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Philistia
Philistia

Chapter XIII

Cover illustration for Philistia
Context Illustration Reading 1/38 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
'WHAT DO THESE HEBREWS HERE?'
From Calcombe Pomeroy Ernest had returned, not to Dunbude, but to meet the Exmoor party in London.
There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.
That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.
The round of dances and dinners to which he had to accompany his pupil was utterly distasteful to him.
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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.

Philistia

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
'WHAT DO THESE HEBREWS HERE?'
Line 2
From Calcombe Pomeroy Ernest had returned, not to Dunbude, but to meet the Exmoor party in London.
Line 3
There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.
Line 4
That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.
Line 5
The round of dances and dinners to which he had to accompany his pupil was utterly distasteful to him.

Learner Dictionary

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

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.”

Explosion noun US /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/

a sudden violent burst of sound or force

From this reading “There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.”

HERE noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “'WHAT DO THESE HEBREWS HERE?'”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.”

Oil noun US /ɔɪl/

A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.

From this reading “That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.”

Party noun US /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From Calcombe Pomeroy Ernest had returned, not to Dunbude, but to meet the Exmoor party in London.”

Reasons noun US /ˈreasons/

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

From this reading “That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.”

Returned noun US /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading “From Calcombe Pomeroy Ernest had returned, not to Dunbude, but to meet the Exmoor party in London.”

Several noun US /ˈseveral/

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

From this reading “That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.”

Sure noun US /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.”

THESE determiner US /ðiːz/

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

From this reading “'WHAT DO THESE HEBREWS HERE?'”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.”

All words in this reading · 81

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 There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.

accompany

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

From this reading The round of dances and dinners to which he had to accompany his pupil was utterly distasteful to him.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

anomaly

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

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading From Calcombe Pomeroy Ernest had returned, not to Dunbude, but to meet the Exmoor party in London.

Calcombe

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

From this reading From Calcombe Pomeroy Ernest had returned, not to Dunbude, but to meet the Exmoor party in London.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

dances

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

From this reading The round of dances and dinners to which he had to accompany his pupil was utterly distasteful to him.

dinners

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

From this reading The round of dances and dinners to which he had to accompany his pupil was utterly distasteful to him.

distasteful

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

From this reading The round of dances and dinners to which he had to accompany his pupil was utterly distasteful to him.

DOauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading 'WHAT DO THESE HEBREWS HERE?'

Dunbude

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

From this reading From Calcombe Pomeroy Ernest had returned, not to Dunbude, but to meet the Exmoor party in London.

employer's

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

From this reading There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.

end

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

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

Ernest

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

From this reading From Calcombe Pomeroy Ernest had returned, not to Dunbude, but to meet the Exmoor party in London.

existence

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

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

Exmoor

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

From this reading From Calcombe Pomeroy Ernest had returned, not to Dunbude, but to meet the Exmoor party in London.

explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/

a sudden violent burst of sound or force

From this reading There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.

family

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

From this reading There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.

felt

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

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From Calcombe Pomeroy Ernest had returned, not to Dunbude, but to meet the Exmoor party in London.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading From Calcombe Pomeroy Ernest had returned, not to Dunbude, but to meet the Exmoor party in London.

hardly

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

From this reading There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.

HEBREWS

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

From this reading 'WHAT DO THESE HEBREWS HERE?'

HEREnounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading 'WHAT DO THESE HEBREWS HERE?'

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The round of dances and dinners to which he had to accompany his pupil was utterly distasteful to him.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.

how

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

From this reading There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading From Calcombe Pomeroy Ernest had returned, not to Dunbude, but to meet the Exmoor party in London.

knew

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

From this reading There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.

later

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

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

live

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

From this reading There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.

London

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

From this reading From Calcombe Pomeroy Ernest had returned, not to Dunbude, but to meet the Exmoor party in London.

managed

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

From this reading There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.

meet

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

From this reading From Calcombe Pomeroy Ernest had returned, not to Dunbude, but to meet the Exmoor party in London.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

mistake

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

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

mix

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

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

more

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

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading From Calcombe Pomeroy Ernest had returned, not to Dunbude, but to meet the Exmoor party in London.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The round of dances and dinners to which he had to accompany his pupil was utterly distasteful to him.

oilnounUS /ɔɪl/

A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

own

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

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

partynounUS /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading From Calcombe Pomeroy Ernest had returned, not to Dunbude, but to meet the Exmoor party in London.

Pomeroy

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

From this reading From Calcombe Pomeroy Ernest had returned, not to Dunbude, but to meet the Exmoor party in London.

pretty

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

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

pupil

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

From this reading The round of dances and dinners to which he had to accompany his pupil was utterly distasteful to him.

reasonsnounUS /ˈreasons/

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

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

returnednounUS /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading From Calcombe Pomeroy Ernest had returned, not to Dunbude, but to meet the Exmoor party in London.

round

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

From this reading The round of dances and dinners to which he had to accompany his pupil was utterly distasteful to him.

season

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

From this reading There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.

several

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

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

somehow

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

From this reading There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.

sooner

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

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

surenounUS /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading From Calcombe Pomeroy Ernest had returned, not to Dunbude, but to meet the Exmoor party in London.

There

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

From this reading There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.

THESEdeterminerUS /ðiːz/

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

From this reading 'WHAT DO THESE HEBREWS HERE?'

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading From Calcombe Pomeroy Ernest had returned, not to Dunbude, but to meet the Exmoor party in London.

utterly

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

From this reading The round of dances and dinners to which he had to accompany his pupil was utterly distasteful to him.

versâ

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

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

vice

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

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

vinegar

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

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

WHATpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading 'WHAT DO THESE HEBREWS HERE?'

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The round of dances and dinners to which he had to accompany his pupil was utterly distasteful to him.

whole

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

From this reading There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading That an explosion must come, sooner or later, he felt pretty sure in his own mind for several reasons: his whole existence there was a mistake and an anomaly, and he could no more mix in the end with the Exmoor family than oil can mix with vinegar, or vice versâ.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading There he had managed somehow--he hardly knew how himself--to live through a whole season without an explosion in his employer's family.