Chapter XV
As Sir Ralph Said, “Business Is Business”
T.B. Smith walked into his outer office. “Any news of Mr. Pretherston?” he asked. “No, sir,” was the reply. “Any news of Barr?” “No, sir.”
Kate plus 10
Chapter XV · As Sir Ralph Said, “Business Is Business”
English subtitles · tap any word to listen
1 / 5
T.B.
Smith
walked
into
his
outer
office.
“Any
news
of
Mr.
Pretherston?”
he
asked.
“No,
sir,”
was
the
reply.
“Any
news
of
Barr?”
“No,
sir.”
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Kate plus 10
Chapter XV · As Sir Ralph Said, “Business Is Business”
Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
Line 1
T.B.
Smith
walked
into
his
outer
office.
Line 2
“Any
news
of
Mr.
Pretherston?”
he
asked.
Line 3
“No,
sir,”
was
the
reply.
Line 4
“Any
news
of
Barr?”
Line 5
“No,
sir.”
Learner Dictionary
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
Asked
noun
US /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ““Any news of Mr. Pretherston?” he asked.”
All words in this reading · 21
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
Any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Any news of Mr. Pretherston?” he asked.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Any news of Mr. Pretherston?” he asked.
B
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading T.B. Smith walked into his outer office.
Barr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Any news of Barr?”
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Any news of Mr. Pretherston?” he asked.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading T.B. Smith walked into his outer office.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading T.B. Smith walked into his outer office.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Any news of Mr. Pretherston?” he asked.
news
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Any news of Mr. Pretherston?” he asked.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading “No, sir,” was the reply.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Any news of Mr. Pretherston?” he asked.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading T.B. Smith walked into his outer office.
outer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading T.B. Smith walked into his outer office.
Pretherston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Any news of Mr. Pretherston?” he asked.
reply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No, sir,” was the reply.
sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No, sir,” was the reply.
Smith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading T.B. Smith walked into his outer office.
T
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading T.B. Smith walked into his outer office.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “No, sir,” was the reply.
walked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading T.B. Smith walked into his outer office.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “No, sir,” was the reply.