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John Caldigate
John Caldigate

Chapter XI

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Context Illustration Reading 1/45 · 5 lines
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Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.
But then it had been necessary that he should be abrupt in order that he might get the matter understood.
The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.
And then,--as he said to himself,--matrimony is honest.
He was in all worldly respects a fit match for the young lady.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

John Caldigate

Chapter XI

Reading 1/45 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.
Line 2
But then it had been necessary that he should be abrupt in order that he might get the matter understood.
Line 3
The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.
Line 4
And then,--as he said to himself,--matrimony is honest.
Line 5
He was in all worldly respects a fit match for the young lady.

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 “Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.”

Honest adjective US /ˈɑnɪst/

truthful and trustworthy

From this reading “And then,--as he said to himself,--matrimony is honest.”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “But then it had been necessary that he should be abrupt in order that he might get the matter understood.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.”

Order noun US /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But then it had been necessary that he should be abrupt in order that he might get the matter understood.”

Unless conjunction US /ənˈles/

except if; if not

From this reading “The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.”

All words in this reading · 79

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 ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

able

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

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

abrupt

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

From this reading Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.

advantage

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

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

all

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

From this reading He was in all worldly respects a fit match for the young lady.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

any

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

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

approaches

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

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading But then it had been necessary that he should be abrupt in order that he might get the matter understood.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.

Bolton

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

From this reading Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But then it had been necessary that he should be abrupt in order that he might get the matter understood.

Caldigate

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

From this reading Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.

caused

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

From this reading Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.

dismay

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

From this reading Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.

felt

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

From this reading Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.

fit

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

From this reading He was in all worldly respects a fit match for the young lady.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

get

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

From this reading But then it had been necessary that he should be abrupt in order that he might get the matter understood.

give

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

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

honestadjectiveUS /ˈɑnɪst/

truthful and trustworthy

From this reading And then,--as he said to himself,--matrimony is honest.

house

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

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

idea

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

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But then it had been necessary that he should be abrupt in order that he might get the matter understood.

infinite

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

From this reading Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.

inmates

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

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading And then,--as he said to himself,--matrimony is honest.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But then it had been necessary that he should be abrupt in order that he might get the matter understood.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

lady

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

From this reading He was in all worldly respects a fit match for the young lady.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

leave

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

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

made

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

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

match

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

From this reading He was in all worldly respects a fit match for the young lady.

matrimony

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

From this reading And then,--as he said to himself,--matrimony is honest.

matter

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

From this reading But then it had been necessary that he should be abrupt in order that he might get the matter understood.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading But then it had been necessary that he should be abrupt in order that he might get the matter understood.

moment

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

From this reading Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.

more

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

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

necessary

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

From this reading But then it had been necessary that he should be abrupt in order that he might get the matter understood.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

occasion

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

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

ordernounUS /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But then it had been necessary that he should be abrupt in order that he might get the matter understood.

ordinary

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

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

purpose

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

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

rapid

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

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

respects

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

From this reading He was in all worldly respects a fit match for the young lady.

Robert

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

From this reading Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.

said

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

From this reading And then,--as he said to himself,--matrimony is honest.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading But then it had been necessary that he should be abrupt in order that he might get the matter understood.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.

taken

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

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.

then

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

From this reading But then it had been necessary that he should be abrupt in order that he might get the matter understood.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.

understood

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

From this reading But then it had been necessary that he should be abrupt in order that he might get the matter understood.

unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/

except if; if not

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

usually

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

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

very

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

From this reading Robert Bolton Caldigate felt at the moment that he had been very abrupt,--so abrupt as to have caused infinite dismay.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was in all worldly respects a fit match for the young lady.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

worldly

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

From this reading He was in all worldly respects a fit match for the young lady.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading The ordinary approaches were not open to him, and unless he had taken a more than usually rapid advantage of the occasion which he had made for himself, he would have had to leave the house without having been able to give any of its inmates the least idea of his purpose.

young

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

From this reading He was in all worldly respects a fit match for the young lady.