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Mark Twain: A Biography. Complete
Mark Twain: A Biography. Complete

Chapter XVII

Cover illustration for Mark Twain: A Biography. Complete
Context Illustration Reading 1/130 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It was well received, though not always understood by the public.
The reviewer was so accustomed to looking for the joke in Mark Twain's work, that he found it hard to estimate this new product.
Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.
Of course these things pained the author of the book.
At one time, he had been inclined to publish it anonymously, to avert this sort of misunderstanding, and sometimes now he regretted not having done so.
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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.

Mark Twain: A Biography. Complete

Chapter XVII

Reading 1/130 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It was well received, though not always understood by the public.
Line 2
The reviewer was so accustomed to looking for the joke in Mark Twain's work, that he found it hard to estimate this new product.
Line 3
Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.
Line 4
Of course these things pained the author of the book.
Line 5
At one time, he had been inclined to publish it anonymously, to avert this sort of misunderstanding, and sometimes now he regretted not having done so.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “At one time, he had been inclined to publish it anonymously, to avert this sort of misunderstanding, and sometimes now he regretted not having done so.”

Beyond preposition US /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading “Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.”

Course noun US /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Of course these things pained the author of the book.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At one time, he had been inclined to publish it anonymously, to avert this sort of misunderstanding, and sometimes now he regretted not having done so.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The reviewer was so accustomed to looking for the joke in Mark Twain's work, that he found it hard to estimate this new product.”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “At one time, he had been inclined to publish it anonymously, to avert this sort of misunderstanding, and sometimes now he regretted not having done so.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.”

Sometimes noun US /sometimes/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At one time, he had been inclined to publish it anonymously, to avert this sort of misunderstanding, and sometimes now he regretted not having done so.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “Of course these things pained the author of the book.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “It was well received, though not always understood by the public.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At one time, he had been inclined to publish it anonymously, to avert this sort of misunderstanding, and sometimes now he regretted not having done so.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was well received, though not always understood by the public.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.”

All words in this reading · 75

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 Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

accustomed

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

From this reading The reviewer was so accustomed to looking for the joke in Mark Twain's work, that he found it hard to estimate this new product.

always

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

From this reading It was well received, though not always understood by the public.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading At one time, he had been inclined to publish it anonymously, to avert this sort of misunderstanding, and sometimes now he regretted not having done so.

anonymously

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

From this reading At one time, he had been inclined to publish it anonymously, to avert this sort of misunderstanding, and sometimes now he regretted not having done so.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At one time, he had been inclined to publish it anonymously, to avert this sort of misunderstanding, and sometimes now he regretted not having done so.

author

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

From this reading Of course these things pained the author of the book.

avert

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

From this reading At one time, he had been inclined to publish it anonymously, to avert this sort of misunderstanding, and sometimes now he regretted not having done so.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading At one time, he had been inclined to publish it anonymously, to avert this sort of misunderstanding, and sometimes now he regretted not having done so.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

big

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

From this reading Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

book

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

From this reading Of course these things pained the author of the book.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It was well received, though not always understood by the public.

chapter

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

From this reading Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

coursenounUS /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Of course these things pained the author of the book.

created

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

From this reading Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At one time, he had been inclined to publish it anonymously, to avert this sort of misunderstanding, and sometimes now he regretted not having done so.

English

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

From this reading Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

estimate

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

From this reading The reviewer was so accustomed to looking for the joke in Mark Twain's work, that he found it hard to estimate this new product.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

fancy

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

From this reading Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

far

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

From this reading Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The reviewer was so accustomed to looking for the joke in Mark Twain's work, that he found it hard to estimate this new product.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The reviewer was so accustomed to looking for the joke in Mark Twain's work, that he found it hard to estimate this new product.

foundation

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

From this reading Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

hard

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

From this reading The reviewer was so accustomed to looking for the joke in Mark Twain's work, that he found it hard to estimate this new product.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading At one time, he had been inclined to publish it anonymously, to avert this sort of misunderstanding, and sometimes now he regretted not having done so.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The reviewer was so accustomed to looking for the joke in Mark Twain's work, that he found it hard to estimate this new product.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

history

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

From this reading Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The reviewer was so accustomed to looking for the joke in Mark Twain's work, that he found it hard to estimate this new product.

inclined

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

From this reading At one time, he had been inclined to publish it anonymously, to avert this sort of misunderstanding, and sometimes now he regretted not having done so.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was well received, though not always understood by the public.

joke

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

From this reading The reviewer was so accustomed to looking for the joke in Mark Twain's work, that he found it hard to estimate this new product.

jokes

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

From this reading Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

looking

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

From this reading The reviewer was so accustomed to looking for the joke in Mark Twain's work, that he found it hard to estimate this new product.

Mark

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

From this reading The reviewer was so accustomed to looking for the joke in Mark Twain's work, that he found it hard to estimate this new product.

meaning

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

From this reading Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

misunderstanding

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

From this reading At one time, he had been inclined to publish it anonymously, to avert this sort of misunderstanding, and sometimes now he regretted not having done so.

new

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

From this reading The reviewer was so accustomed to looking for the joke in Mark Twain's work, that he found it hard to estimate this new product.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was well received, though not always understood by the public.

now

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

From this reading At one time, he had been inclined to publish it anonymously, to avert this sort of misunderstanding, and sometimes now he regretted not having done so.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

pained

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

From this reading Of course these things pained the author of the book.

probably

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

From this reading Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

product

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

From this reading The reviewer was so accustomed to looking for the joke in Mark Twain's work, that he found it hard to estimate this new product.

public

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

From this reading It was well received, though not always understood by the public.

publish

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

From this reading At one time, he had been inclined to publish it anonymously, to avert this sort of misunderstanding, and sometimes now he regretted not having done so.

received

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

From this reading It was well received, though not always understood by the public.

refer

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

From this reading Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

regretted

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

From this reading At one time, he had been inclined to publish it anonymously, to avert this sort of misunderstanding, and sometimes now he regretted not having done so.

reviewer

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

From this reading The reviewer was so accustomed to looking for the joke in Mark Twain's work, that he found it hard to estimate this new product.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The reviewer was so accustomed to looking for the joke in Mark Twain's work, that he found it hard to estimate this new product.

Some

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

From this reading Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

sometimes

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

From this reading At one time, he had been inclined to publish it anonymously, to avert this sort of misunderstanding, and sometimes now he regretted not having done so.

sort

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

From this reading At one time, he had been inclined to publish it anonymously, to avert this sort of misunderstanding, and sometimes now he regretted not having done so.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The reviewer was so accustomed to looking for the joke in Mark Twain's work, that he found it hard to estimate this new product.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It was well received, though not always understood by the public.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Of course these things pained the author of the book.

things

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

From this reading Of course these things pained the author of the book.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading The reviewer was so accustomed to looking for the joke in Mark Twain's work, that he found it hard to estimate this new product.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading It was well received, though not always understood by the public.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At one time, he had been inclined to publish it anonymously, to avert this sort of misunderstanding, and sometimes now he regretted not having done so.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The reviewer was so accustomed to looking for the joke in Mark Twain's work, that he found it hard to estimate this new product.

Twain's

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

From this reading The reviewer was so accustomed to looking for the joke in Mark Twain's work, that he found it hard to estimate this new product.

understood

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

From this reading It was well received, though not always understood by the public.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was well received, though not always understood by the public.

well

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

From this reading It was well received, though not always understood by the public.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Some even went so far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes, meaning probably that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation beyond his fancy.

work

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

From this reading The reviewer was so accustomed to looking for the joke in Mark Twain's work, that he found it hard to estimate this new product.