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My Strangest Case
My Strangest Case

Chapter V

Cover illustration for My Strangest Case
Context Illustration Reading 1/65 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.
That mysterious power, "force of circumstances," is doubtless responsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument could be found than my own case.
I believe my father intended that I should follow the medical profession, while my mother hoped I would enter the Church.
My worthy uncle, Clutterfield, the eminent solicitor of Lincoln's Inn Fields, offered me my Articles, and would possibly have eventually taken me into partnership.
But I would have none of these things.
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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.

My Strangest Case

Chapter V

Reading 1/65 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.
Line 2
That mysterious power, "force of circumstances," is doubtless responsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument could be found than my own case.
Line 3
I believe my father intended that I should follow the medical profession, while my mother hoped I would enter the Church.
Line 4
My worthy uncle, Clutterfield, the eminent solicitor of Lincoln's Inn Fields, offered me my Articles, and would possibly have eventually taken me into partnership.
Line 5
But I would have none of these things.

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 “It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.”

Argument noun US /ˈɑːrɡjəmənt/

a reason or example used to support an idea

From this reading “That mysterious power, "force of circumstances," is doubtless responsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument could be found than my own case.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.”

Believe noun US /ˈbelieve/

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

From this reading “I believe my father intended that I should follow the medical profession, while my mother hoped I would enter the Church.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “That mysterious power, "force of circumstances," is doubtless responsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument could be found than my own case.”

Different noun US /ˈdifferent/

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

From this reading “It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “My worthy uncle, Clutterfield, the eminent solicitor of Lincoln's Inn Fields, offered me my Articles, and would possibly have eventually taken me into partnership.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.”

Mysterious adjective US /mɪˈstɪriəs/

difficult to explain or understand

From this reading “That mysterious power, "force of circumstances," is doubtless responsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument could be found than my own case.”

None pronoun US /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading “But I would have none of these things.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.”

Remarkable noun US /ˈremarkable/

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

From this reading “It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.”

Responsible adjective US /rɪˈspɑnsəbəl/

having a duty to protect or manage something

From this reading “That mysterious power, "force of circumstances," is doubtless responsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument could be found than my own case.”

Struck noun US /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “But I would have none of these things.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “I believe my father intended that I should follow the medical profession, while my mother hoped I would enter the Church.”

Worthy adjective US /ˈwɜːr.ði/

Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.

From this reading “My worthy uncle, Clutterfield, the eminent solicitor of Lincoln's Inn Fields, offered me my Articles, and would possibly have eventually taken me into partnership.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “I believe my father intended that I should follow the medical profession, while my mother hoped I would enter the Church.”

All words in this reading · 86

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 It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

argumentnounUS /ˈɑːrɡjəmənt/

a reason or example used to support an idea

From this reading That mysterious power, "force of circumstances," is doubtless responsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument could be found than my own case.

Articles

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

From this reading My worthy uncle, Clutterfield, the eminent solicitor of Lincoln's Inn Fields, offered me my Articles, and would possibly have eventually taken me into partnership.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading That mysterious power, "force of circumstances," is doubtless responsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument could be found than my own case.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

believenounUS /ˈbelieve/

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

From this reading I believe my father intended that I should follow the medical profession, while my mother hoped I would enter the Church.

better

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

From this reading That mysterious power, "force of circumstances," is doubtless responsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument could be found than my own case.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

career

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

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

case

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

From this reading That mysterious power, "force of circumstances," is doubtless responsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument could be found than my own case.

cases

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

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

chose

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

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

Church

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

From this reading I believe my father intended that I should follow the medical profession, while my mother hoped I would enter the Church.

circumstance

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

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

circumstances

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

From this reading That mysterious power, "force of circumstances," is doubtless responsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument could be found than my own case.

Clutterfield

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

From this reading My worthy uncle, Clutterfield, the eminent solicitor of Lincoln's Inn Fields, offered me my Articles, and would possibly have eventually taken me into partnership.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading That mysterious power, "force of circumstances," is doubtless responsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument could be found than my own case.

differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/

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

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

doubtless

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

From this reading That mysterious power, "force of circumstances," is doubtless responsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument could be found than my own case.

eminent

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

From this reading My worthy uncle, Clutterfield, the eminent solicitor of Lincoln's Inn Fields, offered me my Articles, and would possibly have eventually taken me into partnership.

enter

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

From this reading I believe my father intended that I should follow the medical profession, while my mother hoped I would enter the Church.

eventually

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

From this reading My worthy uncle, Clutterfield, the eminent solicitor of Lincoln's Inn Fields, offered me my Articles, and would possibly have eventually taken me into partnership.

father

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

From this reading I believe my father intended that I should follow the medical profession, while my mother hoped I would enter the Church.

