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The Struggles of Brown, Jones, and Robinson
The Struggles of Brown, Jones, and Robinson

Chapter V

Cover illustration for The Struggles of Brown, Jones, and Robinson
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE DIVISION OF LABOUR.
There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.
"But, George, we must have something to sell," said Mr. Brown, almost in despair.
He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.
There are things which no elderly man can learn; and there are lessons which are full of light for the new recruit, but dark as death to the old veteran.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Struggles of Brown, Jones, and Robinson

Chapter V

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE DIVISION OF LABOUR.
Line 2
There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.
Line 3
"But, George, we must have something to sell," said Mr. Brown, almost in despair.
Line 4
He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.
Line 5
There are things which no elderly man can learn; and there are lessons which are full of light for the new recruit, but dark as death to the old veteran.

Learner Dictionary

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

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading “He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “"But, George, we must have something to sell," said Mr. Brown, almost in despair.”

Issued noun US /issued/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “"But, George, we must have something to sell," said Mr. Brown, almost in despair.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “"But, George, we must have something to sell," said Mr. Brown, almost in despair.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.”

Understand noun US /understand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.”

All words in this reading · 88

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

advertisements

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

almost

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

From this reading "But, George, we must have something to sell," said Mr. Brown, almost in despair.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

answer

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading There are things which no elderly man can learn; and there are lessons which are full of light for the new recruit, but dark as death to the old veteran.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading There are things which no elderly man can learn; and there are lessons which are full of light for the new recruit, but dark as death to the old veteran.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.

attend

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

Brown

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

From this reading "But, George, we must have something to sell," said Mr. Brown, almost in despair.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "But, George, we must have something to sell," said Mr. Brown, almost in despair.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading There are things which no elderly man can learn; and there are lessons which are full of light for the new recruit, but dark as death to the old veteran.

chief

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

commercial

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

From this reading He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.

dark

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

From this reading There are things which no elderly man can learn; and there are lessons which are full of light for the new recruit, but dark as death to the old veteran.

death

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

From this reading There are things which no elderly man can learn; and there are lessons which are full of light for the new recruit, but dark as death to the old veteran.

despair

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

From this reading "But, George, we must have something to sell," said Mr. Brown, almost in despair.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.

DIVISION

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

From this reading THE DIVISION OF LABOUR.

elderly

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

From this reading There are things which no elderly man can learn; and there are lessons which are full of light for the new recruit, but dark as death to the old veteran.

expectations

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

Firm

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There are things which no elderly man can learn; and there are lessons which are full of light for the new recruit, but dark as death to the old veteran.

full

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

From this reading There are things which no elderly man can learn; and there are lessons which are full of light for the new recruit, but dark as death to the old veteran.

George

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

From this reading "But, George, we must have something to sell," said Mr. Brown, almost in despair.

goods

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "But, George, we must have something to sell," said Mr. Brown, almost in despair.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "But, George, we must have something to sell," said Mr. Brown, almost in despair.

issuednounUS /issued/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

LABOUR

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

From this reading THE DIVISION OF LABOUR.

learn

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

From this reading There are things which no elderly man can learn; and there are lessons which are full of light for the new recruit, but dark as death to the old veteran.

learned

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

From this reading He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.

lessons

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

From this reading There are things which no elderly man can learn; and there are lessons which are full of light for the new recruit, but dark as death to the old veteran.

light

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

From this reading There are things which no elderly man can learn; and there are lessons which are full of light for the new recruit, but dark as death to the old veteran.

man

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

From this reading There are things which no elderly man can learn; and there are lessons which are full of light for the new recruit, but dark as death to the old veteran.

matters

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

Mr

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

From this reading "But, George, we must have something to sell," said Mr. Brown, almost in despair.

much

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

From this reading He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading "But, George, we must have something to sell," said Mr. Brown, almost in despair.

necessary

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.

new

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

From this reading There are things which no elderly man can learn; and there are lessons which are full of light for the new recruit, but dark as death to the old veteran.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading There are things which no elderly man can learn; and there are lessons which are full of light for the new recruit, but dark as death to the old veteran.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.

now

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

obtained

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE DIVISION OF LABOUR.

old

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

From this reading There are things which no elderly man can learn; and there are lessons which are full of light for the new recruit, but dark as death to the old veteran.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

other

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

pains

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

From this reading He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.

partner

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

From this reading He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.

primary

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

raised

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

recruit

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

From this reading There are things which no elderly man can learn; and there are lessons which are full of light for the new recruit, but dark as death to the old veteran.

said

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

From this reading "But, George, we must have something to sell," said Mr. Brown, almost in despair.

science

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

From this reading He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.

secondary

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

secrets

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

From this reading He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.

sell

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

From this reading "But, George, we must have something to sell," said Mr. Brown, almost in despair.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading "But, George, we must have something to sell," said Mr. Brown, almost in despair.

stock

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

teach

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

From this reading He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE DIVISION OF LABOUR.

then

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

From this reading He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.

There

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

things

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

From this reading There are things which no elderly man can learn; and there are lessons which are full of light for the new recruit, but dark as death to the old veteran.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

two

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

understandnounUS /understand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.

veteran

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

From this reading There are things which no elderly man can learn; and there are lessons which are full of light for the new recruit, but dark as death to the old veteran.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "But, George, we must have something to sell," said Mr. Brown, almost in despair.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the expectations raised by those advertisements.

younger

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

From this reading He did not then understand, and never since has learned the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was at so much pains to teach.