’t care a fig where we go.”

Gordon's

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

From this reading Bernard prepared for Gordon’s arrival in Paris, which, according to his letter, would take place in a few days.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “I have given her a choice of Rome or the Nile,” said Gordon, “but she tells me she does n’t care a fig where we go.”

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading Materially speaking, he could simply hold himself in readiness to engage an apartment at a hotel and to go to meet them at the station.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Bernard prepared for Gordon’s arrival in Paris, which, according to his letter, would take place in a few days.

hold

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

From this reading Materially speaking, he could simply hold himself in readiness to engage an apartment at a hotel and to go to meet them at the station.

hotel

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

From this reading Materially speaking, he could simply hold himself in readiness to engage an apartment at a hotel and to go to meet them at the station.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “I have given her a choice of Rome or the Nile,” said Gordon, “but she tells me she does n’t care a fig where we go.”

immediately

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

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Bernard prepared for Gordon’s arrival in Paris, which, according to his letter, would take place in a few days.

intellectually

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

From this reading I say that Bernard prepared to receive his friends, and I mean that he prepared morally--or even intellectually.

intending

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

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

Italy

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

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

letter

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

From this reading Bernard prepared for Gordon’s arrival in Paris, which, according to his letter, would take place in a few days.

man-milliner

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

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

Materially

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

From this reading Materially speaking, he could simply hold himself in readiness to engage an apartment at a hotel and to go to meet them at the station.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading “I have given her a choice of Rome or the Nile,” said Gordon, “but she tells me she does n’t care a fig where we go.”

mean

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

From this reading I say that Bernard prepared to receive his friends, and I mean that he prepared morally--or even intellectually.

meet

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

From this reading Materially speaking, he could simply hold himself in readiness to engage an apartment at a hotel and to go to meet them at the station.

morally

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

From this reading I say that Bernard prepared to receive his friends, and I mean that he prepared morally--or even intellectually.

n't

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

From this reading “I have given her a choice of Rome or the Nile,” said Gordon, “but she tells me she does n’t care a fig where we go.”

Nile

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

From this reading “I have given her a choice of Rome or the Nile,” said Gordon, “but she tells me she does n’t care a fig where we go.”

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “I have given her a choice of Rome or the Nile,” said Gordon, “but she tells me she does n’t care a fig where we go.”

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

Paris

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

From this reading Bernard prepared for Gordon’s arrival in Paris, which, according to his letter, would take place in a few days.

place

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

From this reading Bernard prepared for Gordon’s arrival in Paris, which, according to his letter, would take place in a few days.

prepared

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

From this reading Bernard prepared for Gordon’s arrival in Paris, which, according to his letter, would take place in a few days.

probable

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

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

proceed

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

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

readiness

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

From this reading Materially speaking, he could simply hold himself in readiness to engage an apartment at a hotel and to go to meet them at the station.

receive

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

From this reading I say that Bernard prepared to receive his friends, and I mean that he prepared morally--or even intellectually.

Rome

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

From this reading “I have given her a choice of Rome or the Nile,” said Gordon, “but she tells me she does n’t care a fig where we go.”

said

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

From this reading “I have given her a choice of Rome or the Nile,” said Gordon, “but she tells me she does n’t care a fig where we go.”

say

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

From this reading I say that Bernard prepared to receive his friends, and I mean that he prepared morally--or even intellectually.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading “I have given her a choice of Rome or the Nile,” said Gordon, “but she tells me she does n’t care a fig where we go.”

simply

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

From this reading Materially speaking, he could simply hold himself in readiness to engage an apartment at a hotel and to go to meet them at the station.

speaking

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

From this reading Materially speaking, he could simply hold himself in readiness to engage an apartment at a hotel and to go to meet them at the station.

station

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

From this reading Materially speaking, he could simply hold himself in readiness to engage an apartment at a hotel and to go to meet them at the station.

stop

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

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Bernard prepared for Gordon’s arrival in Paris, which, according to his letter, would take place in a few days.

tells

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

From this reading “I have given her a choice of Rome or the Nile,” said Gordon, “but she tells me she does n’t care a fig where we go.”

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Materially speaking, he could simply hold himself in readiness to engage an apartment at a hotel and to go to meet them at the station.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Bernard prepared for Gordon’s arrival in Paris, which, according to his letter, would take place in a few days.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “I have given her a choice of Rome or the Nile,” said Gordon, “but she tells me she does n’t care a fig where we go.”

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading “I have given her a choice of Rome or the Nile,” said Gordon, “but she tells me she does n’t care a fig where we go.”

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Bernard prepared for Gordon’s arrival in Paris, which, according to his letter, would take place in a few days.

winter

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

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He was not intending to stop in England; Blanche desired to proceed immediately to the French capital, to confer with her man-milliner, after which it was probable that they would go to Italy or to the East for the winter.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Bernard prepared for Gordon’s arrival in Paris, which, according to his letter, would take place in a few days.