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The Story of Valentine and His Brother
The Story of Valentine and His Brother

Chapter XX

Cover illustration for The Story of Valentine and His Brother
Context Illustration Reading 1/37 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.
The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.
“You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.
“I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.
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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 Story of Valentine and His Brother

Chapter XX

Reading 1/37 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
Line 2
Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.
Line 3
The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.
Line 4
“You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.
Line 5
“I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.

Learner Dictionary

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

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.”

Dick noun US /dick/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading ““I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading ““You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.”

Somebody pronoun US /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/

a person, without saying who

From this reading “The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.”

All words in this reading · 78

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 Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.

always

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

From this reading “I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.

arrived

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

From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.

better

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

From this reading “You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.

boating

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

From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.

business

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

From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.

character

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

From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.

crisis

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

From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.

Dick

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

From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.

establishments

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

From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.

Eton

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

From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.

exciting

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

From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.

forget

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

From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.

held

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

From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.

hope

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

From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.

important

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

From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.

invite

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

From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.

ItsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.

less

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

From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.

letter

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

From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.

made

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

From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.

manage

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

From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.

master

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

From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.

object

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

From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.

old

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

From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.

opportunity

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

From this reading “I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.

Oxford

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

From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.

peremptory

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

From this reading “You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.

place

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

From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.

reasonable

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

From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.

rise

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

From this reading “I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.

river

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

From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.

said

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

From this reading “I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.

similar

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

From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.

somebodypronounUS /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/

a person, without saying who

From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.

somewhat

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

From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.

succeeding

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

From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.

sufficiently

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

From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.

superintend

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

From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.

talk

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

From this reading “You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.

thus

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

From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.

trust

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

From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.

up

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

From this reading “You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.

Val

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

From this reading “You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.

Val's

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

From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.

wanted

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

From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.

world

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

From this reading “I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.

wrote

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

From this reading “You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.