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Linnet: A Romance
Linnet: A Romance

Chapter XIV

Cover illustration for Linnet: A Romance
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
TAKEN BY SURPRISE Andreas Hausberger was a wise and prudent man.
He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.
And in exploiting this mine, like a sensible capitalist that he was, he determined to spare neither time nor pains nor money.
Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.
She must be trained and instructed for the operatic stage; and on the operatic stage, with that voice and that presence, she’d be worth her weight in gold if she was worth a penny.
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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.

Linnet: A Romance

Chapter XIV

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
TAKEN BY SURPRISE Andreas Hausberger was a wise and prudent man.
Line 2
He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.
Line 3
And in exploiting this mine, like a sensible capitalist that he was, he determined to spare neither time nor pains nor money.
Line 4
Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.
Line 5
She must be trained and instructed for the operatic stage; and on the operatic stage, with that voice and that presence, she’d be worth her weight in gold if she was worth a penny.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.”

Determined adjective US /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/

having firmly decided to do something

From this reading “And in exploiting this mine, like a sensible capitalist that he was, he determined to spare neither time nor pains nor money.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.”

Mine pronoun US /maɪn/

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “She must be trained and instructed for the operatic stage; and on the operatic stage, with that voice and that presence, she’d be worth her weight in gold if she was worth a penny.”

Neither determiner US /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading “And in exploiting this mine, like a sensible capitalist that he was, he determined to spare neither time nor pains nor money.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.”

All words in this reading · 91

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 TAKEN BY SURPRISE Andreas Hausberger was a wise and prudent man.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading TAKEN BY SURPRISE Andreas Hausberger was a wise and prudent man.

Andreas

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

From this reading TAKEN BY SURPRISE Andreas Hausberger was a wise and prudent man.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.

audiences

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

From this reading Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading She must be trained and instructed for the operatic stage; and on the operatic stage, with that voice and that presence, she’d be worth her weight in gold if she was worth a penny.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

BYprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading TAKEN BY SURPRISE Andreas Hausberger was a wise and prudent man.

capitalist

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

From this reading And in exploiting this mine, like a sensible capitalist that he was, he determined to spare neither time nor pains nor money.

confess

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

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

convinced

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

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/

having firmly decided to do something

From this reading And in exploiting this mine, like a sensible capitalist that he was, he determined to spare neither time nor pains nor money.

else

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

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

enthusiastic

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

From this reading Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.

exploiting

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

From this reading And in exploiting this mine, like a sensible capitalist that he was, he determined to spare neither time nor pains nor money.

felt

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

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

fit

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

From this reading Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.

foolish

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

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

forced

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

From this reading Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.

gold

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

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

grew

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

From this reading Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.

Hausberger

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

From this reading TAKEN BY SURPRISE Andreas Hausberger was a wise and prudent man.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

highest

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

From this reading Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.

hotels

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

From this reading Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.

how

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

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading And in exploiting this mine, like a sensible capitalist that he was, he determined to spare neither time nor pains nor money.

instructed

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

From this reading She must be trained and instructed for the operatic stage; and on the operatic stage, with that voice and that presence, she’d be worth her weight in gold if she was worth a penny.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.

knew

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

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

like

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

From this reading And in exploiting this mine, like a sensible capitalist that he was, he determined to spare neither time nor pains nor money.

Linnet

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

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

man

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

From this reading TAKEN BY SURPRISE Andreas Hausberger was a wise and prudent man.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.

minepronounUS /maɪn/

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

money

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

From this reading And in exploiting this mine, like a sensible capitalist that he was, he determined to spare neither time nor pains nor money.

more

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

From this reading Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading She must be trained and instructed for the operatic stage; and on the operatic stage, with that voice and that presence, she’d be worth her weight in gold if she was worth a penny.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading And in exploiting this mine, like a sensible capitalist that he was, he determined to spare neither time nor pains nor money.

Night

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

From this reading Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

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

From this reading And in exploiting this mine, like a sensible capitalist that he was, he determined to spare neither time nor pains nor money.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She must be trained and instructed for the operatic stage; and on the operatic stage, with that voice and that presence, she’d be worth her weight in gold if she was worth a penny.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

only

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

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

operatic

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

From this reading She must be trained and instructed for the operatic stage; and on the operatic stage, with that voice and that presence, she’d be worth her weight in gold if she was worth a penny.

pains

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

From this reading And in exploiting this mine, like a sensible capitalist that he was, he determined to spare neither time nor pains nor money.

penny

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

From this reading She must be trained and instructed for the operatic stage; and on the operatic stage, with that voice and that presence, she’d be worth her weight in gold if she was worth a penny.

perfect

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

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

presence

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

From this reading She must be trained and instructed for the operatic stage; and on the operatic stage, with that voice and that presence, she’d be worth her weight in gold if she was worth a penny.

properly

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

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

prudent

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

From this reading TAKEN BY SURPRISE Andreas Hausberger was a wise and prudent man.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.

said

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

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

sensible

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

From this reading And in exploiting this mine, like a sensible capitalist that he was, he determined to spare neither time nor pains nor money.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She must be trained and instructed for the operatic stage; and on the operatic stage, with that voice and that presence, she’d be worth her weight in gold if she was worth a penny.

she'd

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

From this reading She must be trained and instructed for the operatic stage; and on the operatic stage, with that voice and that presence, she’d be worth her weight in gold if she was worth a penny.

singer

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

From this reading Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.

spare

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

From this reading And in exploiting this mine, like a sensible capitalist that he was, he determined to spare neither time nor pains nor money.

stage

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

From this reading She must be trained and instructed for the operatic stage; and on the operatic stage, with that voice and that presence, she’d be worth her weight in gold if she was worth a penny.

SURPRISE

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

From this reading TAKEN BY SURPRISE Andreas Hausberger was a wise and prudent man.

TAKEN

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

From this reading TAKEN BY SURPRISE Andreas Hausberger was a wise and prudent man.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

trained

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

From this reading She must be trained and instructed for the operatic stage; and on the operatic stage, with that voice and that presence, she’d be worth her weight in gold if she was worth a penny.

truth

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

From this reading Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.

undertakings

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

From this reading Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.

voice

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

From this reading She must be trained and instructed for the operatic stage; and on the operatic stage, with that voice and that presence, she’d be worth her weight in gold if she was worth a penny.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading TAKEN BY SURPRISE Andreas Hausberger was a wise and prudent man.

weight

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

From this reading She must be trained and instructed for the operatic stage; and on the operatic stage, with that voice and that presence, she’d be worth her weight in gold if she was worth a penny.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Night after night, as the audiences at the hotels grew more and more enthusiastic, the truth forced itself upon his wise and prudent mind that what they said was right: Linnet was a singer fit for the highest undertakings.

wise

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

From this reading TAKEN BY SURPRISE Andreas Hausberger was a wise and prudent man.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading She must be trained and instructed for the operatic stage; and on the operatic stage, with that voice and that presence, she’d be worth her weight in gold if she was worth a penny.

work

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

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.

worth

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

From this reading She must be trained and instructed for the operatic stage; and on the operatic stage, with that voice and that presence, she’d be worth her weight in gold if she was worth a penny.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading He felt convinced by this time that Linnet, as he said to himself—though to no one else, for to confess it would have been foolish—was a perfect gold mine, if only a man knew how to work her properly.