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In Old Madras
In Old Madras

Chapter XXII

Cover illustration for In Old Madras
Context Illustration Reading 1/52 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.
What a picture of tragic solitude!
In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.
His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!
Why, why, had fate singled him out for this adventure?
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

In Old Madras

Chapter XXII

Reading 1/52 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.
Line 2
What a picture of tragic solitude!
Line 3
In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.
Line 4
His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!
Line 5
Why, why, had fate singled him out for this adventure?

Learner Dictionary

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

Although noun US /ˈalthough/

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

From this reading “Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.”

Beyond preposition US /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading “In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!”

Waste noun US /weɪst/

an empty, uncultivated area of land

From this reading “His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!”

All words in this reading · 82

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 What a picture of tragic solitude!

adventure

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

From this reading Why, why, had fate singled him out for this adventure?

affairs

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

AlthoughnounUS /ˈalthough/

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

From this reading Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.

ardent

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

From this reading In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.

blue

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

From this reading In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.

bungalow

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

From this reading Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.

case

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

From this reading Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.

commanded

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

From this reading Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.

desire

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

dim

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

From this reading In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.

directions

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

driven

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

energies

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

eyes

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

From this reading Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.

far-away

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

From this reading In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.

fate

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

From this reading Why, why, had fate singled him out for this adventure?

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

foreground

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

From this reading In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.

gloomy

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

harsh

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

From this reading In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

hills

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

From this reading In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.

hopeless

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

impulsive

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.

Mallender

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

From this reading Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.

mass

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

From this reading In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.

melancholy

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

From this reading In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.

now

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading What a picture of tragic solitude!

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.

orange

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

From this reading In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.

out

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

From this reading Why, why, had fate singled him out for this adventure?

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.

overgrown

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

From this reading In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.

own

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

picture

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

From this reading What a picture of tragic solitude!

plain

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

From this reading In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.

present

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

prospect

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

From this reading Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.

range

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

From this reading In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.

realised

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

reflections

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

results

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

ruins

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

From this reading In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.

sat

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

From this reading Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.

scene

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

From this reading In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.

singled

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

From this reading Why, why, had fate singled him out for this adventure?

situation

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

soil

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

From this reading In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.

solitude

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

From this reading What a picture of tragic solitude!

specimen

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

sun-baked

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

From this reading In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Why, why, had fate singled him out for this adventure?

thoughts

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

tragic

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

From this reading What a picture of tragic solitude!

turned

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

wandered

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

From this reading Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

wastenounUS /weɪst/

an empty, uncultivated area of land

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What a picture of tragic solitude!

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading His thoughts now turned to his own affairs, and his reflections were gloomy; he realised that his impulsive desire for results, had driven him to waste time and energies in hopeless directions,--of which the present situation was a specimen!

whole

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

From this reading In the foreground a mass of overgrown ruins, beyond these, the sun-baked plain, with its harsh orange soil, and far-away range of dim blue hills,--the whole a scene of ardent melancholy.

Why

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

From this reading Why, why, had fate singled him out for this adventure?

wide

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

From this reading Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.

writing

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

From this reading Although Mallender sat with his writing case open before him, his eyes wandered over the wide prospect commanded by the bungalow.