Chapter XXIII
She wondered. “But for what in particular?” “For the answer to his cable.” “And what was his cable?” “I don’t know,” Strether replied; “it was to be, when he left me, according to his own taste.
The Ambassadors
Chapter XXIII
English subtitles · tap any word to listen
1 / 5
She
wondered.
“But
for
what
in
particular?”
“For
the
answer
to
his
cable.”
“And
what
was
his
cable?”
“I
don’t
know,”
Strether
replied;
“it
was
to
be,
when
he
left
me,
according
to
his
own
taste.
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Line 1
She
wondered.
/ʃiː wondered/
Line 2
“But
for
what
in
particular?”
Line 3
“For
the
answer
to
his
cable.”
Line 4
“And
what
was
his
cable?”
Line 5
“I
don’t
know,”
Strether
replied;
“it
was
to
be,
when
he
left
me,
according
to
his
own
taste.
Learner Dictionary
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
Know
noun
US /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ““I don’t know,” Strether replied; “it was to be, when he left me, according to his own taste.”
Left
noun
US /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ““I don’t know,” Strether replied; “it was to be, when he left me, according to his own taste.”
Replied
noun
US /replied/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ““I don’t know,” Strether replied; “it was to be, when he left me, according to his own taste.”
Taste
verb
US /teɪst/
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading ““I don’t know,” Strether replied; “it was to be, when he left me, according to his own taste.”
Wondered
noun
US /wondered/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “She wondered.”
All words in this reading · 28
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
according
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t know,” Strether replied; “it was to be, when he left me, according to his own taste.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “And what was his cable?”
answer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “For the answer to his cable.”
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “I don’t know,” Strether replied; “it was to be, when he left me, according to his own taste.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “But for what in particular?”
cable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “For the answer to his cable.”
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t know,” Strether replied; “it was to be, when he left me, according to his own taste.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “But for what in particular?”
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I don’t know,” Strether replied; “it was to be, when he left me, according to his own taste.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “For the answer to his cable.”
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I don’t know,” Strether replied; “it was to be, when he left me, according to his own taste.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “But for what in particular?”
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I don’t know,” Strether replied; “it was to be, when he left me, according to his own taste.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I don’t know,” Strether replied; “it was to be, when he left me, according to his own taste.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I don’t know,” Strether replied; “it was to be, when he left me, according to his own taste.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I don’t know,” Strether replied; “it was to be, when he left me, according to his own taste.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t know,” Strether replied; “it was to be, when he left me, according to his own taste.
particular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But for what in particular?”
repliednounUS /replied/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I don’t know,” Strether replied; “it was to be, when he left me, according to his own taste.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She wondered.
Strether
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t know,” Strether replied; “it was to be, when he left me, according to his own taste.
tasteverbUS /teɪst/
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading “I don’t know,” Strether replied; “it was to be, when he left me, according to his own taste.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “For the answer to his cable.”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “For the answer to his cable.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “And what was his cable?”
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “But for what in particular?”
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading “I don’t know,” Strether replied; “it was to be, when he left me, according to his own taste.
wonderednounUS /wondered/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She wondered.