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Chapter XXXI
IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed. It was of importance that the Bolchaia Gate should be unguarded or only feebly held when he gave it up. The attention of the besieged was therefore to be drawn to another part of the town. A diversion was agreed upon with the Emir. This diversion was to be effected both up and down the river, on the Irkutsk bank.
Reading 1/45 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “The attention of the besieged was therefore to be drawn to another part of the town.”
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.”
apart from; not including
From this reading “IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.”
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The attention of the besieged was therefore to be drawn to another part of the town.”
for that reason; as a result
From this reading “The attention of the besieged was therefore to be drawn to another part of the town.”
a formal word for “on”
From this reading “A diversion was agreed upon with the Emir.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A diversion was agreed upon with the Emir.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A diversion was agreed upon with the Emir.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The attention of the besieged was therefore to be drawn to another part of the town.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The attention of the besieged was therefore to be drawn to another part of the town.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This diversion was to be effected both up and down the river, on the Irkutsk bank.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was of importance that the Bolchaia Gate should be unguarded or only feebly held when he gave it up.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The attention of the besieged was therefore to be drawn to another part of the town.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was of importance that the Bolchaia Gate should be unguarded or only feebly held when he gave it up.
the two together, not just one
From this reading This diversion was to be effected both up and down the river, on the Irkutsk bank.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A diversion was agreed upon with the Emir.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This diversion was to be effected both up and down the river, on the Irkutsk bank.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The attention of the besieged was therefore to be drawn to another part of the town.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This diversion was to be effected both up and down the river, on the Irkutsk bank.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A diversion was agreed upon with the Emir.
apart from; not including
From this reading IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was of importance that the Bolchaia Gate should be unguarded or only feebly held when he gave it up.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was of importance that the Bolchaia Gate should be unguarded or only feebly held when he gave it up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was of importance that the Bolchaia Gate should be unguarded or only feebly held when he gave it up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was of importance that the Bolchaia Gate should be unguarded or only feebly held when he gave it up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was of importance that the Bolchaia Gate should be unguarded or only feebly held when he gave it up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This diversion was to be effected both up and down the river, on the Irkutsk bank.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was of importance that the Bolchaia Gate should be unguarded or only feebly held when he gave it up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This diversion was to be effected both up and down the river, on the Irkutsk bank.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was of importance that the Bolchaia Gate should be unguarded or only feebly held when he gave it up.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was of importance that the Bolchaia Gate should be unguarded or only feebly held when he gave it up.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The attention of the besieged was therefore to be drawn to another part of the town.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This diversion was to be effected both up and down the river, on the Irkutsk bank.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It was of importance that the Bolchaia Gate should be unguarded or only feebly held when he gave it up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading The attention of the besieged was therefore to be drawn to another part of the town.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This diversion was to be effected both up and down the river, on the Irkutsk bank.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The attention of the besieged was therefore to be drawn to another part of the town.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The attention of the besieged was therefore to be drawn to another part of the town.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was of importance that the Bolchaia Gate should be unguarded or only feebly held when he gave it up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was of importance that the Bolchaia Gate should be unguarded or only feebly held when he gave it up.
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A diversion was agreed upon with the Emir.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was of importance that the Bolchaia Gate should be unguarded or only feebly held when he gave it up.
at the time that
From this reading It was of importance that the Bolchaia Gate should be unguarded or only feebly held when he gave it up.
in the company of; together with
From this reading IVAN OGAREFF’S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed.
