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Goat-Feathers
Goat-Feathers

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Goat-Feathers
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
G_oat_-F_eathers_ No human being ever tells the whole truth about himself.
We seem to be born liars in that particular, all of us, and I am no different.
I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!
A man can tell only so much truth; then he begins to wabble.
The truth is, I ought to be making as much money as Robert W. Chambers, and winning prizes of honor like Ernest Poole, and I'm not.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Goat-Feathers

Chapter I

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
G_oat_-F_eathers_ No human being ever tells the whole truth about himself.
Line 2
We seem to be born liars in that particular, all of us, and I am no different.
Line 3
I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!
Line 4
A man can tell only so much truth; then he begins to wabble.
Line 5
The truth is, I ought to be making as much money as Robert W. Chambers, and winning prizes of honor like Ernest Poole, and I'm not.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “G_oat_-F_eathers_ No human being ever tells the whole truth about himself.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “G_oat_-F_eathers_ No human being ever tells the whole truth about himself.”

Born noun US /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We seem to be born liars in that particular, all of us, and I am no different.”

Different noun US /ˈdifferent/

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

From this reading “We seem to be born liars in that particular, all of us, and I am no different.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “G_oat_-F_eathers_ No human being ever tells the whole truth about himself.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “G_oat_-F_eathers_ No human being ever tells the whole truth about himself.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!”

Ought modal verb US /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading “The truth is, I ought to be making as much money as Robert W. Chambers, and winning prizes of honor like Ernest Poole, and I'm not.”

Shall modal verb US /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading “I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!”

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading G_oat_-F_eathers_ No human being ever tells the whole truth about himself.

agonizing

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

From this reading I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!

all

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

From this reading We seem to be born liars in that particular, all of us, and I am no different.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading We seem to be born liars in that particular, all of us, and I am no different.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading We seem to be born liars in that particular, all of us, and I am no different.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The truth is, I ought to be making as much money as Robert W. Chambers, and winning prizes of honor like Ernest Poole, and I'm not.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!

awful

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

From this reading I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading We seem to be born liars in that particular, all of us, and I am no different.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!

begins

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

From this reading A man can tell only so much truth; then he begins to wabble.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading G_oat_-F_eathers_ No human being ever tells the whole truth about himself.

bitter

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

From this reading I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!

bornnounUS /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We seem to be born liars in that particular, all of us, and I am no different.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading A man can tell only so much truth; then he begins to wabble.

Chambers

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

From this reading The truth is, I ought to be making as much money as Robert W. Chambers, and winning prizes of honor like Ernest Poole, and I'm not.

cracking

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

From this reading I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!

differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/

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

From this reading We seem to be born liars in that particular, all of us, and I am no different.

eathers

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

From this reading G_oat_-F_eathers_ No human being ever tells the whole truth about himself.

Ernest

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

From this reading The truth is, I ought to be making as much money as Robert W. Chambers, and winning prizes of honor like Ernest Poole, and I'm not.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading G_oat_-F_eathers_ No human being ever tells the whole truth about himself.

F

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

From this reading G_oat_-F_eathers_ No human being ever tells the whole truth about himself.

G

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

From this reading G_oat_-F_eathers_ No human being ever tells the whole truth about himself.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading A man can tell only so much truth; then he begins to wabble.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading G_oat_-F_eathers_ No human being ever tells the whole truth about himself.

honor

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

From this reading The truth is, I ought to be making as much money as Robert W. Chambers, and winning prizes of honor like Ernest Poole, and I'm not.

human

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

From this reading G_oat_-F_eathers_ No human being ever tells the whole truth about himself.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading We seem to be born liars in that particular, all of us, and I am no different.

I'm

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

From this reading I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading We seem to be born liars in that particular, all of us, and I am no different.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The truth is, I ought to be making as much money as Robert W. Chambers, and winning prizes of honor like Ernest Poole, and I'm not.

liars

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

From this reading We seem to be born liars in that particular, all of us, and I am no different.

like

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

From this reading The truth is, I ought to be making as much money as Robert W. Chambers, and winning prizes of honor like Ernest Poole, and I'm not.

lying

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

From this reading I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!

making

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

From this reading The truth is, I ought to be making as much money as Robert W. Chambers, and winning prizes of honor like Ernest Poole, and I'm not.

man

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

From this reading A man can tell only so much truth; then he begins to wabble.

mile

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

From this reading I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!

minute

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

From this reading I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!

money

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

From this reading The truth is, I ought to be making as much money as Robert W. Chambers, and winning prizes of honor like Ernest Poole, and I'm not.

much

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

From this reading A man can tell only so much truth; then he begins to wabble.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading G_oat_-F_eathers_ No human being ever tells the whole truth about himself.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The truth is, I ought to be making as much money as Robert W. Chambers, and winning prizes of honor like Ernest Poole, and I'm not.

now

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

From this reading I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!

oat

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

From this reading G_oat_-F_eathers_ No human being ever tells the whole truth about himself.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading We seem to be born liars in that particular, all of us, and I am no different.

only

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

From this reading A man can tell only so much truth; then he begins to wabble.

oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading The truth is, I ought to be making as much money as Robert W. Chambers, and winning prizes of honor like Ernest Poole, and I'm not.

out

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

From this reading I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!

particular

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

From this reading We seem to be born liars in that particular, all of us, and I am no different.

Poole

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

From this reading The truth is, I ought to be making as much money as Robert W. Chambers, and winning prizes of honor like Ernest Poole, and I'm not.

prizes

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

From this reading The truth is, I ought to be making as much money as Robert W. Chambers, and winning prizes of honor like Ernest Poole, and I'm not.

probably

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

From this reading I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!

rate

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

From this reading I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!

Robert

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

From this reading The truth is, I ought to be making as much money as Robert W. Chambers, and winning prizes of honor like Ernest Poole, and I'm not.

seem

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

From this reading We seem to be born liars in that particular, all of us, and I am no different.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading A man can tell only so much truth; then he begins to wabble.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!

starting

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

From this reading I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!

tells

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

From this reading G_oat_-F_eathers_ No human being ever tells the whole truth about himself.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading We seem to be born liars in that particular, all of us, and I am no different.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading G_oat_-F_eathers_ No human being ever tells the whole truth about himself.

then

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

From this reading A man can tell only so much truth; then he begins to wabble.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading We seem to be born liars in that particular, all of us, and I am no different.

truth

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

From this reading G_oat_-F_eathers_ No human being ever tells the whole truth about himself.

up

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

From this reading I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful!

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading We seem to be born liars in that particular, all of us, and I am no different.

W

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

From this reading The truth is, I ought to be making as much money as Robert W. Chambers, and winning prizes of honor like Ernest Poole, and I'm not.

wabble

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

From this reading A man can tell only so much truth; then he begins to wabble.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We seem to be born liars in that particular, all of us, and I am no different.

whole

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

From this reading G_oat_-F_eathers_ No human being ever tells the whole truth about himself.

winning

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

From this reading The truth is, I ought to be making as much money as Robert W. Chambers, and winning prizes of honor like Ernest Poole, and I'm not.