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Wild Margaret
Wild Margaret

Chapter XXIII

Cover illustration for Wild Margaret
Context Illustration Reading 1/63 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!
He had been wild and reckless as a youth, and it had only been his love for Margaret that had checked him in his road to ruin.
If she had still been by his side, he would have swung round and become one of the steadiest of men--she would have been his saving and guardian angel.
But he had lost her, and with her all that had made his life worth living.
So he came back to the old life in London, hating it with a weariness bitter as death, and yet not knowing of any other way in which to kill time and escape from the past.
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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.

Wild Margaret

Chapter XXIII

Reading 1/63 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!
Line 2
He had been wild and reckless as a youth, and it had only been his love for Margaret that had checked him in his road to ruin.
Line 3
If she had still been by his side, he would have swung round and become one of the steadiest of men--she would have been his saving and guardian angel.
Line 4
But he had lost her, and with her all that had made his life worth living.
Line 5
So he came back to the old life in London, hating it with a weariness bitter as death, and yet not knowing of any other way in which to kill time and escape from the past.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “He had been wild and reckless as a youth, and it had only been his love for Margaret that had checked him in his road to ruin.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “If she had still been by his side, he would have swung round and become one of the steadiest of men--she would have been his saving and guardian angel.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But he had lost her, and with her all that had made his life worth living.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If she had still been by his side, he would have swung round and become one of the steadiest of men--she would have been his saving and guardian angel.”

Thin adjective US /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading “Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So he came back to the old life in London, hating it with a weariness bitter as death, and yet not knowing of any other way in which to kill time and escape from the past.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “If she had still been by his side, he would have swung round and become one of the steadiest of men--she would have been his saving and guardian angel.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “So he came back to the old life in London, hating it with a weariness bitter as death, and yet not knowing of any other way in which to kill time and escape from the past.”

All words in this reading · 79

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 He had been wild and reckless as a youth, and it had only been his love for Margaret that had checked him in his road to ruin.

all

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

From this reading But he had lost her, and with her all that had made his life worth living.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!

angel

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

From this reading If she had still been by his side, he would have swung round and become one of the steadiest of men--she would have been his saving and guardian angel.

any

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

From this reading So he came back to the old life in London, hating it with a weariness bitter as death, and yet not knowing of any other way in which to kill time and escape from the past.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He had been wild and reckless as a youth, and it had only been his love for Margaret that had checked him in his road to ruin.

back

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

From this reading Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!

become

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

From this reading If she had still been by his side, he would have swung round and become one of the steadiest of men--she would have been his saving and guardian angel.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He had been wild and reckless as a youth, and it had only been his love for Margaret that had checked him in his road to ruin.

bitter

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

From this reading So he came back to the old life in London, hating it with a weariness bitter as death, and yet not knowing of any other way in which to kill time and escape from the past.

Blair

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

From this reading Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But he had lost her, and with her all that had made his life worth living.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading If she had still been by his side, he would have swung round and become one of the steadiest of men--she would have been his saving and guardian angel.

came

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

From this reading Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!

checked

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

From this reading He had been wild and reckless as a youth, and it had only been his love for Margaret that had checked him in his road to ruin.

death

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

From this reading So he came back to the old life in London, hating it with a weariness bitter as death, and yet not knowing of any other way in which to kill time and escape from the past.

desire

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

From this reading Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!

escape

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

From this reading So he came back to the old life in London, hating it with a weariness bitter as death, and yet not knowing of any other way in which to kill time and escape from the past.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He had been wild and reckless as a youth, and it had only been his love for Margaret that had checked him in his road to ruin.

forget

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

From this reading Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading So he came back to the old life in London, hating it with a weariness bitter as death, and yet not knowing of any other way in which to kill time and escape from the past.

guardian

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

From this reading If she had still been by his side, he would have swung round and become one of the steadiest of men--she would have been his saving and guardian angel.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He had been wild and reckless as a youth, and it had only been his love for Margaret that had checked him in his road to ruin.

haggard

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

From this reading Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!

hating

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

From this reading So he came back to the old life in London, hating it with a weariness bitter as death, and yet not knowing of any other way in which to kill time and escape from the past.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading If she had still been by his side, he would have swung round and become one of the steadiest of men--she would have been his saving and guardian angel.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He had been wild and reckless as a youth, and it had only been his love for Margaret that had checked him in his road to ruin.

heart

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

From this reading Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading But he had lost her, and with her all that had made his life worth living.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading He had been wild and reckless as a youth, and it had only been his love for Margaret that had checked him in his road to ruin.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If she had still been by his side, he would have swung round and become one of the steadiest of men--she would have been his saving and guardian angel.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He had been wild and reckless as a youth, and it had only been his love for Margaret that had checked him in his road to ruin.

kill

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

From this reading Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!

knowing

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

From this reading So he came back to the old life in London, hating it with a weariness bitter as death, and yet not knowing of any other way in which to kill time and escape from the past.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But he had lost her, and with her all that had made his life worth living.

living

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

From this reading But he had lost her, and with her all that had made his life worth living.

