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The Adventures of Gerard
The Adventures of Gerard

Chapter IV

Cover illustration for The Adventures of Gerard
Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.
The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.
However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.
So far I admit that I was wrong, but now I come to the sequel.
Supper over, the colonel and some other officers left the room, for it was in a farm-house that the mess was held.
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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.

The Adventures of Gerard

Chapter IV

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.
Line 2
The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.
Line 3
However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.
Line 4
So far I admit that I was wrong, but now I come to the sequel.
Line 5
Supper over, the colonel and some other officers left the room, for it was in a farm-house that the mess was held.

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 “There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So far I admit that I was wrong, but now I come to the sequel.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Supper over, the colonel and some other officers left the room, for it was in a farm-house that the mess was held.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “Supper over, the colonel and some other officers left the room, for it was in a farm-house that the mess was held.”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.”

All words in this reading · 85

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 The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

admit

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

From this reading So far I admit that I was wrong, but now I come to the sequel.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.

attitude

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

From this reading However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.

bad

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

From this reading However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.

black

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

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading So far I admit that I was wrong, but now I come to the sequel.

cast

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

From this reading There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.

colonel

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

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So far I admit that I was wrong, but now I come to the sequel.

curling

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

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.

eat

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

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

especially

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

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

evening

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

From this reading However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.

far

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

From this reading So far I admit that I was wrong, but now I come to the sequel.

farm-house

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

From this reading Supper over, the colonel and some other officers left the room, for it was in a farm-house that the mess was held.

felt

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

From this reading There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.

fire-eater

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

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.

furious

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

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

give

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

From this reading However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.

glances

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

From this reading There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

held

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

From this reading Supper over, the colonel and some other officers left the room, for it was in a farm-house that the mess was held.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

HoweveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.

huge

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

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

impression

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

From this reading However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.

indeed

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

From this reading However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.

indiscreet

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

From this reading There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Supper over, the colonel and some other officers left the room, for it was in a farm-house that the mess was held.

major

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

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.

mess

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

From this reading There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.

moustaches

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

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.

named

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

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.

now

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

From this reading So far I admit that I was wrong, but now I come to the sequel.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

officer

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

From this reading However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.

officers

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

From this reading Supper over, the colonel and some other officers left the room, for it was in a farm-house that the mess was held.

Olivier

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

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

opposite

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

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

other

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

From this reading Supper over, the colonel and some other officers left the room, for it was in a farm-house that the mess was held.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Supper over, the colonel and some other officers left the room, for it was in a farm-house that the mess was held.

quarrelled

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

From this reading However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.

regiment

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

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

remarks

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

From this reading There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.

resent

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

From this reading However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.

room

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

From this reading Supper over, the colonel and some other officers left the room, for it was in a farm-house that the mess was held.

sat

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

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

saw

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

From this reading There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.

sequel

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

From this reading So far I admit that I was wrong, but now I come to the sequel.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So far I admit that I was wrong, but now I come to the sequel.

some

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

From this reading Supper over, the colonel and some other officers left the room, for it was in a farm-house that the mess was held.

staring

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

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

superior

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

From this reading However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.

Supper

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

From this reading Supper over, the colonel and some other officers left the room, for it was in a farm-house that the mess was held.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.

There

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

From this reading There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading There was silence in the mess after my remarks, and I felt that I had been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading However, I did not resent his attitude, for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet, and that it would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled with my superior officer.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading The colonel especially was furious, and a great major named Olivier, who was the fire-eater of the regiment, sat opposite to me curling his huge black moustaches, and staring at me as if he would eat me.

wrong

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

From this reading So far I admit that I was wrong, but now I come to the sequel.