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The Mutable Many: A Novel
The Mutable Many: A Novel

Chapter XX

Cover illustration for The Mutable Many: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/46 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
With the words “starved to death” ringing in his ears, Langly walked to Chelsea.
Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.
She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.
Her father, isolated by his temper from any friends who might have seen what was happening and given warning in time, had also been unconscious of what was passing before his eyes.
His gruff independence had slowly famished his own daughter.
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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 Mutable Many: A Novel

Chapter XX

Reading 1/46 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
With the words “starved to death” ringing in his ears, Langly walked to Chelsea.
Line 2
Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.
Line 3
She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.
Line 4
Her father, isolated by his temper from any friends who might have seen what was happening and given warning in time, had also been unconscious of what was passing before his eyes.
Line 5
His gruff independence had slowly famished his own daughter.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Her father, isolated by his temper from any friends who might have seen what was happening and given warning in time, had also been unconscious of what was passing before his eyes.”

Bitterly adverb US /ˈbɪtərli/

in a way that shows deep pain or grief

From this reading “Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Her father, isolated by his temper from any friends who might have seen what was happening and given warning in time, had also been unconscious of what was passing before his eyes.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Her father, isolated by his temper from any friends who might have seen what was happening and given warning in time, had also been unconscious of what was passing before his eyes.”

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.

accused

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

From this reading Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.

all

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

From this reading Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.

also

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

From this reading Her father, isolated by his temper from any friends who might have seen what was happening and given warning in time, had also been unconscious of what was passing before his eyes.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.

any

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

From this reading Her father, isolated by his temper from any friends who might have seen what was happening and given warning in time, had also been unconscious of what was passing before his eyes.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Her father, isolated by his temper from any friends who might have seen what was happening and given warning in time, had also been unconscious of what was passing before his eyes.

BitterlyadverbUS /ˈbɪtərli/

in a way that shows deep pain or grief

From this reading Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.

blindness

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

From this reading Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Her father, isolated by his temper from any friends who might have seen what was happening and given warning in time, had also been unconscious of what was passing before his eyes.

came

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

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

Chelsea

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

From this reading With the words “starved to death” ringing in his ears, Langly walked to Chelsea.

daughter

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

From this reading His gruff independence had slowly famished his own daughter.

days

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

From this reading Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.

death

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

From this reading With the words “starved to death” ringing in his ears, Langly walked to Chelsea.

ears

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

From this reading With the words “starved to death” ringing in his ears, Langly walked to Chelsea.

eyes

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

From this reading Her father, isolated by his temper from any friends who might have seen what was happening and given warning in time, had also been unconscious of what was passing before his eyes.

famished

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

From this reading His gruff independence had slowly famished his own daughter.

father

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

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.

friends

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

From this reading Her father, isolated by his temper from any friends who might have seen what was happening and given warning in time, had also been unconscious of what was passing before his eyes.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

given

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

From this reading Her father, isolated by his temper from any friends who might have seen what was happening and given warning in time, had also been unconscious of what was passing before his eyes.

go

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

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

going

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

From this reading Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.

gruff

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

From this reading His gruff independence had slowly famished his own daughter.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.

happening

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

From this reading Her father, isolated by his temper from any friends who might have seen what was happening and given warning in time, had also been unconscious of what was passing before his eyes.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Her father, isolated by his temper from any friends who might have seen what was happening and given warning in time, had also been unconscious of what was passing before his eyes.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading With the words “starved to death” ringing in his ears, Langly walked to Chelsea.

hungry

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

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading With the words “starved to death” ringing in his ears, Langly walked to Chelsea.

independence

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

From this reading His gruff independence had slowly famished his own daughter.

isolated

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

From this reading Her father, isolated by his temper from any friends who might have seen what was happening and given warning in time, had also been unconscious of what was passing before his eyes.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.

Langly

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

From this reading With the words “starved to death” ringing in his ears, Langly walked to Chelsea.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.

own

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

From this reading His gruff independence had slowly famished his own daughter.

passing

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

From this reading Her father, isolated by his temper from any friends who might have seen what was happening and given warning in time, had also been unconscious of what was passing before his eyes.

pinch

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

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

real

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

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

resist

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

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

ringing

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

From this reading With the words “starved to death” ringing in his ears, Langly walked to Chelsea.

seen

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

From this reading Her father, isolated by his temper from any friends who might have seen what was happening and given warning in time, had also been unconscious of what was passing before his eyes.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

slowly

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

From this reading His gruff independence had slowly famished his own daughter.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

starved

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

From this reading With the words “starved to death” ringing in his ears, Langly walked to Chelsea.

stinted

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

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

stupid

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

From this reading Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.

suspicion

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

From this reading Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.

temper

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

From this reading Her father, isolated by his temper from any friends who might have seen what was happening and given warning in time, had also been unconscious of what was passing before his eyes.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading With the words “starved to death” ringing in his ears, Langly walked to Chelsea.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Bitterly he accused himself for his stupid blindness; all this had been going on for days, and he had had no suspicion of it.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Her father, isolated by his temper from any friends who might have seen what was happening and given warning in time, had also been unconscious of what was passing before his eyes.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading With the words “starved to death” ringing in his ears, Langly walked to Chelsea.

too

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

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

unconscious

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

From this reading Her father, isolated by his temper from any friends who might have seen what was happening and given warning in time, had also been unconscious of what was passing before his eyes.

undoubtedly

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

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

walked

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

From this reading With the words “starved to death” ringing in his ears, Langly walked to Chelsea.

warning

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

From this reading Her father, isolated by his temper from any friends who might have seen what was happening and given warning in time, had also been unconscious of what was passing before his eyes.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

weak

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

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Her father, isolated by his temper from any friends who might have seen what was happening and given warning in time, had also been unconscious of what was passing before his eyes.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading She had from the first undoubtedly stinted herself so that her father might not go hungry, and when, at last, the real pinch came, she was too weak to resist it.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Her father, isolated by his temper from any friends who might have seen what was happening and given warning in time, had also been unconscious of what was passing before his eyes.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading With the words “starved to death” ringing in his ears, Langly walked to Chelsea.

words

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

From this reading With the words “starved to death” ringing in his ears, Langly walked to Chelsea.