London

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

From this reading So he came back to the old life in London, hating it with a weariness bitter as death, and yet not knowing of any other way in which to kill time and escape from the past.

lost

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

From this reading But he had lost her, and with her all that had made his life worth living.

love

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

From this reading He had been wild and reckless as a youth, and it had only been his love for Margaret that had checked him in his road to ruin.

made

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

From this reading But he had lost her, and with her all that had made his life worth living.

Margaret

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

From this reading He had been wild and reckless as a youth, and it had only been his love for Margaret that had checked him in his road to ruin.

men

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

From this reading If she had still been by his side, he would have swung round and become one of the steadiest of men--she would have been his saving and guardian angel.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading So he came back to the old life in London, hating it with a weariness bitter as death, and yet not knowing of any other way in which to kill time and escape from the past.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading If she had still been by his side, he would have swung round and become one of the steadiest of men--she would have been his saving and guardian angel.

old

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

From this reading So he came back to the old life in London, hating it with a weariness bitter as death, and yet not knowing of any other way in which to kill time and escape from the past.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!

only

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

From this reading Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!

other

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

From this reading So he came back to the old life in London, hating it with a weariness bitter as death, and yet not knowing of any other way in which to kill time and escape from the past.

pale

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

From this reading Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!

past

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

From this reading Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!

present

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

From this reading Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!

reckless

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

From this reading He had been wild and reckless as a youth, and it had only been his love for Margaret that had checked him in his road to ruin.

road

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

From this reading He had been wild and reckless as a youth, and it had only been his love for Margaret that had checked him in his road to ruin.

round

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

From this reading If she had still been by his side, he would have swung round and become one of the steadiest of men--she would have been his saving and guardian angel.

ruin

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

From this reading He had been wild and reckless as a youth, and it had only been his love for Margaret that had checked him in his road to ruin.

saving

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

From this reading If she had still been by his side, he would have swung round and become one of the steadiest of men--she would have been his saving and guardian angel.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading If she had still been by his side, he would have swung round and become one of the steadiest of men--she would have been his saving and guardian angel.

side

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

From this reading If she had still been by his side, he would have swung round and become one of the steadiest of men--she would have been his saving and guardian angel.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So he came back to the old life in London, hating it with a weariness bitter as death, and yet not knowing of any other way in which to kill time and escape from the past.

steadiest

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

From this reading If she had still been by his side, he would have swung round and become one of the steadiest of men--she would have been his saving and guardian angel.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If she had still been by his side, he would have swung round and become one of the steadiest of men--she would have been his saving and guardian angel.

swung

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

From this reading If she had still been by his side, he would have swung round and become one of the steadiest of men--she would have been his saving and guardian angel.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He had been wild and reckless as a youth, and it had only been his love for Margaret that had checked him in his road to ruin.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!

thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So he came back to the old life in London, hating it with a weariness bitter as death, and yet not knowing of any other way in which to kill time and escape from the past.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!

town

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

From this reading Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!

way

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

From this reading So he came back to the old life in London, hating it with a weariness bitter as death, and yet not knowing of any other way in which to kill time and escape from the past.

weariness

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

From this reading So he came back to the old life in London, hating it with a weariness bitter as death, and yet not knowing of any other way in which to kill time and escape from the past.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading So he came back to the old life in London, hating it with a weariness bitter as death, and yet not knowing of any other way in which to kill time and escape from the past.

wild

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

From this reading He had been wild and reckless as a youth, and it had only been his love for Margaret that had checked him in his road to ruin.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Blair came back to town, thin, and pale, and haggard, with only one desire in his heart: to forget the past and kill the present!

worth

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

From this reading But he had lost her, and with her all that had made his life worth living.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading If she had still been by his side, he would have swung round and become one of the steadiest of men--she would have been his saving and guardian angel.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading So he came back to the old life in London, hating it with a weariness bitter as death, and yet not knowing of any other way in which to kill time and escape from the past.

youth

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

From this reading He had been wild and reckless as a youth, and it had only been his love for Margaret that had checked him in his road to ruin.