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Bolanyo
Bolanyo

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Bolanyo
Context Illustration Reading 1/19 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
See http://www.
Decorations by Mr. Charles Francis Browne.
On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.
The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.
The bad beginning in the East had not truthfully foretold a good ending in the South.
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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.

Bolanyo

Chapter I

Reading 1/19 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
See http://www.
Line 2
Decorations by Mr. Charles Francis Browne.
Line 3
On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.
Line 4
The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.
Line 5
The bad beginning in the East had not truthfully foretold a good ending in the South.

Learner Dictionary

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

Art auxiliary verb US /ɑːrt/

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading “The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.”

Beginning noun US /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading “The bad beginning in the East had not truthfully foretold a good ending in the South.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The bad beginning in the East had not truthfully foretold a good ending in the South.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.”

All words in this reading · 77

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

26th

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

April

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

bad

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

From this reading The bad beginning in the East had not truthfully foretold a good ending in the South.

baggage

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

bags

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading The bad beginning in the East had not truthfully foretold a good ending in the South.

board

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

bright

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

From this reading The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.

Browne

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

From this reading Decorations by Mr. Charles Francis Browne.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Decorations by Mr. Charles Francis Browne.

Charles

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

From this reading Decorations by Mr. Charles Francis Browne.

clocks

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

closed

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

company

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

competent

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

From this reading The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.

critics

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

From this reading The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.

Decorations

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

From this reading Decorations by Mr. Charles Francis Browne.

Dramatic

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

From this reading The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.

East

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

From this reading The bad beginning in the East had not truthfully foretold a good ending in the South.

ending

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

From this reading The bad beginning in the East had not truthfully foretold a good ending in the South.

engagement

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

foretold

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

From this reading The bad beginning in the East had not truthfully foretold a good ending in the South.

Francis

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

From this reading Decorations by Mr. Charles Francis Browne.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The bad beginning in the East had not truthfully foretold a good ending in the South.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

headed

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

hour

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

http

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

From this reading See http://www.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

Louis

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

Mr

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

From this reading Decorations by Mr. Charles Francis Browne.

National

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

From this reading The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.

New

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

night

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The bad beginning in the East had not truthfully foretold a good ending in the South.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

Orleans

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.

piece

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

From this reading The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.

play

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

From this reading The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.

presentation

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

From this reading The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.

production

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

From this reading The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.

pronounced

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

From this reading The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.

prospects

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

From this reading The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.

rehearsal

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

From this reading The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.

See

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

From this reading See http://www.

slashed

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

From this reading The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.

South

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

From this reading The bad beginning in the East had not truthfully foretold a good ending in the South.

St

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

steamboat

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

strike

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

sympathetic

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

From this reading The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.

tender

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

From this reading The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

Theatre

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

true

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

From this reading The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.

truthfully

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

From this reading The bad beginning in the East had not truthfully foretold a good ending in the South.

tumbled

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

twelve

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

From this reading On the night of the 26th of April our company closed an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans; and before the clocks began to strike the hour of twelve, our bags and baggage had been tumbled on board a steamboat headed for St. Louis.

vitals

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

From this reading The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.

work

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

From this reading The prospects of the National Dramatic Company had been bright; competent critics had pronounced our new play a work of true and sympathetic art, before production, but had slashed at our tender vitals when the piece had passed from rehearsal to presentation.

www

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

From this reading See http://www.