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Grif: A Story of Australian Life
Grif: A Story of Australian Life

Chapter IX

Cover illustration for Grif: A Story of Australian Life
Context Illustration Reading 1/49 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A BANQUET IS GIVEN TO THE MORAL MERCHANT.
The world is full of shams.
As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.
And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.
The unblushing fibs told in the speeches are dreadful to contemplate.
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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.

Grif: A Story of Australian Life

Chapter IX

Reading 1/49 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A BANQUET IS GIVEN TO THE MORAL MERCHANT.
Line 2
The world is full of shams.
Line 3
As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.
Line 4
And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.
Line 5
The unblushing fibs told in the speeches are dreadful to contemplate.

Learner Dictionary

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

Dreadful adjective US /ˈdrɛdfəl/

extremely frightening or unpleasant

From this reading “The unblushing fibs told in the speeches are dreadful to contemplate.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.”

MERCHANT noun US /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/

A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.

From this reading “A BANQUET IS GIVEN TO THE MORAL MERCHANT.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The unblushing fibs told in the speeches are dreadful to contemplate.”

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 A BANQUET IS GIVEN TO THE MORAL MERCHANT.

advances

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading The unblushing fibs told in the speeches are dreadful to contemplate.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.

BANQUET

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

From this reading A BANQUET IS GIVEN TO THE MORAL MERCHANT.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

century

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

chief

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

From this reading And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.

civilization

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

contemplate

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

From this reading The unblushing fibs told in the speeches are dreadful to contemplate.

crust

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

dinners

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

From this reading And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.

dreadfuladjectiveUS /ˈdrɛdfəl/

extremely frightening or unpleasant

From this reading The unblushing fibs told in the speeches are dreadful to contemplate.

entertainments

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

From this reading And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.

fast

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

fibs

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

From this reading The unblushing fibs told in the speeches are dreadful to contemplate.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.

fruit

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

full

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

From this reading The world is full of shams.

GIVEN

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

From this reading A BANQUET IS GIVEN TO THE MORAL MERCHANT.

Guest

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

From this reading And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.

host

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

From this reading And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.

human

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

increase

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

indeed

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

inside

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading A BANQUET IS GIVEN TO THE MORAL MERCHANT.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.

lieutenant

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

From this reading And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.

likened

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.

MERCHANTnounUS /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/

A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.

From this reading A BANQUET IS GIVEN TO THE MORAL MERCHANT.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

MORAL

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

From this reading A BANQUET IS GIVEN TO THE MORAL MERCHANT.

multiply

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

nature

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

nineteenth

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The world is full of shams.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.

other

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

From this reading And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.

OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.

overlaid

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

pie

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

precedence

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

From this reading And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.

proposed

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

From this reading And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.

public

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

From this reading And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.

ranked

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

From this reading And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.

room

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

sham

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

From this reading And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.

shamelessness

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

From this reading And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.

shams

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

From this reading The world is full of shams.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

speeches

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

From this reading The unblushing fibs told in the speeches are dreadful to contemplate.

takes

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

From this reading And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A BANQUET IS GIVEN TO THE MORAL MERCHANT.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

thick

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A BANQUET IS GIVEN TO THE MORAL MERCHANT.

toast

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

From this reading And as a chief lieutenant of shams--as a sham which takes precedence of a host of other shams, from its very shamelessness, may be ranked the toast of Our Guest, or Our Host, proposed at public dinners and entertainments.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The unblushing fibs told in the speeches are dreadful to contemplate.

unblushing

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

From this reading The unblushing fibs told in the speeches are dreadful to contemplate.

very

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading As civilization advances, shams increase and multiply; indeed, they multiply so fast that human nature in the nineteenth century might be likened to a pie, with very little room inside for the fruit, so thick is the crust of shams with which it is overlaid.

world

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

From this reading The world is full of shams.