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The Governors
The Governors

Chapter XIX

Cover illustration for The Governors
Context Illustration Reading 1/23 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.
Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
It was his host, after all, who paved the way.
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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 Governors

Chapter XIX

Reading 1/23 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
Line 2
Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
Line 3
And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.
Line 4
Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
Line 5
It was his host, after all, who paved the way.

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 “Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “It was his host, after all, who paved the way.”

Answered noun US /ˈanswered/

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

From this reading “Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.”

All words in this reading · 69

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 Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

acquaintances

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

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading It was his host, after all, who paved the way.

all

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

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

almost

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

From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.

AMBASSADOR

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

From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.

AMERICAN

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

From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

answerednounUS /ˈanswered/

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

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

approaching

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

From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

begun

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

From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.

brief

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

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

certain

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

From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.

Conversation

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

From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.

difficulty

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

From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.

eager

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

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

find

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

From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

friends

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

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

host

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

From this reading It was his host, after all, who paved the way.

host's

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

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.

inquiries

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

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

interspersed

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

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was his host, after all, who paved the way.

languish

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

From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

men

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

From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.

more

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

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.

object

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

From this reading And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.

Obviously

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

From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

old

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

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

other

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

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

paved

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

From this reading It was his host, after all, who paved the way.

periods

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

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

real

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

From this reading And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.

said

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

From this reading And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.

say

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

From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.

side

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

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.

spasmodic

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

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

subject

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

From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.

then

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

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.

two

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

From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

Vine

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

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

visit

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

From this reading And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was his host, after all, who paved the way.

way

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

From this reading It was his host, after all, who paved the way.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading It was his host, after all, who paved the way.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.