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The Pit
The Pit

Chapter V

Cover illustration for The Pit
Context Illustration Reading 1/83 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Meanwhile the floor was beginning to fill up.
Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.
They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.
From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.
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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 Pit

Chapter V

Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Meanwhile the floor was beginning to fill up.
Line 2
Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.
Line 3
They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
Line 4
Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.
Line 5
From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.

Learner Dictionary

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

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.”

Beginning noun US /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading “Meanwhile the floor was beginning to fill up.”

Directly noun US /ˈdirectly/

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

From this reading “Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.”

Mates noun US /mates/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.”

Meanwhile noun US /ˈmeanwhile/

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

From this reading “Meanwhile the floor was beginning to fill up.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.”

Pit noun US /pɪt/

A large hole in the ground, or an abyss of darkness and peril.

From this reading “From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.”

Themselves pronoun US /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading “Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.”

All words in this reading · 82

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 Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.

addressed

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

From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.

advance

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

From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.

arriving

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

From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.

back

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

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.

beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading Meanwhile the floor was beginning to fill up.

busking

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

From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.

called

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

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

came

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

From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.

clicking

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

From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.

coats

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

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

corridors

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

From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.

cracking

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

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

cricket

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

From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.

diligent

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

From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.

directlynounUS /ˈdirectly/

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

From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.

doors

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

From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

few

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

From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.

fill

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

From this reading Meanwhile the floor was beginning to fill up.

floor

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

From this reading Meanwhile the floor was beginning to fill up.

forth

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

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.

ground

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

From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.

groups

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

From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.

hats

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

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.

hundreds

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

From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.

hung

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

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.

increasing

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

From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.

instruments

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

From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.

intermittent

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

From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.

jokes

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

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

joshing

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

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

key

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

From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.

like

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

From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.

linen

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

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

matesnounUS /mates/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.

MeanwhilenounUS /ˈmeanwhile/

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

From this reading Meanwhile the floor was beginning to fill up.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.

operators

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

From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

other

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

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.

pegs

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

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

pitnounUS /pɪt/

A large hole in the ground, or an abyss of darkness and peril.

From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.

place

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

From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.

railed-in

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

From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.

seats

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

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

shirt-sleeves

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

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

sitting

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

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

Some

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

From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.

south

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

From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.

space

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

From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.

tables

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

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

telegraph

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

From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Meanwhile the floor was beginning to fill up.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.

there

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

From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

threes

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

From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Meanwhile the floor was beginning to fill up.

traders

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

From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.

twos

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

From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.

ulsters

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

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

up

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

From this reading Meanwhile the floor was beginning to fill up.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

wall

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

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Meanwhile the floor was beginning to fill up.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.

work

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

From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.