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In the Dead of Night — Volume 1
In the Dead of Night — Volume 1

Chapter XII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/44 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
TOM BRISTOW’S RETURN.
“What can be sweeter or more charming than an English May-day?
I declare I’ve seen nothing in the East at all comparable to it.”
The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.
“You wouldn’t be so ready to praise an English May-day if you had been here last week, as I was,” was the reply.
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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 the Dead of Night — Volume 1

Chapter XII

Reading 1/44 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
TOM BRISTOW’S RETURN.
Line 2
“What can be sweeter or more charming than an English May-day?
Line 3
I declare I’ve seen nothing in the East at all comparable to it.”
Line 4
The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.
Line 5
“You wouldn’t be so ready to praise an English May-day if you had been here last week, as I was,” was the reply.

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 ““You wouldn’t be so ready to praise an English May-day if you had been here last week, as I was,” was the reply.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““You wouldn’t be so ready to praise an English May-day if you had been here last week, as I was,” was the reply.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““You wouldn’t be so ready to praise an English May-day if you had been here last week, as I was,” was the reply.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “I declare I’ve seen nothing in the East at all comparable to it.””

Passage noun US /ˈpassage/

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

From this reading “The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.”

All words in this reading · 66

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 The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

acquaintance

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

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

addressed

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

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

all

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

From this reading I declare I’ve seen nothing in the East at all comparable to it.”

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading “What can be sweeter or more charming than an English May-day?

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading “You wouldn’t be so ready to praise an English May-day if you had been here last week, as I was,” was the reply.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I declare I’ve seen nothing in the East at all comparable to it.”

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading “What can be sweeter or more charming than an English May-day?

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “You wouldn’t be so ready to praise an English May-day if you had been here last week, as I was,” was the reply.

Bristow

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

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

BRISTOW'S

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

From this reading TOM BRISTOW’S RETURN.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading “What can be sweeter or more charming than an English May-day?

casual

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

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

Channel

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

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

charming

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

From this reading “What can be sweeter or more charming than an English May-day?

compagnon

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

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

comparable

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

From this reading I declare I’ve seen nothing in the East at all comparable to it.”

compartment

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

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

de

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

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

declare

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

From this reading I declare I’ve seen nothing in the East at all comparable to it.”

Dover

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

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

East

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

From this reading I declare I’ve seen nothing in the East at all comparable to it.”

English

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

From this reading “What can be sweeter or more charming than an English May-day?

first-class

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

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “You wouldn’t be so ready to praise an English May-day if you had been here last week, as I was,” was the reply.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I declare I’ve seen nothing in the East at all comparable to it.”

I've

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

From this reading I declare I’ve seen nothing in the East at all comparable to it.”

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “You wouldn’t be so ready to praise an English May-day if you had been here last week, as I was,” was the reply.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I declare I’ve seen nothing in the East at all comparable to it.”

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I declare I’ve seen nothing in the East at all comparable to it.”

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “You wouldn’t be so ready to praise an English May-day if you had been here last week, as I was,” was the reply.

London

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

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

made

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

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

mail

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

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

May-day

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

From this reading “What can be sweeter or more charming than an English May-day?

more

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

From this reading “What can be sweeter or more charming than an English May-day?

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading I declare I’ve seen nothing in the East at all comparable to it.”

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading “What can be sweeter or more charming than an English May-day?

passagenounUS /ˈpassage/

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

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

person

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

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

praise

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

From this reading “You wouldn’t be so ready to praise an English May-day if you had been here last week, as I was,” was the reply.

ready

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

From this reading “You wouldn’t be so ready to praise an English May-day if you had been here last week, as I was,” was the reply.

reply

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

From this reading “You wouldn’t be so ready to praise an English May-day if you had been here last week, as I was,” was the reply.

RETURN

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

From this reading TOM BRISTOW’S RETURN.

scene

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

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

seen

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

From this reading I declare I’ve seen nothing in the East at all comparable to it.”

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading “You wouldn’t be so ready to praise an English May-day if you had been here last week, as I was,” was the reply.

speaker

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

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

sweeter

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

From this reading “What can be sweeter or more charming than an English May-day?

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading “What can be sweeter or more charming than an English May-day?

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I declare I’ve seen nothing in the East at all comparable to it.”

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I declare I’ve seen nothing in the East at all comparable to it.”

TOM

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

From this reading TOM BRISTOW’S RETURN.

train

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

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

voyage

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

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

week

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

From this reading “You wouldn’t be so ready to praise an English May-day if you had been here last week, as I was,” was the reply.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “What can be sweeter or more charming than an English May-day?

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading The speaker was Tom Bristow; the person addressed was a casual compagnon de voyage, whose acquaintance he had made during the Channel passage; and the scene was a first-class compartment in the mail train from Dover to London.

wouldn't

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

From this reading “You wouldn’t be so ready to praise an English May-day if you had been here last week, as I was,” was the reply.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “You wouldn’t be so ready to praise an English May-day if you had been here last week, as I was,” was the reply.