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The Landlord at Lion's Head — Volume 2
The Landlord at Lion's Head — Volume 2

Chapter XI

Cover illustration for The Landlord at Lion's Head — Volume 2
Context Illustration Reading 1/39 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.
"Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.
"No," he said.
"I'm a reformed optimist."
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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 Landlord at Lion's Head — Volume 2

Chapter XI

Reading 1/39 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
Line 2
Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.
Line 3
"Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.
Line 4
"No," he said.
Line 5
"I'm a reformed optimist."

Learner Dictionary

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

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.”

All words in this reading · 62

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 "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

air

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

From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.

amusing

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

From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

any

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

From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.

apollinaris

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

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.

back

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

From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.

Bessie

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

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

came

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

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

chair

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

From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.

deep

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

From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.

drank

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

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

Durgin

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

From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.

effect

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

From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

glass

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

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

goblet

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

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

I'm

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

From this reading "I'm a reformed optimist."

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.

innocence

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

From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

Jeff

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

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

knew

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

From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.

lay

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

From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.

meant

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

From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.

mischief

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

From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.

Mr

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

From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

optimist

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

From this reading "I'm a reformed optimist."

pessimist

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

From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.

please

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

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

rang

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

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

ready

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

From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.

reformed

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

From this reading "I'm a reformed optimist."

said

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

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

say

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

From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.

sent

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

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.

some

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

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.

taken

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

From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.

tentatively

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

From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.

Then

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

From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.

water

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

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.