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Nancy: A Novel
Nancy: A Novel

Chapter XVI

Cover illustration for Nancy: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/53 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
However, not all the hot tears in the world--not all the swelled noses and boiled-gooseberry eyes avail to alter the case.
Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.
No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.
The more delicately dignified and civilly frosty one is to him, the more grossly familiar and hopelessly, obtusely friendly is he.
I have made several more efforts to change Sir Roger's decision, but in vain.
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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.

Nancy: A Novel

Chapter XVI

Reading 1/53 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
However, not all the hot tears in the world--not all the swelled noses and boiled-gooseberry eyes avail to alter the case.
Line 2
Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.
Line 3
No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.
Line 4
The more delicately dignified and civilly frosty one is to him, the more grossly familiar and hopelessly, obtusely friendly is he.
Line 5
I have made several more efforts to change Sir Roger's decision, but in vain.

Learner Dictionary

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

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.”

Course noun US /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “I have made several more efforts to change Sir Roger's decision, but in vain.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “However, not all the hot tears in the world--not all the swelled noses and boiled-gooseberry eyes avail to alter the case.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.”

Length noun US /leŋθ/

a period of time or extent

From this reading “Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.”

Several noun US /ˈseveral/

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

From this reading “I have made several more efforts to change Sir Roger's decision, but in vain.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.”

All words in this reading · 76

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 Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.

all

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

From this reading However, not all the hot tears in the world--not all the swelled noses and boiled-gooseberry eyes avail to alter the case.

alter

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

From this reading However, not all the hot tears in the world--not all the swelled noses and boiled-gooseberry eyes avail to alter the case.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading However, not all the hot tears in the world--not all the swelled noses and boiled-gooseberry eyes avail to alter the case.

arms

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

From this reading Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.

avail

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

From this reading However, not all the hot tears in the world--not all the swelled noses and boiled-gooseberry eyes avail to alter the case.

Bobby

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

From this reading Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.

boiled-gooseberry

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

From this reading However, not all the hot tears in the world--not all the swelled noses and boiled-gooseberry eyes avail to alter the case.

boys

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

From this reading Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I have made several more efforts to change Sir Roger's decision, but in vain.

case

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

From this reading However, not all the hot tears in the world--not all the swelled noses and boiled-gooseberry eyes avail to alter the case.

change

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

From this reading I have made several more efforts to change Sir Roger's decision, but in vain.

civilly

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

From this reading The more delicately dignified and civilly frosty one is to him, the more grossly familiar and hopelessly, obtusely friendly is he.

coursenounUS /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.

day

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

From this reading Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.

decision

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

From this reading I have made several more efforts to change Sir Roger's decision, but in vain.

delicately

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

From this reading The more delicately dignified and civilly frosty one is to him, the more grossly familiar and hopelessly, obtusely friendly is he.

difficult

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

From this reading No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.

dignified

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

From this reading The more delicately dignified and civilly frosty one is to him, the more grossly familiar and hopelessly, obtusely friendly is he.

displeasure

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

From this reading No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

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

From this reading No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.

efforts

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

From this reading I have made several more efforts to change Sir Roger's decision, but in vain.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.

eyes

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

From this reading However, not all the hot tears in the world--not all the swelled noses and boiled-gooseberry eyes avail to alter the case.

familiar

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

From this reading The more delicately dignified and civilly frosty one is to him, the more grossly familiar and hopelessly, obtusely friendly is he.

finer

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

From this reading No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.

friendly

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

From this reading The more delicately dignified and civilly frosty one is to him, the more grossly familiar and hopelessly, obtusely friendly is he.

frosty

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

From this reading The more delicately dignified and civilly frosty one is to him, the more grossly familiar and hopelessly, obtusely friendly is he.

grossly

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

From this reading The more delicately dignified and civilly frosty one is to him, the more grossly familiar and hopelessly, obtusely friendly is he.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I have made several more efforts to change Sir Roger's decision, but in vain.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The more delicately dignified and civilly frosty one is to him, the more grossly familiar and hopelessly, obtusely friendly is he.

hopelessly

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

From this reading The more delicately dignified and civilly frosty one is to him, the more grossly familiar and hopelessly, obtusely friendly is he.

hot

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

From this reading However, not all the hot tears in the world--not all the swelled noses and boiled-gooseberry eyes avail to alter the case.

how

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

From this reading No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.

HoweveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading However, not all the hot tears in the world--not all the swelled noses and boiled-gooseberry eyes avail to alter the case.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.

ignore

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

From this reading No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading However, not all the hot tears in the world--not all the swelled noses and boiled-gooseberry eyes avail to alter the case.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.

keep

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

From this reading Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.

lengthnounUS /leŋθ/

a period of time or extent

From this reading Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.

made

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

From this reading I have made several more efforts to change Sir Roger's decision, but in vain.

more

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

From this reading The more delicately dignified and civilly frosty one is to him, the more grossly familiar and hopelessly, obtusely friendly is he.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.

noses

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

From this reading However, not all the hot tears in the world--not all the swelled noses and boiled-gooseberry eyes avail to alter the case.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading However, not all the hot tears in the world--not all the swelled noses and boiled-gooseberry eyes avail to alter the case.

obtusely

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

From this reading The more delicately dignified and civilly frosty one is to him, the more grossly familiar and hopelessly, obtusely friendly is he.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.

people

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

From this reading No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.

proceeding

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

From this reading No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.

profits

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

From this reading Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.

righteous

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

From this reading Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.

Roger's

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

From this reading I have made several more efforts to change Sir Roger's decision, but in vain.

several

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

From this reading I have made several more efforts to change Sir Roger's decision, but in vain.

shades

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

From this reading No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.

Sir

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

From this reading I have made several more efforts to change Sir Roger's decision, but in vain.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.

swelled

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

From this reading However, not all the hot tears in the world--not all the swelled noses and boiled-gooseberry eyes avail to alter the case.

tears

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

From this reading However, not all the hot tears in the world--not all the swelled noses and boiled-gooseberry eyes avail to alter the case.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading However, not all the hot tears in the world--not all the swelled noses and boiled-gooseberry eyes avail to alter the case.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading However, not all the hot tears in the world--not all the swelled noses and boiled-gooseberry eyes avail to alter the case.

understands

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

From this reading No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.

vain

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

From this reading I have made several more efforts to change Sir Roger's decision, but in vain.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading No one who does not know Bobby understands how difficult such a course of proceeding is; for he is one of those people who ignore the finer shades of displeasure.

world

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

From this reading However, not all the hot tears in the world--not all the swelled noses and boiled-gooseberry eyes avail to alter the case.

wrath

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

From this reading Not even all my righteous wrath against the boys profits--and I do keep Bobby at arms'-length for a day and a half.