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The Vicar of Bullhampton
The Vicar of Bullhampton

Chapter XXI

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Context Illustration Reading 1/101 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MYSELF?
Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.
And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.
In his way, Parson John was a crafty man, who was always doing a turn of business.
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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 Vicar of Bullhampton

Chapter XXI

Reading 1/101 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MYSELF?
/wʌt ʃæl aɪ duː wɪð ˌmaɪˈself/
Line 2
Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
Line 3
How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.
Line 4
And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.
Line 5
In his way, Parson John was a crafty man, who was always doing a turn of business.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.”

Equally noun US /ˈequally/

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

From this reading “Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.”

John noun US /john/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.”

MYSELF pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MYSELF?”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.”

SHALL modal verb US /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading “WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MYSELF?”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.”

All words in this reading · 66

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 In his way, Parson John was a crafty man, who was always doing a turn of business.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

always

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

From this reading In his way, Parson John was a crafty man, who was always doing a turn of business.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

aware

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

From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.

business

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

From this reading In his way, Parson John was a crafty man, who was always doing a turn of business.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

came

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

From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.

crafty

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

From this reading In his way, Parson John was a crafty man, who was always doing a turn of business.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.

DOauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MYSELF?

doing

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

From this reading In his way, Parson John was a crafty man, who was always doing a turn of business.

doings

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

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

Dunripple

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

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

equallynounUS /ˈequally/

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

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.

gossip

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

From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

How

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

From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MYSELF?

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

John

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

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

knew

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

From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.

letters

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

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

Loring

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

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

man

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

From this reading In his way, Parson John was a crafty man, who was always doing a turn of business.

Marrable

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

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

means

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

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

Miss

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

From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.

much

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

From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.

MYSELFpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MYSELF?

nephew

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

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

news

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

From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

object

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

From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

Parson

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

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

reticent

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

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

said

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

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

say

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

From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.

SHALLmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MYSELF?

simple

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

From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.

speech

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

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.

turn

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

From this reading In his way, Parson John was a crafty man, who was always doing a turn of business.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.

way

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

From this reading In his way, Parson John was a crafty man, who was always doing a turn of business.

well

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

From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.

WHATpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MYSELF?

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.

WITHprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MYSELF?