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In Pawn
In Pawn

Chapter III

Cover illustration for In Pawn
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
In many respects Harvey's desire to be a saint might be considered rational and even praiseworthy.
If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.
It must be admitted that there is nothing essentially impossible in the idea of a twentieth-century saint.
In reading the “Lives of the Saints” that had been his companion so long, Harvey had seen this quite clearly.
To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.
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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.

In Pawn

Chapter III

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

Line 1
In many respects Harvey's desire to be a saint might be considered rational and even praiseworthy.
Line 2
If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.
Line 3
It must be admitted that there is nothing essentially impossible in the idea of a twentieth-century saint.
Line 4
In reading the “Lives of the Saints” that had been his companion so long, Harvey had seen this quite clearly.
Line 5
To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.

Learner Dictionary

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

Because conjunction US /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading “If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “In reading the “Lives of the Saints” that had been his companion so long, Harvey had seen this quite clearly.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In many respects Harvey's desire to be a saint might be considered rational and even praiseworthy.”

Free adjective US /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading “To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In reading the “Lives of the Saints” that had been his companion so long, Harvey had seen this quite clearly.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “In many respects Harvey's desire to be a saint might be considered rational and even praiseworthy.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “It must be admitted that there is nothing essentially impossible in the idea of a twentieth-century saint.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “It must be admitted that there is nothing essentially impossible in the idea of a twentieth-century saint.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In reading the “Lives of the Saints” that had been his companion so long, Harvey had seen this quite clearly.”

Rational adjective US /ˈræʃ.ən.əl/

Based on or in accordance with reason or logic rather than turbulent emotions.

From this reading “In many respects Harvey's desire to be a saint might be considered rational and even praiseworthy.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.”

All words in this reading · 84

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 In many respects Harvey's desire to be a saint might be considered rational and even praiseworthy.

abnegation

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

From this reading To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.

absolutely

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

From this reading To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.

acts

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

From this reading To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.

admitted

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

From this reading It must be admitted that there is nothing essentially impossible in the idea of a twentieth-century saint.

all

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

From this reading To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading In many respects Harvey's desire to be a saint might be considered rational and even praiseworthy.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

attractive

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

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading In many respects Harvey's desire to be a saint might be considered rational and even praiseworthy.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading In reading the “Lives of the Saints” that had been his companion so long, Harvey had seen this quite clearly.

clearly

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

From this reading In reading the “Lives of the Saints” that had been his companion so long, Harvey had seen this quite clearly.

companion

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

From this reading In reading the “Lives of the Saints” that had been his companion so long, Harvey had seen this quite clearly.

considered

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

From this reading In many respects Harvey's desire to be a saint might be considered rational and even praiseworthy.

desire

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

From this reading In many respects Harvey's desire to be a saint might be considered rational and even praiseworthy.

distinguished

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

From this reading To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.

easily

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

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

endeavor

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

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

essentially

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

From this reading It must be admitted that there is nothing essentially impossible in the idea of a twentieth-century saint.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In many respects Harvey's desire to be a saint might be considered rational and even praiseworthy.

faults

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

From this reading To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.

freeadjectiveUS /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.

grace

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

From this reading To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading In reading the “Lives of the Saints” that had been his companion so long, Harvey had seen this quite clearly.

Harvey

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

From this reading In reading the “Lives of the Saints” that had been his companion so long, Harvey had seen this quite clearly.

Harvey's

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

From this reading In many respects Harvey's desire to be a saint might be considered rational and even praiseworthy.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

high

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

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading In reading the “Lives of the Saints” that had been his companion so long, Harvey had seen this quite clearly.

idea

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

From this reading It must be admitted that there is nothing essentially impossible in the idea of a twentieth-century saint.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

impossible

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

From this reading It must be admitted that there is nothing essentially impossible in the idea of a twentieth-century saint.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In many respects Harvey's desire to be a saint might be considered rational and even praiseworthy.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

less

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

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

lines

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

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

Lives

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

From this reading In reading the “Lives of the Saints” that had been his companion so long, Harvey had seen this quite clearly.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In reading the “Lives of the Saints” that had been his companion so long, Harvey had seen this quite clearly.

many

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

From this reading In many respects Harvey's desire to be a saint might be considered rational and even praiseworthy.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading In many respects Harvey's desire to be a saint might be considered rational and even praiseworthy.

more

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

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading It must be admitted that there is nothing essentially impossible in the idea of a twentieth-century saint.

necessary

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

From this reading To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

nobility

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

From this reading To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading It must be admitted that there is nothing essentially impossible in the idea of a twentieth-century saint.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

officially

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

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

only

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

From this reading To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

other

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

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

piety

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

From this reading To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.

praiseworthy

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

From this reading In many respects Harvey's desire to be a saint might be considered rational and even praiseworthy.

probably

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

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

qualify

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

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In reading the “Lives of the Saints” that had been his companion so long, Harvey had seen this quite clearly.

rationaladjectiveUS /ˈræʃ.ən.əl/

Based on or in accordance with reason or logic rather than turbulent emotions.

From this reading In many respects Harvey's desire to be a saint might be considered rational and even praiseworthy.

reading

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

From this reading In reading the “Lives of the Saints” that had been his companion so long, Harvey had seen this quite clearly.

recognized

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

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

respects

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

From this reading In many respects Harvey's desire to be a saint might be considered rational and even praiseworthy.

saint

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

From this reading In many respects Harvey's desire to be a saint might be considered rational and even praiseworthy.

saints

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

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

seen

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

From this reading In reading the “Lives of the Saints” that had been his companion so long, Harvey had seen this quite clearly.

sins

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

From this reading To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.

small

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

From this reading To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading In reading the “Lives of the Saints” that had been his companion so long, Harvey had seen this quite clearly.

soul

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

From this reading To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.

strikingly

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

From this reading To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It must be admitted that there is nothing essentially impossible in the idea of a twentieth-century saint.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It must be admitted that there is nothing essentially impossible in the idea of a twentieth-century saint.

there

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

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading In reading the “Lives of the Saints” that had been his companion so long, Harvey had seen this quite clearly.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading In many respects Harvey's desire to be a saint might be considered rational and even praiseworthy.

twentieth-century

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

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading To be a saint it was only necessary to be absolutely good, to be free from all great and small sins and faults, and to be strikingly distinguished for acts of piety, grace, abnegation, and for nobility of soul.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading If there are no officially recognized twentieth-century saints, it is probably because other lines of high endeavor have seemed more attractive to those who might more or less easily qualify.