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The Illustrious Prince
The Illustrious Prince

Chapter XI · A Commission

Cover illustration for The Illustrious Prince
Context Illustration Reading 1/36 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.
And yet there were times when he was puzzled.
For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.
It seemed to him that he was face to face with what amounted almost to a crisis in his career.
His two years at the Court of St. James had been pleasant and uneventful enough.
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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 Illustrious Prince

Chapter XI · A Commission

Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.
Line 2
And yet there were times when he was puzzled.
Line 3
For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.
Line 4
It seemed to him that he was face to face with what amounted almost to a crisis in his career.
Line 5
His two years at the Court of St. James had been pleasant and uneventful enough.

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.”

Pleasant noun US /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His two years at the Court of St. James had been pleasant and uneventful enough.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It seemed to him that he was face to face with what amounted almost to a crisis in his career.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “And yet there were times when he was puzzled.”

All words in this reading · 73

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 Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

almost

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

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

Ambassador

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

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

American

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

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

amounted

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

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

Blaine-Harvey

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

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

career

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

From this reading It seemed to him that he was face to face with what amounted almost to a crisis in his career.

Court

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

From this reading His two years at the Court of St. James had been pleasant and uneventful enough.

crisis

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

From this reading It seemed to him that he was face to face with what amounted almost to a crisis in his career.

culture

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

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

diplomatic

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

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

England

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

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

enough

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

From this reading His two years at the Court of St. James had been pleasant and uneventful enough.

Extraordinary

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

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

face

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

From this reading It seemed to him that he was face to face with what amounted almost to a crisis in his career.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

genius

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

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

gifts

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

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading And yet there were times when he was puzzled.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading It seemed to him that he was face to face with what amounted almost to a crisis in his career.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

hour

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

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

important

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

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

instinct

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

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It seemed to him that he was face to face with what amounted almost to a crisis in his career.

James

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

From this reading His two years at the Court of St. James had been pleasant and uneventful enough.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

library

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

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

looking

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

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

man

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

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

matter

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

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

Mr

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

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

Park

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

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

personal

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

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

pleasantnounUS /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His two years at the Court of St. James had been pleasant and uneventful enough.

Plenipotentiary

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

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

puzzled

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

From this reading And yet there were times when he was puzzled.

Robert

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

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It seemed to him that he was face to face with what amounted almost to a crisis in his career.

sitting

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

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

St

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

From this reading His two years at the Court of St. James had been pleasant and uneventful enough.

surprising

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

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It seemed to him that he was face to face with what amounted almost to a crisis in his career.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

there

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

From this reading And yet there were times when he was puzzled.

times

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

From this reading And yet there were times when he was puzzled.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

trying

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

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

two

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

From this reading His two years at the Court of St. James had been pleasant and uneventful enough.

uneventful

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

From this reading His two years at the Court of St. James had been pleasant and uneventful enough.

up

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

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

very

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

From this reading For at least half an hour he had been sitting in his great library, looking across the Park, and trying to make up his mind on a very important matter.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading And yet there were times when he was puzzled.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading It seemed to him that he was face to face with what amounted almost to a crisis in his career.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading And yet there were times when he was puzzled.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Mr. Robert Blaine-Harvey, American Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to England, was a man of great culture, surprising personal gifts, and with a diplomatic instinct which amounted almost to genius.

years

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

From this reading His two years at the Court of St. James had been pleasant and uneventful enough.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading And yet there were times when he was puzzled.