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Devlin the Barber
Devlin the Barber

Chapter XI

Cover illustration for Devlin the Barber
Context Illustration Reading 1/16 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
DEVLIN THE BARBER TAKES FANNY'S FIRST FLOOR FRONT.
"Our first lodger, sir, was a clerk in the City, and he played the bassoon that excruciating that our lives become a torment.
The neighbours all complained, and threatened to bring me and Lemon and the young man and his bassoon before the magerstrates.
I told the clerk that he'd have to give up the second floor front or the bassoon, and that he might take his choice.
He took his choice, and went away owing me one pound fourteen, and I haven't seen the colour of his money from that day to this.
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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.

Devlin the Barber

Chapter XI

Reading 1/16 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
DEVLIN THE BARBER TAKES FANNY'S FIRST FLOOR FRONT.
Line 2
"Our first lodger, sir, was a clerk in the City, and he played the bassoon that excruciating that our lives become a torment.
Line 3
The neighbours all complained, and threatened to bring me and Lemon and the young man and his bassoon before the magerstrates.
Line 4
I told the clerk that he'd have to give up the second floor front or the bassoon, and that he might take his choice.
Line 5
He took his choice, and went away owing me one pound fourteen, and I haven't seen the colour of his money from that day to this.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “The neighbours all complained, and threatened to bring me and Lemon and the young man and his bassoon before the magerstrates.”

FIRST noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “DEVLIN THE BARBER TAKES FANNY'S FIRST FLOOR FRONT.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “I told the clerk that he'd have to give up the second floor front or the bassoon, and that he might take his choice.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “I told the clerk that he'd have to give up the second floor front or the bassoon, and that he might take his choice.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “He took his choice, and went away owing me one pound fourteen, and I haven't seen the colour of his money from that day to this.”

Owing noun US /owing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He took his choice, and went away owing me one pound fourteen, and I haven't seen the colour of his money from that day to this.”

Second noun US /second/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I told the clerk that he'd have to give up the second floor front or the bassoon, and that he might take his choice.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I told the clerk that he'd have to give up the second floor front or the bassoon, and that he might take his choice.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I told the clerk that he'd have to give up the second floor front or the bassoon, and that he might take his choice.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He took his choice, and went away owing me one pound fourteen, and I haven't seen the colour of his money from that day to this.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He took his choice, and went away owing me one pound fourteen, and I haven't seen the colour of his money from that day to this.”

All words in this reading · 64

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 "Our first lodger, sir, was a clerk in the City, and he played the bassoon that excruciating that our lives become a torment.

all

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

From this reading The neighbours all complained, and threatened to bring me and Lemon and the young man and his bassoon before the magerstrates.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "Our first lodger, sir, was a clerk in the City, and he played the bassoon that excruciating that our lives become a torment.

away

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

From this reading He took his choice, and went away owing me one pound fourteen, and I haven't seen the colour of his money from that day to this.

BARBER

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

From this reading DEVLIN THE BARBER TAKES FANNY'S FIRST FLOOR FRONT.

bassoon

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

From this reading "Our first lodger, sir, was a clerk in the City, and he played the bassoon that excruciating that our lives become a torment.

become

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

From this reading "Our first lodger, sir, was a clerk in the City, and he played the bassoon that excruciating that our lives become a torment.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The neighbours all complained, and threatened to bring me and Lemon and the young man and his bassoon before the magerstrates.

bring

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

From this reading The neighbours all complained, and threatened to bring me and Lemon and the young man and his bassoon before the magerstrates.

choice

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

From this reading I told the clerk that he'd have to give up the second floor front or the bassoon, and that he might take his choice.

City

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

From this reading "Our first lodger, sir, was a clerk in the City, and he played the bassoon that excruciating that our lives become a torment.

clerk

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

From this reading "Our first lodger, sir, was a clerk in the City, and he played the bassoon that excruciating that our lives become a torment.

colour

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

From this reading He took his choice, and went away owing me one pound fourteen, and I haven't seen the colour of his money from that day to this.

complained

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

From this reading The neighbours all complained, and threatened to bring me and Lemon and the young man and his bassoon before the magerstrates.

day

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

From this reading He took his choice, and went away owing me one pound fourteen, and I haven't seen the colour of his money from that day to this.

DEVLIN

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

From this reading DEVLIN THE BARBER TAKES FANNY'S FIRST FLOOR FRONT.

excruciating

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

From this reading "Our first lodger, sir, was a clerk in the City, and he played the bassoon that excruciating that our lives become a torment.

FANNY'S

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

From this reading DEVLIN THE BARBER TAKES FANNY'S FIRST FLOOR FRONT.

FIRSTnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading DEVLIN THE BARBER TAKES FANNY'S FIRST FLOOR FRONT.