Fields

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

From this reading My worthy uncle, Clutterfield, the eminent solicitor of Lincoln's Inn Fields, offered me my Articles, and would possibly have eventually taken me into partnership.

follow

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

From this reading I believe my father intended that I should follow the medical profession, while my mother hoped I would enter the Church.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

force

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

From this reading That mysterious power, "force of circumstances," is doubtless responsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument could be found than my own case.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading My worthy uncle, Clutterfield, the eminent solicitor of Lincoln's Inn Fields, offered me my Articles, and would possibly have eventually taken me into partnership.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

hoped

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

From this reading I believe my father intended that I should follow the medical profession, while my mother hoped I would enter the Church.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I believe my father intended that I should follow the medical profession, while my mother hoped I would enter the Church.

illustration

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

From this reading That mysterious power, "force of circumstances," is doubtless responsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument could be found than my own case.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

Inn

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

From this reading My worthy uncle, Clutterfield, the eminent solicitor of Lincoln's Inn Fields, offered me my Articles, and would possibly have eventually taken me into partnership.

intended

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

From this reading I believe my father intended that I should follow the medical profession, while my mother hoped I would enter the Church.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading My worthy uncle, Clutterfield, the eminent solicitor of Lincoln's Inn Fields, offered me my Articles, and would possibly have eventually taken me into partnership.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

Lincoln's

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

From this reading My worthy uncle, Clutterfield, the eminent solicitor of Lincoln's Inn Fields, offered me my Articles, and would possibly have eventually taken me into partnership.

man's

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

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

medical

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

From this reading I believe my father intended that I should follow the medical profession, while my mother hoped I would enter the Church.

mother

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

From this reading I believe my father intended that I should follow the medical profession, while my mother hoped I would enter the Church.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading That mysterious power, "force of circumstances," is doubtless responsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument could be found than my own case.

mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/

difficult to explain or understand

From this reading That mysterious power, "force of circumstances," is doubtless responsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument could be found than my own case.

nine

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

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading That mysterious power, "force of circumstances," is doubtless responsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument could be found than my own case.

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading But I would have none of these things.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

offered

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

From this reading My worthy uncle, Clutterfield, the eminent solicitor of Lincoln's Inn Fields, offered me my Articles, and would possibly have eventually taken me into partnership.

often

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

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

originally

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

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

out

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

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

own

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

From this reading That mysterious power, "force of circumstances," is doubtless responsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument could be found than my own case.

partnership

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

From this reading My worthy uncle, Clutterfield, the eminent solicitor of Lincoln's Inn Fields, offered me my Articles, and would possibly have eventually taken me into partnership.

possibly

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

From this reading My worthy uncle, Clutterfield, the eminent solicitor of Lincoln's Inn Fields, offered me my Articles, and would possibly have eventually taken me into partnership.

power

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

From this reading That mysterious power, "force of circumstances," is doubtless responsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument could be found than my own case.

profession

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

From this reading I believe my father intended that I should follow the medical profession, while my mother hoped I would enter the Church.

remarkablenounUS /ˈremarkable/

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

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

responsibleadjectiveUS /rɪˈspɑnsəbəl/

having a duty to protect or manage something

From this reading That mysterious power, "force of circumstances," is doubtless responsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument could be found than my own case.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading I believe my father intended that I should follow the medical profession, while my mother hoped I would enter the Church.

solicitor

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

From this reading My worthy uncle, Clutterfield, the eminent solicitor of Lincoln's Inn Fields, offered me my Articles, and would possibly have eventually taken me into partnership.

strucknounUS /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

success

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

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

taken

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

From this reading My worthy uncle, Clutterfield, the eminent solicitor of Lincoln's Inn Fields, offered me my Articles, and would possibly have eventually taken me into partnership.

ten

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

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading That mysterious power, "force of circumstances," is doubtless responsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument could be found than my own case.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading But I would have none of these things.

things

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

From this reading But I would have none of these things.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading That mysterious power, "force of circumstances," is doubtless responsible for this, and no better illustration for my argument could be found than my own case.

totally

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

From this reading It has often struck me as being a remarkable circumstance that, in nine cases out of ten, a man's success in life is not found in the career he originally chose for himself, but in another and totally different one.

uncle

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

From this reading My worthy uncle, Clutterfield, the eminent solicitor of Lincoln's Inn Fields, offered me my Articles, and would possibly have eventually taken me into partnership.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading I believe my father intended that I should follow the medical profession, while my mother hoped I would enter the Church.

worthyadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːr.ði/

Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.

From this reading My worthy uncle, Clutterfield, the eminent solicitor of Lincoln's Inn Fields, offered me my Articles, and would possibly have eventually taken me into partnership.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading I believe my father intended that I should follow the medical profession, while my mother hoped I would enter the Church.