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The professor's experiment — Vol. 2
The professor's experiment — Vol. 2

Chapter III

Cover illustration for The professor's experiment — Vol. 2
Context Illustration Reading 1/24 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
‘Tell me how to bear so blandly the assuming ways of wild young people!
‘Truly they would be unbearable if I had not also been unbearable myself as well.’—GOETHE.
When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.
‘Susan,’ says Dominick solemnly, pausing racket in hand, ‘it must be you.
I always told you your face was your fortune, and a very small one at that.
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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 professor's experiment — Vol. 2

Chapter III

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
‘Tell me how to bear so blandly the assuming ways of wild young people!
Line 2
‘Truly they would be unbearable if I had not also been unbearable myself as well.’—GOETHE.
Line 3
When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.
Line 4
‘Susan,’ says Dominick solemnly, pausing racket in hand, ‘it must be you.
Line 5
I always told you your face was your fortune, and a very small one at that.

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 “‘Truly they would be unbearable if I had not also been unbearable myself as well.’—GOETHE.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.”

Fortune noun US /ˈfortune/

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

From this reading “I always told you your face was your fortune, and a very small one at that.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “‘Susan,’ says Dominick solemnly, pausing racket in hand, ‘it must be you.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “‘Susan,’ says Dominick solemnly, pausing racket in hand, ‘it must be you.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “‘Truly they would be unbearable if I had not also been unbearable myself as well.’—GOETHE.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “I always told you your face was your fortune, and a very small one at that.”

Solemnly adverb US /ˈsɑləmli/

seriously and formally

From this reading “‘Susan,’ says Dominick solemnly, pausing racket in hand, ‘it must be you.”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “‘Tell me how to bear so blandly the assuming ways of wild young people!”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “‘Truly they would be unbearable if I had not also been unbearable myself as well.’—GOETHE.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “‘Truly they would be unbearable if I had not also been unbearable myself as well.’—GOETHE.”

All words in this reading · 88

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 When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

afar

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

also

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

From this reading ‘Truly they would be unbearable if I had not also been unbearable myself as well.’—GOETHE.

altogether

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

always

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

From this reading I always told you your face was your fortune, and a very small one at that.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I always told you your face was your fortune, and a very small one at that.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading ‘Truly they would be unbearable if I had not also been unbearable myself as well.’—GOETHE.

assuming

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

From this reading ‘Tell me how to bear so blandly the assuming ways of wild young people!

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I always told you your face was your fortune, and a very small one at that.

Barrys

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading ‘Truly they would be unbearable if I had not also been unbearable myself as well.’—GOETHE.

bear

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

From this reading ‘Tell me how to bear so blandly the assuming ways of wild young people!

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading ‘Truly they would be unbearable if I had not also been unbearable myself as well.’—GOETHE.

believed

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

blandly

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

From this reading ‘Tell me how to bear so blandly the assuming ways of wild young people!

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

coming

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

Crosby

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

day

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

Dominick

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

From this reading ‘Susan,’ says Dominick solemnly, pausing racket in hand, ‘it must be you.

down

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

face

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

From this reading I always told you your face was your fortune, and a very small one at that.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

fortunenounUS /ˈfortune/

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

From this reading I always told you your face was your fortune, and a very small one at that.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

game

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

GOETHE

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

From this reading ‘Truly they would be unbearable if I had not also been unbearable myself as well.’—GOETHE.

greatest

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading ‘Truly they would be unbearable if I had not also been unbearable myself as well.’—GOETHE.

hand

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

From this reading ‘Susan,’ says Dominick solemnly, pausing racket in hand, ‘it must be you.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

hedge

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

holes

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

how

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

From this reading ‘Tell me how to bear so blandly the assuming ways of wild young people!

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading ‘Truly they would be unbearable if I had not also been unbearable myself as well.’—GOETHE.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading ‘Truly they would be unbearable if I had not also been unbearable myself as well.’—GOETHE.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading ‘Susan,’ says Dominick solemnly, pausing racket in hand, ‘it must be you.

many

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading ‘Tell me how to bear so blandly the assuming ways of wild young people!

Mr

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading ‘Susan,’ says Dominick solemnly, pausing racket in hand, ‘it must be you.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading ‘Truly they would be unbearable if I had not also been unbearable myself as well.’—GOETHE.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading ‘Truly they would be unbearable if I had not also been unbearable myself as well.’—GOETHE.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading ‘Tell me how to bear so blandly the assuming ways of wild young people!

off

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading I always told you your face was your fortune, and a very small one at that.

pausing

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

From this reading ‘Susan,’ says Dominick solemnly, pausing racket in hand, ‘it must be you.

people

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

From this reading ‘Tell me how to bear so blandly the assuming ways of wild young people!

racket

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

From this reading ‘Susan,’ says Dominick solemnly, pausing racket in hand, ‘it must be you.

says

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

From this reading ‘Susan,’ says Dominick solemnly, pausing racket in hand, ‘it must be you.

see

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

sentiment

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

small

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

From this reading I always told you your face was your fortune, and a very small one at that.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading ‘Tell me how to bear so blandly the assuming ways of wild young people!

solemnlyadverbUS /ˈsɑləmli/

seriously and formally

From this reading ‘Susan,’ says Dominick solemnly, pausing racket in hand, ‘it must be you.

street

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

surprise

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

Susan

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

From this reading ‘Susan,’ says Dominick solemnly, pausing racket in hand, ‘it must be you.

TellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ‘Tell me how to bear so blandly the assuming ways of wild young people!

tennis

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading ‘Tell me how to bear so blandly the assuming ways of wild young people!

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading ‘Truly they would be unbearable if I had not also been unbearable myself as well.’—GOETHE.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading ‘Tell me how to bear so blandly the assuming ways of wild young people!

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

Truly

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

From this reading ‘Truly they would be unbearable if I had not also been unbearable myself as well.’—GOETHE.

unbearable

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

From this reading ‘Truly they would be unbearable if I had not also been unbearable myself as well.’—GOETHE.

very

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

From this reading I always told you your face was your fortune, and a very small one at that.

village

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

walking

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

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I always told you your face was your fortune, and a very small one at that.

ways

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

From this reading ‘Tell me how to bear so blandly the assuming ways of wild young people!

well

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

From this reading ‘Truly they would be unbearable if I had not also been unbearable myself as well.’—GOETHE.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When Mr. Crosby had told the Barrys that he would come down next day for a game of tennis, they had not altogether believed in his coming, so that when they see him from afar off, through the many holes in the hedge, walking towards them down the village street, surprise is their greatest sentiment.

wild

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

From this reading ‘Tell me how to bear so blandly the assuming ways of wild young people!

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading ‘Truly they would be unbearable if I had not also been unbearable myself as well.’—GOETHE.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading ‘Susan,’ says Dominick solemnly, pausing racket in hand, ‘it must be you.

young

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

From this reading ‘Tell me how to bear so blandly the assuming ways of wild young people!

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading I always told you your face was your fortune, and a very small one at that.