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Magnum Bonum

Chapter XXXIV · Of No Consequence

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Context Illustration Reading 1/81 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.
Archbishop Trench.
Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.
Otherwise he could not be present, for Kenminster had a character for bleakness, and he was never allowed to travel in an English winter.
Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.
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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.

Magnum Bonum

Chapter XXXIV · Of No Consequence

Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.
Line 2
Archbishop Trench.
Line 3
Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.
Line 4
Otherwise he could not be present, for Kenminster had a character for bleakness, and he was never allowed to travel in an English winter.
Line 5
Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.”

Besides preposition US /bɪˈsaɪdz/

in addition to; as well as

From this reading “Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.”

Clung noun US /clung/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “Otherwise he could not be present, for Kenminster had a character for bleakness, and he was never allowed to travel in an English winter.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Otherwise he could not be present, for Kenminster had a character for bleakness, and he was never allowed to travel in an English winter.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.”

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 Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

age

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

From this reading Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.

ago

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

From this reading Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.

air

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

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

all

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

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

allowed

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

From this reading Otherwise he could not be present, for Kenminster had a character for bleakness, and he was never allowed to travel in an English winter.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Otherwise he could not be present, for Kenminster had a character for bleakness, and he was never allowed to travel in an English winter.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

Archbishop

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

From this reading Archbishop Trench.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

BesidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/

in addition to; as well as

From this reading Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.

bleakness

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

From this reading Otherwise he could not be present, for Kenminster had a character for bleakness, and he was never allowed to travel in an English winter.

brother's

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

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

bush

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

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

came

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

From this reading Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.

character

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

From this reading Otherwise he could not be present, for Kenminster had a character for bleakness, and he was never allowed to travel in an English winter.

clungnounUS /clung/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Otherwise he could not be present, for Kenminster had a character for bleakness, and he was never allowed to travel in an English winter.

dangled

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

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

day

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

From this reading Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.

desire

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

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

English

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

From this reading Otherwise he could not be present, for Kenminster had a character for bleakness, and he was never allowed to travel in an English winter.

especial

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

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

Fell

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

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

festal

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

From this reading Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.

fissure

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

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

Fordham

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

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

forty

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

From this reading Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

giving

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

From this reading Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.

grand

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

From this reading Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.

great-uncle

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

From this reading Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.

grown

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

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

heart

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

From this reading Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

home

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

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

instead

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

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

Kenminster

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

From this reading Otherwise he could not be present, for Kenminster had a character for bleakness, and he was never allowed to travel in an English winter.

lady's

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

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

Lent

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

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

lined

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

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

Lord

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

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

made

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

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

mid

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

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

most

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

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Otherwise he could not be present, for Kenminster had a character for bleakness, and he was never allowed to travel in an English winter.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.

Otherwise

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

From this reading Otherwise he could not be present, for Kenminster had a character for bleakness, and he was never allowed to travel in an English winter.

place

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

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

present

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

From this reading Otherwise he could not be present, for Kenminster had a character for bleakness, and he was never allowed to travel in an English winter.

rejoicing

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

From this reading Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.

set

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

From this reading Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

sides

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

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.

stone

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

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

tenantry

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

From this reading Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

travel

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

From this reading Otherwise he could not be present, for Kenminster had a character for bleakness, and he was never allowed to travel in an English winter.

Trench

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

From this reading Archbishop Trench.

urgent

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

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

wedding

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

From this reading Lord Fordham made it his most especial and urgent desire that his brother’s wedding, which was to take place before Lent, should be at his home instead of at the lady’s.

WhichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.

winter

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

From this reading Otherwise he could not be present, for Kenminster had a character for bleakness, and he was never allowed to travel in an English winter.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Fell not, but dangled in mid air, For from a fissure in the stone Which lined its sides, a bush had grown, To this he clung with all his might.

years

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

From this reading Besides, he had set his heart on giving one grand festal day to his tenantry, who had never had a day of rejoicing since his great-uncle came of age, forty years ago.