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Lord Jim
Lord Jim

Chapter XXXVI

Cover illustration for Lord Jim
Context Illustration Reading 1/37 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
‘Brown’s object was to gain time by fooling with Kassim’s diplomacy.
For doing a real stroke of business he could not help thinking the white man was the person to work with.
He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.
He, Brown, would offer him the power.
No man could hesitate.
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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.

Lord Jim

Chapter XXXVI

Reading 1/37 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
‘Brown’s object was to gain time by fooling with Kassim’s diplomacy.
Line 2
For doing a real stroke of business he could not help thinking the white man was the person to work with.
Line 3
He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.
Line 4
He, Brown, would offer him the power.
Line 5
No man could hesitate.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “For doing a real stroke of business he could not help thinking the white man was the person to work with.”

Help noun US /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For doing a real stroke of business he could not help thinking the white man was the person to work with.”

Imagine noun US /ˈimagine/

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

From this reading “He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.”

Thinking noun US /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For doing a real stroke of business he could not help thinking the white man was the person to work with.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “‘Brown’s object was to gain time by fooling with Kassim’s diplomacy.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.”

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 For doing a real stroke of business he could not help thinking the white man was the person to work with.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

all

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

away

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

Brown

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

From this reading He, Brown, would offer him the power.

Brown's

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

From this reading ‘Brown’s object was to gain time by fooling with Kassim’s diplomacy.

business

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

From this reading For doing a real stroke of business he could not help thinking the white man was the person to work with.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading ‘Brown’s object was to gain time by fooling with Kassim’s diplomacy.

cautious

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

chap

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

cheating

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

clever

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

conduct

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

confoundedly

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading For doing a real stroke of business he could not help thinking the white man was the person to work with.

diplomacy

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

From this reading ‘Brown’s object was to gain time by fooling with Kassim’s diplomacy.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

doing

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

From this reading For doing a real stroke of business he could not help thinking the white man was the person to work with.

fooling

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

From this reading ‘Brown’s object was to gain time by fooling with Kassim’s diplomacy.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For doing a real stroke of business he could not help thinking the white man was the person to work with.

gain

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

From this reading ‘Brown’s object was to gain time by fooling with Kassim’s diplomacy.

get

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading For doing a real stroke of business he could not help thinking the white man was the person to work with.

helpnounUS /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For doing a real stroke of business he could not help thinking the white man was the person to work with.

hesitate

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

From this reading No man could hesitate.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading He, Brown, would offer him the power.

hold

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

imaginenounUS /ˈimagine/

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

imposed

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

Kassim's

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

From this reading ‘Brown’s object was to gain time by fooling with Kassim’s diplomacy.

like

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

line

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

man

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

From this reading For doing a real stroke of business he could not help thinking the white man was the person to work with.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

natives

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

necessity

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No man could hesitate.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading For doing a real stroke of business he could not help thinking the white man was the person to work with.

object

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

From this reading ‘Brown’s object was to gain time by fooling with Kassim’s diplomacy.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading For doing a real stroke of business he could not help thinking the white man was the person to work with.

offer

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

From this reading He, Brown, would offer him the power.

only

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

person

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

From this reading For doing a real stroke of business he could not help thinking the white man was the person to work with.

possible

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

power

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

From this reading He, Brown, would offer him the power.

real

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

From this reading For doing a real stroke of business he could not help thinking the white man was the person to work with.

refusing

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

risky

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

single-handed

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

slow

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

stroke

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

From this reading For doing a real stroke of business he could not help thinking the white man was the person to work with.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading For doing a real stroke of business he could not help thinking the white man was the person to work with.

thinkingnounUS /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For doing a real stroke of business he could not help thinking the white man was the person to work with.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ‘Brown’s object was to gain time by fooling with Kassim’s diplomacy.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading ‘Brown’s object was to gain time by fooling with Kassim’s diplomacy.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading ‘Brown’s object was to gain time by fooling with Kassim’s diplomacy.

white

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

From this reading For doing a real stroke of business he could not help thinking the white man was the person to work with.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading ‘Brown’s object was to gain time by fooling with Kassim’s diplomacy.

work

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

From this reading For doing a real stroke of business he could not help thinking the white man was the person to work with.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading He could not imagine such a chap (who must be confoundedly clever after all to get hold of the natives like that) refusing a help that would do away with the necessity for slow, cautious, risky cheating, that imposed itself as the only possible line of conduct for a single-handed man.