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The Socialist
The Socialist

Chapter XX

Cover illustration for The Socialist
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE DUKE KNOWS AT LAST The duke went to the theatre early.
The play was announced for nine o'clock, but he was in his box, the stage box on a level with the stalls, by half-past eight.
A whole carriage had been reserved for him from Oxford to London, and a dinner basket had been put in for him.
He wished to be entirely alone, to think, to adjust his ideas at a time of crisis unparalleled in his life before.
A motor-brougham had met him at Paddington and taken him swiftly down to the _Ritz_ in Piccadilly.
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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 Socialist

Chapter XX

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE DUKE KNOWS AT LAST The duke went to the theatre early.
Line 2
The play was announced for nine o'clock, but he was in his box, the stage box on a level with the stalls, by half-past eight.
Line 3
A whole carriage had been reserved for him from Oxford to London, and a dinner basket had been put in for him.
Line 4
He wished to be entirely alone, to think, to adjust his ideas at a time of crisis unparalleled in his life before.
Line 5
A motor-brougham had met him at Paddington and taken him swiftly down to the _Ritz_ in Piccadilly.

Learner Dictionary

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

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He wished to be entirely alone, to think, to adjust his ideas at a time of crisis unparalleled in his life before.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “A whole carriage had been reserved for him from Oxford to London, and a dinner basket had been put in for him.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “He wished to be entirely alone, to think, to adjust his ideas at a time of crisis unparalleled in his life before.”

Entirely noun US /ˈentirely/

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

From this reading “He wished to be entirely alone, to think, to adjust his ideas at a time of crisis unparalleled in his life before.”

LAST noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE DUKE KNOWS AT LAST The duke went to the theatre early.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He wished to be entirely alone, to think, to adjust his ideas at a time of crisis unparalleled in his life before.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He wished to be entirely alone, to think, to adjust his ideas at a time of crisis unparalleled in his life before.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He wished to be entirely alone, to think, to adjust his ideas at a time of crisis unparalleled in his life before.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE DUKE KNOWS AT LAST The duke went to the theatre early.”

All words in this reading · 63

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 The play was announced for nine o'clock, but he was in his box, the stage box on a level with the stalls, by half-past eight.

adjust

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

From this reading He wished to be entirely alone, to think, to adjust his ideas at a time of crisis unparalleled in his life before.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He wished to be entirely alone, to think, to adjust his ideas at a time of crisis unparalleled in his life before.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A whole carriage had been reserved for him from Oxford to London, and a dinner basket had been put in for him.

announced

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

From this reading The play was announced for nine o'clock, but he was in his box, the stage box on a level with the stalls, by half-past eight.

ATprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE DUKE KNOWS AT LAST The duke went to the theatre early.

basket

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

From this reading A whole carriage had been reserved for him from Oxford to London, and a dinner basket had been put in for him.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading He wished to be entirely alone, to think, to adjust his ideas at a time of crisis unparalleled in his life before.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading A whole carriage had been reserved for him from Oxford to London, and a dinner basket had been put in for him.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He wished to be entirely alone, to think, to adjust his ideas at a time of crisis unparalleled in his life before.

box

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

From this reading The play was announced for nine o'clock, but he was in his box, the stage box on a level with the stalls, by half-past eight.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The play was announced for nine o'clock, but he was in his box, the stage box on a level with the stalls, by half-past eight.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The play was announced for nine o'clock, but he was in his box, the stage box on a level with the stalls, by half-past eight.

carriage

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

From this reading A whole carriage had been reserved for him from Oxford to London, and a dinner basket had been put in for him.

crisis

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

From this reading He wished to be entirely alone, to think, to adjust his ideas at a time of crisis unparalleled in his life before.

dinner

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

From this reading A whole carriage had been reserved for him from Oxford to London, and a dinner basket had been put in for him.

down

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

From this reading A motor-brougham had met him at Paddington and taken him swiftly down to the _Ritz_ in Piccadilly.

