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Jennie Gerhardt: A Novel
Jennie Gerhardt: A Novel

Chapter IX

Cover illustration for Jennie Gerhardt: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/40 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Bass met Jennie at the depôt in Cleveland and talked hopefully of the prospects.
“The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.
“Get something to do.
It doesn’t matter what, so long as you get something.
If you don’t get more than three or four dollars a week, it will pay the rent.
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Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Jennie Gerhardt: A Novel

Chapter IX

Reading 1/40 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Bass met Jennie at the depôt in Cleveland and talked hopefully of the prospects.
Line 2
“The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.
Line 3
“Get something to do.
Line 4
It doesn’t matter what, so long as you get something.
Line 5
If you don’t get more than three or four dollars a week, it will pay the rent.

Learner Dictionary

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

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It doesn’t matter what, so long as you get something.”

Senses plural noun US /ˈsɛnsɪz/

powers of perception and awareness

From this reading ““The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading ““Get something to do.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading ““The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading ““The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.”

All words in this reading · 59

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 If you don’t get more than three or four dollars a week, it will pay the rent.

almost

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

From this reading “The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Bass met Jennie at the depôt in Cleveland and talked hopefully of the prospects.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It doesn’t matter what, so long as you get something.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Bass met Jennie at the depôt in Cleveland and talked hopefully of the prospects.

Bass

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

From this reading Bass met Jennie at the depôt in Cleveland and talked hopefully of the prospects.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.

benumbing

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

From this reading “The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.

changing

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

From this reading “The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.

city

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

From this reading “The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.

Cleveland

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

From this reading Bass met Jennie at the depôt in Cleveland and talked hopefully of the prospects.

confusing

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

From this reading “The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.

depôt

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

From this reading Bass met Jennie at the depôt in Cleveland and talked hopefully of the prospects.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading “Get something to do.

doesn't

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

From this reading It doesn’t matter what, so long as you get something.

dollars

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

From this reading If you don’t get more than three or four dollars a week, it will pay the rent.

don't

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

From this reading If you don’t get more than three or four dollars a week, it will pay the rent.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.

four

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

From this reading If you don’t get more than three or four dollars a week, it will pay the rent.

get

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

From this reading “The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading “The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading “The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.

hopefully

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

From this reading Bass met Jennie at the depôt in Cleveland and talked hopefully of the prospects.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If you don’t get more than three or four dollars a week, it will pay the rent.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Bass met Jennie at the depôt in Cleveland and talked hopefully of the prospects.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It doesn’t matter what, so long as you get something.

Jennie

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

From this reading Bass met Jennie at the depôt in Cleveland and talked hopefully of the prospects.

jingling

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

From this reading “The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It doesn’t matter what, so long as you get something.

matter

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

From this reading It doesn’t matter what, so long as you get something.

met

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

From this reading Bass met Jennie at the depôt in Cleveland and talked hopefully of the prospects.

more

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

From this reading If you don’t get more than three or four dollars a week, it will pay the rent.

odors

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

From this reading “The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Bass met Jennie at the depôt in Cleveland and talked hopefully of the prospects.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading If you don’t get more than three or four dollars a week, it will pay the rent.

pay

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

From this reading If you don’t get more than three or four dollars a week, it will pay the rent.

prospects

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

From this reading Bass met Jennie at the depôt in Cleveland and talked hopefully of the prospects.

rent

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

From this reading If you don’t get more than three or four dollars a week, it will pay the rent.

sensesplural nounUS /ˈsɛnsɪz/

powers of perception and awareness

From this reading “The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It doesn’t matter what, so long as you get something.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “Get something to do.

sounds

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

From this reading “The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.

talked

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

From this reading Bass met Jennie at the depôt in Cleveland and talked hopefully of the prospects.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading If you don’t get more than three or four dollars a week, it will pay the rent.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Bass met Jennie at the depôt in Cleveland and talked hopefully of the prospects.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.

three

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

From this reading If you don’t get more than three or four dollars a week, it will pay the rent.

thrust

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

From this reading “The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.

week

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

From this reading If you don’t get more than three or four dollars a week, it will pay the rent.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading “The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading It doesn’t matter what, so long as you get something.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading “The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading If you don’t get more than three or four dollars a week, it will pay the rent.

work

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

From this reading “The first thing is to get work,” he began, while the jingling sounds and the changing odors which the city thrust upon her were confusing and almost benumbing her senses.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading It doesn’t matter what, so long as you get something.