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False Evidence
False Evidence

Chapter IX

Cover illustration for False Evidence
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.
Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.
My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.
The out-of-door life suited me, and I did not find the work unpleasant.
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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.

False Evidence

Chapter IX

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.
Line 2
Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.
Line 3
My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
Line 4
To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.
Line 5
The out-of-door life suited me, and I did not find the work unpleasant.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.”

Broken noun US /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.”

All words in this reading · 78

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 My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

abroad

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

absolutely

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

From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.

agents

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

ANdeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.

articled

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.

boarding-school

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

brokennounUS /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.

clerk

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

contented

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

From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.

country

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

Devonshire

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

From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading The out-of-door life suited me, and I did not find the work unpleasant.

DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.

Exeter

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

false

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

From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.

father

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

find

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

From this reading The out-of-door life suited me, and I did not find the work unpleasant.

firm

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.

four

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

From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.

France

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.

hand

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

From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.

happened

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

From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.

home

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

From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

incident

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

From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.

land

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.

living

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

Marian

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.

miserable

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

From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.

mother

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.

other

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

From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.

OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.

out-of-door

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

From this reading The out-of-door life suited me, and I did not find the work unpleasant.

recording

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

From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.

respectable

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

say

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

From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.

single

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

From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.

small

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

south

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

suited

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

From this reading The out-of-door life suited me, and I did not find the work unpleasant.

surveyors

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.

there

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

From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.

town

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

UNEXPECTED

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

From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.

unpleasant

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

From this reading The out-of-door life suited me, and I did not find the work unpleasant.

up

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

From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.

very

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

VISIT

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

From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

Weymouth

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

From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.

work

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

From this reading The out-of-door life suited me, and I did not find the work unpleasant.

worth

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

From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.

years

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

From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.