DUKE

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

From this reading THE DUKE KNOWS AT LAST The duke went to the theatre early.

early

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

From this reading THE DUKE KNOWS AT LAST The duke went to the theatre early.

eight

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

From this reading The play was announced for nine o'clock, but he was in his box, the stage box on a level with the stalls, by half-past eight.

entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/

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

From this reading He wished to be entirely alone, to think, to adjust his ideas at a time of crisis unparalleled in his life before.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The play was announced for nine o'clock, but he was in his box, the stage box on a level with the stalls, by half-past eight.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A whole carriage had been reserved for him from Oxford to London, and a dinner basket had been put in for him.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading A whole carriage had been reserved for him from Oxford to London, and a dinner basket had been put in for him.

half-past

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

From this reading The play was announced for nine o'clock, but he was in his box, the stage box on a level with the stalls, by half-past eight.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The play was announced for nine o'clock, but he was in his box, the stage box on a level with the stalls, by half-past eight.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading A whole carriage had been reserved for him from Oxford to London, and a dinner basket had been put in for him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The play was announced for nine o'clock, but he was in his box, the stage box on a level with the stalls, by half-past eight.

ideas

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

From this reading He wished to be entirely alone, to think, to adjust his ideas at a time of crisis unparalleled in his life before.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The play was announced for nine o'clock, but he was in his box, the stage box on a level with the stalls, by half-past eight.

KNOWS

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

From this reading THE DUKE KNOWS AT LAST The duke went to the theatre early.

LASTnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE DUKE KNOWS AT LAST The duke went to the theatre early.

level

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

From this reading The play was announced for nine o'clock, but he was in his box, the stage box on a level with the stalls, by half-past eight.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He wished to be entirely alone, to think, to adjust his ideas at a time of crisis unparalleled in his life before.

London

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

From this reading A whole carriage had been reserved for him from Oxford to London, and a dinner basket had been put in for him.

met

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

From this reading A motor-brougham had met him at Paddington and taken him swiftly down to the _Ritz_ in Piccadilly.

motor-brougham

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

From this reading A motor-brougham had met him at Paddington and taken him swiftly down to the _Ritz_ in Piccadilly.

nine

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

From this reading The play was announced for nine o'clock, but he was in his box, the stage box on a level with the stalls, by half-past eight.

o'clock

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

From this reading The play was announced for nine o'clock, but he was in his box, the stage box on a level with the stalls, by half-past eight.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He wished to be entirely alone, to think, to adjust his ideas at a time of crisis unparalleled in his life before.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The play was announced for nine o'clock, but he was in his box, the stage box on a level with the stalls, by half-past eight.

Oxford

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

From this reading A whole carriage had been reserved for him from Oxford to London, and a dinner basket had been put in for him.

Paddington

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

From this reading A motor-brougham had met him at Paddington and taken him swiftly down to the _Ritz_ in Piccadilly.

Piccadilly

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

From this reading A motor-brougham had met him at Paddington and taken him swiftly down to the _Ritz_ in Piccadilly.

play

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

From this reading The play was announced for nine o'clock, but he was in his box, the stage box on a level with the stalls, by half-past eight.

put

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

From this reading A whole carriage had been reserved for him from Oxford to London, and a dinner basket had been put in for him.

reserved

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

From this reading A whole carriage had been reserved for him from Oxford to London, and a dinner basket had been put in for him.

Ritz

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

From this reading A motor-brougham had met him at Paddington and taken him swiftly down to the _Ritz_ in Piccadilly.

stage

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

From this reading The play was announced for nine o'clock, but he was in his box, the stage box on a level with the stalls, by half-past eight.

stalls

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

From this reading The play was announced for nine o'clock, but he was in his box, the stage box on a level with the stalls, by half-past eight.

swiftly

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

From this reading A motor-brougham had met him at Paddington and taken him swiftly down to the _Ritz_ in Piccadilly.

taken

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

From this reading A motor-brougham had met him at Paddington and taken him swiftly down to the _Ritz_ in Piccadilly.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE DUKE KNOWS AT LAST The duke went to the theatre early.

theatre

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

From this reading THE DUKE KNOWS AT LAST The duke went to the theatre early.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He wished to be entirely alone, to think, to adjust his ideas at a time of crisis unparalleled in his life before.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He wished to be entirely alone, to think, to adjust his ideas at a time of crisis unparalleled in his life before.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE DUKE KNOWS AT LAST The duke went to the theatre early.

unparalleled

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

From this reading He wished to be entirely alone, to think, to adjust his ideas at a time of crisis unparalleled in his life before.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The play was announced for nine o'clock, but he was in his box, the stage box on a level with the stalls, by half-past eight.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE DUKE KNOWS AT LAST The duke went to the theatre early.

whole

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

From this reading A whole carriage had been reserved for him from Oxford to London, and a dinner basket had been put in for him.

wished

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

From this reading He wished to be entirely alone, to think, to adjust his ideas at a time of crisis unparalleled in his life before.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The play was announced for nine o'clock, but he was in his box, the stage box on a level with the stalls, by half-past eight.