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Phineas Redux
Phineas Redux

Chapter XL

Cover illustration for Phineas Redux
Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
AT LAST--AT LAST.
As he took his ticket Phineas sent his message to the Prime Minister, taking that personage literally at his word.
The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.
He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.
That done, he remained in town but one night, and then set his face again towards Matching.
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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.

Phineas Redux

Chapter XL

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
AT LAST--AT LAST.
Line 2
As he took his ticket Phineas sent his message to the Prime Minister, taking that personage literally at his word.
Line 3
The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.
Line 4
He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.
Line 5
That done, he remained in town but one night, and then set his face again towards Matching.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “That done, he remained in town but one night, and then set his face again towards Matching.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “That done, he remained in town but one night, and then set his face again towards Matching.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.”

LAST noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “AT LAST--AT LAST.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “That done, he remained in town but one night, and then set his face again towards Matching.”

Pleasant noun US /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.”

Remained noun US /ˈremained/

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

From this reading “That done, he remained in town but one night, and then set his face again towards Matching.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As he took his ticket Phineas sent his message to the Prime Minister, taking that personage literally at his word.”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “That done, he remained in town but one night, and then set his face again towards Matching.”

All words in this reading · 84

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 He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

add

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

From this reading The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading That done, he remained in town but one night, and then set his face again towards Matching.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading That done, he remained in town but one night, and then set his face again towards Matching.

any

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

From this reading The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.

appoint

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

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

arrival

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

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As he took his ticket Phineas sent his message to the Prime Minister, taking that personage literally at his word.

ATprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading AT LAST--AT LAST.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.

certain

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

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

circumstances

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

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

difficult

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

From this reading The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading That done, he remained in town but one night, and then set his face again towards Matching.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

duties

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

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

expressed

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

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

face

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

From this reading That done, he remained in town but one night, and then set his face again towards Matching.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.

Gresham

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

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading As he took his ticket Phineas sent his message to the Prime Minister, taking that personage literally at his word.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading As he took his ticket Phineas sent his message to the Prime Minister, taking that personage literally at his word.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.

kindly

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

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

LASTnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading AT LAST--AT LAST.

less

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

From this reading The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.

letter

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

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

literally

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

From this reading As he took his ticket Phineas sent his message to the Prime Minister, taking that personage literally at his word.

London

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

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

made

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

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.

Matching

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

From this reading That done, he remained in town but one night, and then set his face again towards Matching.

message

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

From this reading As he took his ticket Phineas sent his message to the Prime Minister, taking that personage literally at his word.

Minister

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

From this reading As he took his ticket Phineas sent his message to the Prime Minister, taking that personage literally at his word.

month

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

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

Mr

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

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

night

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

From this reading That done, he remained in town but one night, and then set his face again towards Matching.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.

occurred

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

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

offered

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

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

office

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

From this reading The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading That done, he remained in town but one night, and then set his face again towards Matching.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

other

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

From this reading The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.

personage

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

From this reading As he took his ticket Phineas sent his message to the Prime Minister, taking that personage literally at his word.

Phineas

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

From this reading As he took his ticket Phineas sent his message to the Prime Minister, taking that personage literally at his word.

pleasantnounUS /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

Prime

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

From this reading As he took his ticket Phineas sent his message to the Prime Minister, taking that personage literally at his word.

regret

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

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

remainednounUS /ˈremained/

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

From this reading That done, he remained in town but one night, and then set his face again towards Matching.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.

sent

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

From this reading As he took his ticket Phineas sent his message to the Prime Minister, taking that personage literally at his word.

set

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

From this reading That done, he remained in town but one night, and then set his face again towards Matching.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.

supplemented

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

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

taking

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

From this reading As he took his ticket Phineas sent his message to the Prime Minister, taking that personage literally at his word.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading As he took his ticket Phineas sent his message to the Prime Minister, taking that personage literally at his word.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading As he took his ticket Phineas sent his message to the Prime Minister, taking that personage literally at his word.

then

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

From this reading That done, he remained in town but one night, and then set his face again towards Matching.

ticket

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

From this reading As he took his ticket Phineas sent his message to the Prime Minister, taking that personage literally at his word.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading As he took his ticket Phineas sent his message to the Prime Minister, taking that personage literally at his word.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As he took his ticket Phineas sent his message to the Prime Minister, taking that personage literally at his word.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading That done, he remained in town but one night, and then set his face again towards Matching.

town

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

From this reading That done, he remained in town but one night, and then set his face again towards Matching.

two

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

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

uncourteous

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

From this reading The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.

undertake

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

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

unfit

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

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

very

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

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He supplemented it with a letter on his arrival in London, in which he expressed his regret that certain circumstances of his life which had occurred during the last month or two made him unfit to undertake the duties of the very pleasant office to which Mr. Gresham had kindly offered to appoint him.

word

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

From this reading As he took his ticket Phineas sent his message to the Prime Minister, taking that personage literally at his word.

words

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

From this reading The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.

writing

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

From this reading The message was, No. When writing it in the office it seemed to him to be uncourteous, but he found it difficult to add any other words that should make it less so.