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The Governors
The Governors

Chapter XXV

Cover illustration for The Governors
Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.
Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.
His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.
The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.
Behind his chair stood his English butler, grave, solemn-faced, attentive.
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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 Governors

Chapter XXV

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.
Line 2
Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.
Line 3
His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.
Line 4
The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.
Line 5
Behind his chair stood his English butler, grave, solemn-faced, attentive.

Learner Dictionary

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

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.”

Although noun US /ˈalthough/

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

From this reading “Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.”

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “Behind his chair stood his English butler, grave, solemn-faced, attentive.”

Connoisseur noun US /ˌkɑːnəˈsɜːr/

a person who knows a great deal about the quality of something

From this reading “His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.”

Disposition noun US /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/

the way something is arranged or positioned

From this reading “A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Behind his chair stood his English butler, grave, solemn-faced, attentive.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.”

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 A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

absence

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

affairs

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

air

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

From this reading His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

AlthoughnounUS /ˈalthough/

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

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

American

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

approaching

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

attentive

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

From this reading Behind his chair stood his English butler, grave, solemn-faced, attentive.

BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Behind his chair stood his English butler, grave, solemn-faced, attentive.

best

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

From this reading His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.

butler

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

From this reading Behind his chair stood his English butler, grave, solemn-faced, attentive.

carefully

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

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

chair

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

From this reading Behind his chair stood his English butler, grave, solemn-faced, attentive.

choice

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

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

chosen

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

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

complex

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

complexion

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

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

connoisseurnounUS /ˌkɑːnəˈsɜːr/

a person who knows a great deal about the quality of something

From this reading His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.

dinner

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

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

dispositionnounUS /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/

the way something is arranged or positioned

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

Duge

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

elegances

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

English

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

From this reading Behind his chair stood his English butler, grave, solemn-faced, attentive.

flowers

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

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

fond

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

fruit

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

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

glass

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

From this reading His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.

grave

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

From this reading Behind his chair stood his English butler, grave, solemn-faced, attentive.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

heaped

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

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

hothouse

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

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

lights

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

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

man

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

meditatively

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

From this reading His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

mindful

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

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

NEW

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

notwithstanding

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.

Phineas

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

sat

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

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

selected

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

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

singularly

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

sipped

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

From this reading His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.

small

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

soft

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

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

solemn-faced

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

From this reading Behind his chair stood his English butler, grave, solemn-faced, attentive.

somewhat

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

sort

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

From this reading His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Behind his chair stood his English butler, grave, solemn-faced, attentive.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

table

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

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

VENTURE

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

vulgarity

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

wine

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

From this reading His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

woman

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

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.