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The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders
The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders

Chapter IV

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Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”
“Why,” says I, “should I be at a loss?
First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”
“Ay,” says he; “but the whole house will tease you about that, even to father and mother, and if you deny them positively, they will be disobliged at you, and suspicious besides.”
“Why,” says I, “what can I do?
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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 Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders

Chapter IV

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”
Line 2
“Why,” says I, “should I be at a loss?
Line 3
First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”
Line 4
“Ay,” says he; “but the whole house will tease you about that, even to father and mother, and if you deny them positively, they will be disobliged at you, and suspicious besides.”
Line 5
“Why,” says I, “what can I do?

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 ““Ay,” says he; “but the whole house will tease you about that, even to father and mother, and if you deny them positively, they will be disobliged at you, and suspicious besides.””

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.””

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading ““But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?””

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.””

Besides preposition US /bɪˈsaɪdz/

in addition to; as well as

From this reading ““Ay,” says he; “but the whole house will tease you about that, even to father and mother, and if you deny them positively, they will be disobliged at you, and suspicious besides.””

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Ay,” says he; “but the whole house will tease you about that, even to father and mother, and if you deny them positively, they will be disobliged at you, and suspicious besides.””

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.””

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.””

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.””

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.””

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.””

Question noun US /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading “First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.””

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.””

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading ““But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?””

All words in this reading · 80

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 “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Ay,” says he; “but the whole house will tease you about that, even to father and mother, and if you deny them positively, they will be disobliged at you, and suspicious besides.”

advantage

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

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

all

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

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

any

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

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

apparently

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

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

ask

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

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading “Why,” says I, “should I be at a loss?

Ay

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

From this reading “Ay,” says he; “but the whole house will tease you about that, even to father and mother, and if you deny them positively, they will be disobliged at you, and suspicious besides.”

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

besidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/

in addition to; as well as

From this reading “Ay,” says he; “but the whole house will tease you about that, even to father and mother, and if you deny them positively, they will be disobliged at you, and suspicious besides.”

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

deny

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

From this reading “Ay,” says he; “but the whole house will tease you about that, even to father and mother, and if you deny them positively, they will be disobliged at you, and suspicious besides.”

disobliged

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

From this reading “Ay,” says he; “but the whole house will tease you about that, even to father and mother, and if you deny them positively, they will be disobliged at you, and suspicious besides.”

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading “Why,” says I, “what can I do?

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Ay,” says he; “but the whole house will tease you about that, even to father and mother, and if you deny them positively, they will be disobliged at you, and suspicious besides.”

father

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

From this reading “Ay,” says he; “but the whole house will tease you about that, even to father and mother, and if you deny them positively, they will be disobliged at you, and suspicious besides.”

find

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

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

FirstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

full

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

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

give

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

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

hand

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

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

house

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

From this reading “Ay,” says he; “but the whole house will tease you about that, even to father and mother, and if you deny them positively, they will be disobliged at you, and suspicious besides.”

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “Why,” says I, “should I be at a loss?

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “Ay,” says he; “but the whole house will tease you about that, even to father and mother, and if you deny them positively, they will be disobliged at you, and suspicious besides.”

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

loss

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

From this reading “Why,” says I, “should I be at a loss?

married

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

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

match

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

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

mother

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

From this reading “Ay,” says he; “but the whole house will tease you about that, even to father and mother, and if you deny them positively, they will be disobliged at you, and suspicious besides.”

much

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

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

obliged

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

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

other

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

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

positive

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

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

positively

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

From this reading “Ay,” says he; “but the whole house will tease you about that, even to father and mother, and if you deny them positively, they will be disobliged at you, and suspicious besides.”

questionnounUS /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

reason

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

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

say

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

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

says

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

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading “Why,” says I, “should I be at a loss?

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

stop

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

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

suspicious

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

From this reading “Ay,” says he; “but the whole house will tease you about that, even to father and mother, and if you deny them positively, they will be disobliged at you, and suspicious besides.”

tease

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

From this reading “Ay,” says he; “but the whole house will tease you about that, even to father and mother, and if you deny them positively, they will be disobliged at you, and suspicious besides.”

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

then

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

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

there

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

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

too

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

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

whole

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

From this reading “Ay,” says he; “but the whole house will tease you about that, even to father and mother, and if you deny them positively, they will be disobliged at you, and suspicious besides.”

Why

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

From this reading “Why,” says I, “should I be at a loss?

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading First of all, I am not obliged to give me any reason at all; on the other hand, I may tell them I am married already, and stop there, and that will be a full stop too to him, for he can have no reason to ask one question after it.”

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “But what, then, can you say to him, or to them,” says he, “when they find you positive against a match which would be apparently so much to your advantage?”