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The Missioner
The Missioner

Chapter XXX

Cover illustration for The Missioner
Context Illustration Reading 1/38 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
MYSTERIES IN MAYFAIR That night, and for many nights afterwards, Macheson devoted himself to his work in the East End.
The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.
Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.
Gradually his efforts began to tell upon himself.
He grew thinner, there were shadows under his eyes, a curious intangible depression seemed to settle upon him.
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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 Missioner

Chapter XXX

Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
MYSTERIES IN MAYFAIR That night, and for many nights afterwards, Macheson devoted himself to his work in the East End.
Line 2
The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.
Line 3
Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.
Line 4
Gradually his efforts began to tell upon himself.
Line 5
He grew thinner, there were shadows under his eyes, a curious intangible depression seemed to settle upon him.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Gradually his efforts began to tell upon himself.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “MYSTERIES IN MAYFAIR That night, and for many nights afterwards, Macheson devoted himself to his work in the East End.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.”

Nights noun US /naɪts/

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading “MYSTERIES IN MAYFAIR That night, and for many nights afterwards, Macheson devoted himself to his work in the East End.”

Poor noun US /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He grew thinner, there were shadows under his eyes, a curious intangible depression seemed to settle upon him.”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Gradually his efforts began to tell upon himself.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “He grew thinner, there were shadows under his eyes, a curious intangible depression seemed to settle upon him.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.”

All words in this reading · 81

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 Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

afterwards

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

From this reading MYSTERIES IN MAYFAIR That night, and for many nights afterwards, Macheson devoted himself to his work in the East End.

almost

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

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading MYSTERIES IN MAYFAIR That night, and for many nights afterwards, Macheson devoted himself to his work in the East End.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Gradually his efforts began to tell upon himself.

best

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

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

called

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

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

came

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

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

carried

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

From this reading The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.

curious

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

From this reading He grew thinner, there were shadows under his eyes, a curious intangible depression seemed to settle upon him.

dejected-looking

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

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

depression

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

From this reading He grew thinner, there were shadows under his eyes, a curious intangible depression seemed to settle upon him.

devoted

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

From this reading MYSTERIES IN MAYFAIR That night, and for many nights afterwards, Macheson devoted himself to his work in the East End.

earnestness

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

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

East

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

From this reading MYSTERIES IN MAYFAIR That night, and for many nights afterwards, Macheson devoted himself to his work in the East End.

easy

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

From this reading The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.

efforts

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

From this reading Gradually his efforts began to tell upon himself.

End

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

From this reading MYSTERIES IN MAYFAIR That night, and for many nights afterwards, Macheson devoted himself to his work in the East End.

energy

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

From this reading The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.

eyes

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

From this reading He grew thinner, there were shadows under his eyes, a curious intangible depression seemed to settle upon him.

fascination

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

From this reading The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading MYSTERIES IN MAYFAIR That night, and for many nights afterwards, Macheson devoted himself to his work in the East End.

forgetfulness

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

From this reading The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.

Gradually

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

From this reading Gradually his efforts began to tell upon himself.

grew

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

From this reading The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading MYSTERIES IN MAYFAIR That night, and for many nights afterwards, Macheson devoted himself to his work in the East End.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading MYSTERIES IN MAYFAIR That night, and for many nights afterwards, Macheson devoted himself to his work in the East End.

how

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

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading MYSTERIES IN MAYFAIR That night, and for many nights afterwards, Macheson devoted himself to his work in the East End.

intangible

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

From this reading He grew thinner, there were shadows under his eyes, a curious intangible depression seemed to settle upon him.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.

Macheson

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

From this reading MYSTERIES IN MAYFAIR That night, and for many nights afterwards, Macheson devoted himself to his work in the East End.

made

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

From this reading The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

many

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

From this reading MYSTERIES IN MAYFAIR That night, and for many nights afterwards, Macheson devoted himself to his work in the East End.

MAYFAIR

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

From this reading MYSTERIES IN MAYFAIR That night, and for many nights afterwards, Macheson devoted himself to his work in the East End.

men

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

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

MYSTERIES

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

From this reading MYSTERIES IN MAYFAIR That night, and for many nights afterwards, Macheson devoted himself to his work in the East End.

night

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

From this reading MYSTERIES IN MAYFAIR That night, and for many nights afterwards, Macheson devoted himself to his work in the East End.

nightsnounUS /naɪts/

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading MYSTERIES IN MAYFAIR That night, and for many nights afterwards, Macheson devoted himself to his work in the East End.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.

often

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

From this reading The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.

out

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

From this reading The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.

own

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

From this reading The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.

passionate

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

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

pleaded

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

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

poornounUS /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

reasoned

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

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He grew thinner, there were shadows under his eyes, a curious intangible depression seemed to settle upon him.

settle

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

From this reading He grew thinner, there were shadows under his eyes, a curious intangible depression seemed to settle upon him.

shadows

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

From this reading He grew thinner, there were shadows under his eyes, a curious intangible depression seemed to settle upon him.

show

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

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

sprinkling

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

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

striving

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

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

sullen

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

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

task

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

From this reading The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Gradually his efforts began to tell upon himself.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading MYSTERIES IN MAYFAIR That night, and for many nights afterwards, Macheson devoted himself to his work in the East End.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading MYSTERIES IN MAYFAIR That night, and for many nights afterwards, Macheson devoted himself to his work in the East End.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

there

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

From this reading He grew thinner, there were shadows under his eyes, a curious intangible depression seemed to settle upon him.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.

thinner

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

From this reading He grew thinner, there were shadows under his eyes, a curious intangible depression seemed to settle upon him.

threw

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

From this reading The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.

tired

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

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading MYSTERIES IN MAYFAIR That night, and for many nights afterwards, Macheson devoted himself to his work in the East End.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading He grew thinner, there were shadows under his eyes, a curious intangible depression seemed to settle upon him.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading He grew thinner, there were shadows under his eyes, a curious intangible depression seemed to settle upon him.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.

white-faced

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

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The fascination of the thing grew upon him; he threw himself into his task with an energy which carried him often out of his own life and made forgetfulness an easy task.

women

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

From this reading Night after night they came, these tired, white-faced women, with a sprinkling of sullen, dejected-looking men; night after night he pleaded and reasoned with them, striving with almost passionate earnestness to show them how to make the best of the poor thing they called life.

work

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

From this reading MYSTERIES IN MAYFAIR That night, and for many nights afterwards, Macheson devoted himself to his work in the East End.