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Tono-Bungay
Tono-Bungay

Chapter IX

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Context Illustration Reading 1/45 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.
It was for me an epoch-making disappointment.
I had thought of London as a large, free, welcoming, adventurous place, and I saw it slovenly and harsh and irresponsive.
I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.
It is the constant error of youth to over-estimate the Will in things.
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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.

Tono-Bungay

Chapter IX

Reading 1/45 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.
Line 2
It was for me an epoch-making disappointment.
Line 3
I had thought of London as a large, free, welcoming, adventurous place, and I saw it slovenly and harsh and irresponsive.
Line 4
I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.
Line 5
It is the constant error of youth to over-estimate the Will in things.

Learner Dictionary

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

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.”

Chilly adjective US /ˈtʃɪli/

unpleasantly cold

From this reading “Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.”

Disappointment noun US /ˈdisappointment/

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

From this reading “It was for me an epoch-making disappointment.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.”

Free adjective US /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading “I had thought of London as a large, free, welcoming, adventurous place, and I saw it slovenly and harsh and irresponsive.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading “I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I had thought of London as a large, free, welcoming, adventurous place, and I saw it slovenly and harsh and irresponsive.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.”

Weakness noun US /ˈwiːknəs/

a lack of physical strength

From this reading “I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.”

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 I had thought of London as a large, free, welcoming, adventurous place, and I saw it slovenly and harsh and irresponsive.

adventurous

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

From this reading I had thought of London as a large, free, welcoming, adventurous place, and I saw it slovenly and harsh and irresponsive.

all

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

From this reading I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading I had thought of London as a large, free, welcoming, adventurous place, and I saw it slovenly and harsh and irresponsive.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.

chillyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪli/

unpleasantly cold

From this reading Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.

confess

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

From this reading I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.

constant

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

From this reading It is the constant error of youth to over-estimate the Will in things.

depression

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

From this reading Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.

disappointmentnounUS /ˈdisappointment/

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

From this reading It was for me an epoch-making disappointment.

effect

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

From this reading Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.

epoch-making

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

From this reading It was for me an epoch-making disappointment.

error

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

From this reading It is the constant error of youth to over-estimate the Will in things.

façade

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

From this reading I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was for me an epoch-making disappointment.

forbidding

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

From this reading I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.

freeadjectiveUS /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading I had thought of London as a large, free, welcoming, adventurous place, and I saw it slovenly and harsh and irresponsive.

frontages

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

From this reading I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.

grey

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

From this reading I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.

harsh

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

From this reading I had thought of London as a large, free, welcoming, adventurous place, and I saw it slovenly and harsh and irresponsive.

human

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

From this reading I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I had thought of London as a large, free, welcoming, adventurous place, and I saw it slovenly and harsh and irresponsive.

immense

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

From this reading Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It is the constant error of youth to over-estimate the Will in things.

irresponsive

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

From this reading I had thought of London as a large, free, welcoming, adventurous place, and I saw it slovenly and harsh and irresponsive.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It is the constant error of youth to over-estimate the Will in things.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was for me an epoch-making disappointment.

January

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

From this reading Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.

large

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

From this reading I had thought of London as a large, free, welcoming, adventurous place, and I saw it slovenly and harsh and irresponsive.

London

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

From this reading Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.

moist

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

From this reading Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.

over-estimate

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

From this reading It is the constant error of youth to over-estimate the Will in things.

place

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

From this reading I had thought of London as a large, free, welcoming, adventurous place, and I saw it slovenly and harsh and irresponsive.

presently

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

From this reading I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.

raid

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

From this reading Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.

realise

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

From this reading I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.

saw

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

From this reading I had thought of London as a large, free, welcoming, adventurous place, and I saw it slovenly and harsh and irresponsive.

slovenly

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

From this reading I had thought of London as a large, free, welcoming, adventurous place, and I saw it slovenly and harsh and irresponsive.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.

things

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

From this reading I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I had thought of London as a large, free, welcoming, adventurous place, and I saw it slovenly and harsh and irresponsive.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It is the constant error of youth to over-estimate the Will in things.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was for me an epoch-making disappointment.

weaknessnounUS /ˈwiːknəs/

a lack of physical strength

From this reading I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.

welcoming

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

From this reading I had thought of London as a large, free, welcoming, adventurous place, and I saw it slovenly and harsh and irresponsive.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.

whole

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

From this reading I did not realise at all what human things might be found behind those grey frontages, what weakness that whole forbidding façade might presently confess.

Willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading It is the constant error of youth to over-estimate the Will in things.

Yes

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

From this reading Yes, that first raid upon London under the moist and chilly depression of January had an immense effect upon me.

youth

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

From this reading It is the constant error of youth to over-estimate the Will in things.