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London's Heart: A Novel
London's Heart: A Novel

Chapter XXI

Cover illustration for London's Heart: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/45 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
ALFRED NEGLECTS THE WARNING OF DON'T TOUCH ME, AND RUES IT.
But, in a lame sort of way, he found justification for the act.
He would not accept the brand; fate and bad luck were to blame, not he.
He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.
With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.
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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.

London's Heart: A Novel

Chapter XXI

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

Line 1
ALFRED NEGLECTS THE WARNING OF DON'T TOUCH ME, AND RUES IT.
Line 2
But, in a lame sort of way, he found justification for the act.
Line 3
He would not accept the brand; fate and bad luck were to blame, not he.
Line 4
He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.
Line 5
With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

Learner Dictionary

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

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But, in a lame sort of way, he found justification for the act.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.”

Pulled noun US /pulled/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “He would not accept the brand; fate and bad luck were to blame, not he.”

All words in this reading · 85

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 But, in a lame sort of way, he found justification for the act.

able

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

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

accept

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

From this reading He would not accept the brand; fate and bad luck were to blame, not he.

act

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

From this reading But, in a lame sort of way, he found justification for the act.

ALFRED

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

From this reading ALFRED NEGLECTS THE WARNING OF DON'T TOUCH ME, AND RUES IT.

all

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

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading ALFRED NEGLECTS THE WARNING OF DON'T TOUCH ME, AND RUES IT.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

backed

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

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

bad

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

From this reading He would not accept the brand; fate and bad luck were to blame, not he.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

blame

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

From this reading He would not accept the brand; fate and bad luck were to blame, not he.

brand

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

From this reading He would not accept the brand; fate and bad luck were to blame, not he.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But, in a lame sort of way, he found justification for the act.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

conviction

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

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

credit

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

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

DON'T

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

From this reading ALFRED NEGLECTS THE WARNING OF DON'T TOUCH ME, AND RUES IT.

fate

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

From this reading He would not accept the brand; fate and bad luck were to blame, not he.

firm

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

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But, in a lame sort of way, he found justification for the act.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But, in a lame sort of way, he found justification for the act.

gained

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

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

gave

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

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading But, in a lame sort of way, he found justification for the act.

heaven

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

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

heavy

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

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

horse

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

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

horses

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

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

hour

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

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But, in a lame sort of way, he found justification for the act.

intention

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

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

ITpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading ALFRED NEGLECTS THE WARNING OF DON'T TOUCH ME, AND RUES IT.

justification

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

From this reading But, in a lame sort of way, he found justification for the act.

knows

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

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

lame

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

From this reading But, in a lame sort of way, he found justification for the act.

luck

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

From this reading He would not accept the brand; fate and bad luck were to blame, not he.

MEpronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading ALFRED NEGLECTS THE WARNING OF DON'T TOUCH ME, AND RUES IT.

money

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

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

NEGLECTS

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

From this reading ALFRED NEGLECTS THE WARNING OF DON'T TOUCH ME, AND RUES IT.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He would not accept the brand; fate and bad luck were to blame, not he.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading ALFRED NEGLECTS THE WARNING OF DON'T TOUCH ME, AND RUES IT.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

only

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

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

others

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

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

performed

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

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

pullednounUS /pulled/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

pursued

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

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

race

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

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

replacing

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

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

RUES

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

From this reading ALFRED NEGLECTS THE WARNING OF DON'T TOUCH ME, AND RUES IT.

scratched

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

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

sophistry

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

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

sort

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

From this reading But, in a lame sort of way, he found justification for the act.

sorts

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

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

stake

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

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading ALFRED NEGLECTS THE WARNING OF DON'T TOUCH ME, AND RUES IT.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He would not accept the brand; fate and bad luck were to blame, not he.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

TOUCH

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

From this reading ALFRED NEGLECTS THE WARNING OF DON'T TOUCH ME, AND RUES IT.

usual

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

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

vernacular

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

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

WARNING

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

From this reading ALFRED NEGLECTS THE WARNING OF DON'T TOUCH ME, AND RUES IT.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

way

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

From this reading But, in a lame sort of way, he found justification for the act.

ways

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

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading He would not accept the brand; fate and bad luck were to blame, not he.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

win

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

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He took the money with the firm intention of replacing it, and with the conviction (by what sophistry gained, heaven only knows) that he would be able to do so; and he gave himself credit for his intention, as if it were an act performed.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading He would not accept the brand; fate and bad luck were to blame, not he.

wrong

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

From this reading With part of the money he had backed horses to win a heavy stake, but his usual bad luck pursued him; in his vernacular, one horse was "pulled," another was "scratched" an hour before the race, and others went wrong in all sorts of ways.