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Half A Chance
Half A Chance

Chapter XIV

Cover illustration for Half A Chance
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.
Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.
"Any mail or message for me, landlord?" he inquired, giving his name, when that worthy reappeared with the tankard.
"No, sir."
"Nor any callers?"
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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.

Half A Chance

Chapter XIV

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.
Line 2
Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.
Line 3
"Any mail or message for me, landlord?" he inquired, giving his name, when that worthy reappeared with the tankard.
Line 4
"No, sir."
Line 5
"Nor any callers?"

Learner Dictionary

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

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading “WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.”

Inquired noun US /ˈinquired/

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

From this reading “"Any mail or message for me, landlord?" he inquired, giving his name, when that worthy reappeared with the tankard.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.”

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Any mail or message for me, landlord?" he inquired, giving his name, when that worthy reappeared with the tankard.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.”

Second noun US /second/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.”

Worthy adjective US /ˈwɜːr.ði/

Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.

From this reading “"Any mail or message for me, landlord?" he inquired, giving his name, when that worthy reappeared with the tankard.”

All words in this reading · 73

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 WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

air

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

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

Any

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

From this reading "Any mail or message for me, landlord?" he inquired, giving his name, when that worthy reappeared with the tankard.

arrived

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

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

belie

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

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

best

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

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

callers

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

From this reading "Nor any callers?"

Calling

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

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

casually

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

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

certain

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

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

chair

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

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

day

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

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

descending

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

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

discreet-looking

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

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

eagerness

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

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

eyes

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

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

giving

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

From this reading "Any mail or message for me, landlord?" he inquired, giving his name, when that worthy reappeared with the tankard.

Golden

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

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

half-pint

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

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

inquirednounUS /ˈinquired/

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

From this reading "Any mail or message for me, landlord?" he inquired, giving his name, when that worthy reappeared with the tankard.

landlord

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

From this reading "Any mail or message for me, landlord?" he inquired, giving his name, when that worthy reappeared with the tankard.

Lion

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

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

London

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

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

mail

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

From this reading "Any mail or message for me, landlord?" he inquired, giving his name, when that worthy reappeared with the tankard.

man

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

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading "Any mail or message for me, landlord?" he inquired, giving his name, when that worthy reappeared with the tankard.

MEANS

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

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

message

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

From this reading "Any mail or message for me, landlord?" he inquired, giving his name, when that worthy reappeared with the tankard.

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Any mail or message for me, landlord?" he inquired, giving his name, when that worthy reappeared with the tankard.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading "No, sir."

nonchalance

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

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

NorconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading "Nor any callers?"

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading "Any mail or message for me, landlord?" he inquired, giving his name, when that worthy reappeared with the tankard.

private

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

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

reappeared

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

From this reading "Any mail or message for me, landlord?" he inquired, giving his name, when that worthy reappeared with the tankard.

room

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

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

second

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

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

settled

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

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

shown

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

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

sir

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

From this reading "No, sir."

sitting-room

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

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

story

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

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

Strathorn

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

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

surveying

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

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

tankard

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

From this reading "Any mail or message for me, landlord?" he inquired, giving his name, when that worthy reappeared with the tankard.

tap

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

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

there

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

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

village

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

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

WAYS

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

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading "Any mail or message for me, landlord?" he inquired, giving his name, when that worthy reappeared with the tankard.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading WAYS AND MEANS The afternoon of that same day there arrived at the village of Strathorn from London a discreet-looking little man who, descending at the Golden Lion, was shown to a private sitting-room on the second story.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Calling for a half-pint from the best tap and casually surveying the room, he settled himself in a chair with an air of nonchalance, which a certain eagerness in his eyes seemed to belie.

worthyadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːr.ði/

Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.

From this reading "Any mail or message for me, landlord?" he inquired, giving his name, when that worthy reappeared with the tankard.