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The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson
The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson

Chapter XI

Cover illustration for The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson
Context Illustration Reading 1/45 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Pudd'nhead's Startling Discovery.
There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.
No. 1 admits you to his respect; No. 2 admits you to his admiration; No. 3 carries you clear into his heart.--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.
As to the Adjective: when in doubt, strike it out.--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.
The twins arrived presently, and talk began.
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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 Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson

Chapter XI

Reading 1/45 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Pudd'nhead's Startling Discovery.
Line 2
There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.
Line 3
No. 1 admits you to his respect; No. 2 admits you to his admiration; No. 3 carries you clear into his heart.--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.
Line 4
As to the Adjective: when in doubt, strike it out.--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.
Line 5
The twins arrived presently, and talk began.

Learner Dictionary

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

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The twins arrived presently, and talk began.”

Books noun US /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading “There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.”

Manuscript noun US /ˈmæn.jə.skrɪpt/

A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.

From this reading “There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.”

All words in this reading · 61

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

1

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

2

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

3

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

Adjective

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

From this reading As to the Adjective: when in doubt, strike it out.--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.

admiration

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

From this reading No. 1 admits you to his respect; No. 2 admits you to his admiration; No. 3 carries you clear into his heart.--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.

admits

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

From this reading No. 1 admits you to his respect; No. 2 admits you to his admiration; No. 3 carries you clear into his heart.--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.

all

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

arrived

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

From this reading The twins arrived presently, and talk began.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As to the Adjective: when in doubt, strike it out.--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.

ask

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

author

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The twins arrived presently, and talk began.

book

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

booksnounUS /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

Calendar

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

From this reading No. 1 admits you to his respect; No. 2 admits you to his admiration; No. 3 carries you clear into his heart.--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.

carries

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

From this reading No. 1 admits you to his respect; No. 2 admits you to his admiration; No. 3 carries you clear into his heart.--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.

clear

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

From this reading No. 1 admits you to his respect; No. 2 admits you to his admiration; No. 3 carries you clear into his heart.--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.

compliment

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

Discovery

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

From this reading Pudd'nhead's Startling Discovery.

doubt

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

From this reading As to the Adjective: when in doubt, strike it out.--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.

form

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

forthcoming

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

heart

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

From this reading No. 1 admits you to his respect; No. 2 admits you to his admiration; No. 3 carries you clear into his heart.--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading As to the Adjective: when in doubt, strike it out.--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.

infallible

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading No. 1 admits you to his respect; No. 2 admits you to his admiration; No. 3 carries you clear into his heart.--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading As to the Adjective: when in doubt, strike it out.--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

manuscriptnounUS /ˈmæn.jə.skrɪpt/

A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No. 1 admits you to his respect; No. 2 admits you to his admiration; No. 3 carries you clear into his heart.--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

out

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

From this reading As to the Adjective: when in doubt, strike it out.--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.

pleasing

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

presently

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

From this reading The twins arrived presently, and talk began.

Pudd'nhead

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

From this reading No. 1 admits you to his respect; No. 2 admits you to his admiration; No. 3 carries you clear into his heart.--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.

Pudd'nhead's

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

From this reading Pudd'nhead's Startling Discovery.

read

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

respect

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

From this reading No. 1 admits you to his respect; No. 2 admits you to his admiration; No. 3 carries you clear into his heart.--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.

rising

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

scale

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

Startling

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

From this reading Pudd'nhead's Startling Discovery.

strike

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

From this reading As to the Adjective: when in doubt, strike it out.--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.

talk

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

From this reading The twins arrived presently, and talk began.

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

There

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

three

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

twins

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

From this reading The twins arrived presently, and talk began.

ways

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

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading As to the Adjective: when in doubt, strike it out.--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.

Wilson's

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

From this reading No. 1 admits you to his respect; No. 2 admits you to his admiration; No. 3 carries you clear into his heart.--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.