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The Circular Study
The Circular Study

Chapter II

Cover illustration for The Circular Study
Context Illustration Reading 1/14 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE MUTE SERVITOR.
Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:
"Wait, man!
You needn't take that glass away.
We first want to hear how your master comes to be lying here dead."
0:00 / 0:00
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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.

The Circular Study

Chapter II

Reading 1/14 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE MUTE SERVITOR.
Line 2
Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:
Line 3
"Wait, man!
Line 4
You needn't take that glass away.
Line 5
We first want to hear how your master comes to be lying here dead."

Learner Dictionary

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

Appearance noun US /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading “Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:”

Dead noun US /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We first want to hear how your master comes to be lying here dead."”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We first want to hear how your master comes to be lying here dead."”

Hear noun US /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We first want to hear how your master comes to be lying here dead."”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We first want to hear how your master comes to be lying here dead."”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:”

Meanwhile noun US /ˈmeanwhile/

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

From this reading “Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “You needn't take that glass away.”

Violent noun US /ˈviolent/

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

From this reading “Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:”

All words in this reading · 70

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 Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

air

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

all

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

away

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

From this reading You needn't take that glass away.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading We first want to hear how your master comes to be lying here dead."

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

called

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

carrying

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

comes

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

From this reading We first want to hear how your master comes to be lying here dead."

dazed

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

deadnounUS /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We first want to hear how your master comes to be lying here dead."

expression

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

fall

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

feet

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We first want to hear how your master comes to be lying here dead."

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

former

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

glass

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

Gryce

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

hearnounUS /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We first want to hear how your master comes to be lying here dead."

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We first want to hear how your master comes to be lying here dead."

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

how

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

From this reading We first want to hear how your master comes to be lying here dead."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

just

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

lately

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

lying

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

From this reading We first want to hear how your master comes to be lying here dead."

man

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

master

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

From this reading We first want to hear how your master comes to be lying here dead."

MeanwhilenounUS /ˈmeanwhile/

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

Mr

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

MUTE

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

From this reading THE MUTE SERVITOR.

needn't

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

From this reading You needn't take that glass away.

out

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

place

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

possible

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

re-enacted

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

room

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

rose

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

SERVITOR

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

From this reading THE MUTE SERVITOR.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

stooped

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading You needn't take that glass away.

taken

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading You needn't take that glass away.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE MUTE SERVITOR.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

tragedy

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

unlike

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

violentnounUS /ˈviolent/

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

Wait

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

From this reading "Wait, man!

want

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

From this reading We first want to hear how your master comes to be lying here dead."

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We first want to hear how your master comes to be lying here dead."

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Meanwhile the man who, to all appearance, had just re-enacted before them the tragedy which had so lately taken place in this room, rose to his feet, and, with a dazed air as unlike his former violent expression as possible, stooped for the glass he had let fall, and was carrying it out when Mr. Gryce called to him:

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You needn't take that glass away.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading We first want to hear how your master comes to be lying here dead."