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Ralph the Heir
Ralph the Heir

Chapter XXVIII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/73 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WHAT SIR THOMAS THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.
He had then devoted himself to the writing of a life of Lord Verulam, and had been at it ever since.
But as yet he had not written a word.
In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Ralph the Heir

Chapter XXVIII

Reading 1/73 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
WHAT SIR THOMAS THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
Line 2
Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.
Line 3
He had then devoted himself to the writing of a life of Lord Verulam, and had been at it ever since.
Line 4
But as yet he had not written a word.
Line 5
In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.

Learner Dictionary

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

ABOUT preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “WHAT SIR THOMAS THOUGHT ABOUT IT.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “He had then devoted himself to the writing of a life of Lord Verulam, and had been at it ever since.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.”

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading “In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.”

THOUGHT noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “WHAT SIR THOMAS THOUGHT ABOUT IT.”

Underwood noun US /ˈʌndərwʊd/

plants and bushes growing beneath taller trees

From this reading “Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “But as yet he had not written a word.”

All words in this reading · 64

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 Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.

ABOUTprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading WHAT SIR THOMAS THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He had then devoted himself to the writing of a life of Lord Verulam, and had been at it ever since.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading But as yet he had not written a word.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He had then devoted himself to the writing of a life of Lord Verulam, and had been at it ever since.

Bacon's

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

From this reading In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.

Bar

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

From this reading Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But as yet he had not written a word.

called

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

From this reading Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.

compeers

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

From this reading In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.

devoted

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

From this reading He had then devoted himself to the writing of a life of Lord Verulam, and had been at it ever since.

early

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

From this reading In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.

engaged

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

From this reading Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.

enough

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

From this reading In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.

fortieth

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

From this reading In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.

freely

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

From this reading In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading He had then devoted himself to the writing of a life of Lord Verulam, and had been at it ever since.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.

intimate

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

From this reading In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.

ITpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading WHAT SIR THOMAS THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

late

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

From this reading In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.

lips

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

From this reading In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.

Lord

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

From this reading He had then devoted himself to the writing of a life of Lord Verulam, and had been at it ever since.

magnum

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

From this reading In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But as yet he had not written a word.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.

opus

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

From this reading In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.

piece

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

From this reading Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.

SIR

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

From this reading WHAT SIR THOMAS THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

talked

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

From this reading In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.

then

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

From this reading He had then devoted himself to the writing of a life of Lord Verulam, and had been at it ever since.

THOMAS

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

From this reading WHAT SIR THOMAS THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.

THOUGHTnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading WHAT SIR THOMAS THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.

twenty-fifth

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

From this reading Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.

UnderwoodnounUS /ˈʌndərwʊd/

plants and bushes growing beneath taller trees

From this reading Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.

up

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

From this reading In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.

Verulam

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

From this reading He had then devoted himself to the writing of a life of Lord Verulam, and had been at it ever since.

very

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

From this reading Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.

WHATpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading WHAT SIR THOMAS THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading In early life, that is, up to his fortieth year, he had talked freely enough about his opus magnum to those of his compeers with whom he had been intimate; but of late Bacon's name had never been on his lips.

word

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

From this reading But as yet he had not written a word.

work

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

From this reading Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.

writing

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

From this reading He had then devoted himself to the writing of a life of Lord Verulam, and had been at it ever since.

written

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

From this reading But as yet he had not written a word.

year

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

From this reading Sir Thomas Underwood had been engaged upon a very great piece of work ever since he had been called to the Bar in the twenty-fifth year of his life.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading But as yet he had not written a word.