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A Barren Title: A Novel
A Barren Title: A Novel

Chapter II

Cover illustration for A Barren Title: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
AT THE BROWN BEAR.
The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.
It was one of the few taverns dating from a bygone generation that had escaped the hands of the modern innovator.
It could boast no plate-glass windows lighted up with a score of gas-jets.
There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.
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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.

A Barren Title: A Novel

Chapter II

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
AT THE BROWN BEAR.
Line 2
The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.
Line 3
It was one of the few taverns dating from a bygone generation that had escaped the hands of the modern innovator.
Line 4
It could boast no plate-glass windows lighted up with a score of gas-jets.
Line 5
There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

Learner Dictionary

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

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “It could boast no plate-glass windows lighted up with a score of gas-jets.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “It was one of the few taverns dating from a bygone generation that had escaped the hands of the modern innovator.”

Neither determiner US /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading “There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “It was one of the few taverns dating from a bygone generation that had escaped the hands of the modern innovator.”

Score noun US /score/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It could boast no plate-glass windows lighted up with a score of gas-jets.”

All words in this reading · 72

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 The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.

age

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

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

any

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

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

artificial

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

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

ATprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading AT THE BROWN BEAR.

bar

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

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

BEAR

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

From this reading AT THE BROWN BEAR.

black

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

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

Bloomsbury

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

From this reading The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.

boast

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

From this reading It could boast no plate-glass windows lighted up with a score of gas-jets.

BROWN

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

From this reading AT THE BROWN BEAR.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.

bygone

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

From this reading It was one of the few taverns dating from a bygone generation that had escaped the hands of the modern innovator.

colored

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

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading It could boast no plate-glass windows lighted up with a score of gas-jets.

dating

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

From this reading It was one of the few taverns dating from a bygone generation that had escaped the hands of the modern innovator.

display

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

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

distance

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

From this reading The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.

escaped

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

From this reading It was one of the few taverns dating from a bygone generation that had escaped the hands of the modern innovator.

evening

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

From this reading The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.

few

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

From this reading It was one of the few taverns dating from a bygone generation that had escaped the hands of the modern innovator.

Fildew

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

From this reading The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.

gas-jets

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

From this reading It could boast no plate-glass windows lighted up with a score of gas-jets.

generation

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

From this reading It was one of the few taverns dating from a bygone generation that had escaped the hands of the modern innovator.

gilding

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

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

glass

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

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It was one of the few taverns dating from a bygone generation that had escaped the hands of the modern innovator.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading It was one of the few taverns dating from a bygone generation that had escaped the hands of the modern innovator.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.

innovator

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

From this reading It was one of the few taverns dating from a bygone generation that had escaped the hands of the modern innovator.

inside

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

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was one of the few taverns dating from a bygone generation that had escaped the hands of the modern innovator.

lavish

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

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

lighted

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

From this reading It could boast no plate-glass windows lighted up with a score of gas-jets.

mahogany

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

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

mirrors

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

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

modern

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

From this reading It was one of the few taverns dating from a bygone generation that had escaped the hands of the modern innovator.

Mr

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

From this reading The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.

old

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

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It was one of the few taverns dating from a bygone generation that had escaped the hands of the modern innovator.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

patronized

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

From this reading The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.

plate-glass

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

From this reading It could boast no plate-glass windows lighted up with a score of gas-jets.

plenty

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

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

quiet

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

From this reading The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.

scorenounUS /score/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It could boast no plate-glass windows lighted up with a score of gas-jets.

seen

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

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

shrubs

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

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

situate

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

From this reading The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.

Square

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

From this reading The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.

street

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

From this reading The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.

tavern

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

From this reading The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.

taverns

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

From this reading It was one of the few taverns dating from a bygone generation that had escaped the hands of the modern innovator.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was one of the few taverns dating from a bygone generation that had escaped the hands of the modern innovator.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading AT THE BROWN BEAR.

There

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

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

up

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

From this reading It could boast no plate-glass windows lighted up with a score of gas-jets.

usually

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

From this reading The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The Brown Bear, the tavern usually patronized by Mr. Fildew of an evening, was situate in a quiet street no great distance from Bloomsbury Square.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading There was plenty of old mahogany, black with age, to be seen inside the bar, but there were no mirrors and no gilding; neither was there any lavish display of colored glass or artificial shrubs.

windows

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

From this reading It could boast no plate-glass windows lighted up with a score of gas-jets.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It could boast no plate-glass windows lighted up with a score of gas-jets.