FLOOR

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

From this reading DEVLIN THE BARBER TAKES FANNY'S FIRST FLOOR FRONT.

fourteen

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

From this reading He took his choice, and went away owing me one pound fourteen, and I haven't seen the colour of his money from that day to this.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He took his choice, and went away owing me one pound fourteen, and I haven't seen the colour of his money from that day to this.

FRONT

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

From this reading DEVLIN THE BARBER TAKES FANNY'S FIRST FLOOR FRONT.

give

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

From this reading I told the clerk that he'd have to give up the second floor front or the bassoon, and that he might take his choice.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I told the clerk that he'd have to give up the second floor front or the bassoon, and that he might take his choice.

haven't

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

From this reading He took his choice, and went away owing me one pound fourteen, and I haven't seen the colour of his money from that day to this.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "Our first lodger, sir, was a clerk in the City, and he played the bassoon that excruciating that our lives become a torment.

he'd

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

From this reading I told the clerk that he'd have to give up the second floor front or the bassoon, and that he might take his choice.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The neighbours all complained, and threatened to bring me and Lemon and the young man and his bassoon before the magerstrates.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I told the clerk that he'd have to give up the second floor front or the bassoon, and that he might take his choice.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "Our first lodger, sir, was a clerk in the City, and he played the bassoon that excruciating that our lives become a torment.

Lemon

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

From this reading The neighbours all complained, and threatened to bring me and Lemon and the young man and his bassoon before the magerstrates.

lives

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

From this reading "Our first lodger, sir, was a clerk in the City, and he played the bassoon that excruciating that our lives become a torment.

lodger

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

From this reading "Our first lodger, sir, was a clerk in the City, and he played the bassoon that excruciating that our lives become a torment.

magerstrates

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

From this reading The neighbours all complained, and threatened to bring me and Lemon and the young man and his bassoon before the magerstrates.

man

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

From this reading The neighbours all complained, and threatened to bring me and Lemon and the young man and his bassoon before the magerstrates.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading The neighbours all complained, and threatened to bring me and Lemon and the young man and his bassoon before the magerstrates.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading I told the clerk that he'd have to give up the second floor front or the bassoon, and that he might take his choice.

money

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

From this reading He took his choice, and went away owing me one pound fourteen, and I haven't seen the colour of his money from that day to this.

neighbours

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

From this reading The neighbours all complained, and threatened to bring me and Lemon and the young man and his bassoon before the magerstrates.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He took his choice, and went away owing me one pound fourteen, and I haven't seen the colour of his money from that day to this.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He took his choice, and went away owing me one pound fourteen, and I haven't seen the colour of his money from that day to this.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading I told the clerk that he'd have to give up the second floor front or the bassoon, and that he might take his choice.

OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading "Our first lodger, sir, was a clerk in the City, and he played the bassoon that excruciating that our lives become a torment.

owing

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

From this reading He took his choice, and went away owing me one pound fourteen, and I haven't seen the colour of his money from that day to this.

played

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

From this reading "Our first lodger, sir, was a clerk in the City, and he played the bassoon that excruciating that our lives become a torment.

pound

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

From this reading He took his choice, and went away owing me one pound fourteen, and I haven't seen the colour of his money from that day to this.

second

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

From this reading I told the clerk that he'd have to give up the second floor front or the bassoon, and that he might take his choice.

seen

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

From this reading He took his choice, and went away owing me one pound fourteen, and I haven't seen the colour of his money from that day to this.

sir

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

From this reading "Our first lodger, sir, was a clerk in the City, and he played the bassoon that excruciating that our lives become a torment.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I told the clerk that he'd have to give up the second floor front or the bassoon, and that he might take his choice.

TAKES

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

From this reading DEVLIN THE BARBER TAKES FANNY'S FIRST FLOOR FRONT.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Our first lodger, sir, was a clerk in the City, and he played the bassoon that excruciating that our lives become a torment.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading DEVLIN THE BARBER TAKES FANNY'S FIRST FLOOR FRONT.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading He took his choice, and went away owing me one pound fourteen, and I haven't seen the colour of his money from that day to this.

threatened

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

From this reading The neighbours all complained, and threatened to bring me and Lemon and the young man and his bassoon before the magerstrates.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The neighbours all complained, and threatened to bring me and Lemon and the young man and his bassoon before the magerstrates.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I told the clerk that he'd have to give up the second floor front or the bassoon, and that he might take his choice.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He took his choice, and went away owing me one pound fourteen, and I haven't seen the colour of his money from that day to this.

torment

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

From this reading "Our first lodger, sir, was a clerk in the City, and he played the bassoon that excruciating that our lives become a torment.

up

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

From this reading I told the clerk that he'd have to give up the second floor front or the bassoon, and that he might take his choice.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "Our first lodger, sir, was a clerk in the City, and he played the bassoon that excruciating that our lives become a torment.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He took his choice, and went away owing me one pound fourteen, and I haven't seen the colour of his money from that day to this.

young

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

From this reading The neighbours all complained, and threatened to bring me and Lemon and the young man and his bassoon before the magerstrates.