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Zanoni
Zanoni

Chapter IX · VI

Cover illustration for Zanoni
Context Illustration Reading 1/50 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.
But, then, if he’s a wizard, are wizards so devoutly given as this man seems to be?
In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.”
Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against, there is none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to believe.
And of all the signs of a corrupt heart and a feeble head, the tendency of incredulity is the surest.
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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.

Zanoni

Chapter IX · VI

Reading 1/50 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.
Line 2
But, then, if he’s a wizard, are wizards so devoutly given as this man seems to be?
Line 3
In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.”
Line 4
Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against, there is none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to believe.
Line 5
And of all the signs of a corrupt heart and a feeble head, the tendency of incredulity is the surest.

Learner Dictionary

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

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against, there is none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to believe.”

Believe noun US /ˈbelieve/

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

From this reading “Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against, there is none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to believe.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.””

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading “‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against, there is none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to believe.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.””

Neither determiner US /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading “In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.””

None pronoun US /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading “Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against, there is none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to believe.”

Second noun US /second/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.””

Short adjective US /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading “In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.””

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 ‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.

accomplishments

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

From this reading ‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.

affixed

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

From this reading In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.”

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against, there is none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to believe.

all

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

From this reading Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against, there is none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to believe.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading ‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading ‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.

apt

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

From this reading Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against, there is none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to believe.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading But, then, if he’s a wizard, are wizards so devoutly given as this man seems to be?

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading But, then, if he’s a wizard, are wizards so devoutly given as this man seems to be?

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading ‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.

believenounUS /ˈbelieve/

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

From this reading Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against, there is none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to believe.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But, then, if he’s a wizard, are wizards so devoutly given as this man seems to be?

certain

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

From this reading ‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.

corrupt

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

From this reading And of all the signs of a corrupt heart and a feeble head, the tendency of incredulity is the surest.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.”

Count

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

From this reading In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.”

de

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

From this reading In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.”

devoutly

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

From this reading But, then, if he’s a wizard, are wizards so devoutly given as this man seems to be?

edition

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

From this reading In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.”

estate

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

From this reading ‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.

feeble

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

From this reading And of all the signs of a corrupt heart and a feeble head, the tendency of incredulity is the surest.

fifty

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

From this reading ‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.

Gabalis

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

From this reading In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.”

given

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

From this reading But, then, if he’s a wizard, are wizards so devoutly given as this man seems to be?

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading ‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.

he's

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

From this reading But, then, if he’s a wizard, are wizards so devoutly given as this man seems to be?

head

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

From this reading In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.”

heart

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

From this reading And of all the signs of a corrupt heart and a feeble head, the tendency of incredulity is the surest.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.”

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading But, then, if he’s a wizard, are wizards so devoutly given as this man seems to be?

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.”

incredulity

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

From this reading And of all the signs of a corrupt heart and a feeble head, the tendency of incredulity is the surest.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against, there is none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to believe.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against, there is none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to believe.

livres

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

From this reading ‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.

Lock

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

From this reading In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.”

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.”

man

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

From this reading ‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.

men

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

From this reading Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against, there is none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to believe.

more

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

From this reading Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against, there is none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to believe.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.”

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against, there is none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to believe.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.”

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading ‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.

on't

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

From this reading In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.”

person

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

From this reading ‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.

rail

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

From this reading Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against, there is none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to believe.

Rape

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

From this reading In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.”

ridicule

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

From this reading Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against, there is none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to believe.

second

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

From this reading In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.”

seems

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

From this reading ‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.”

signs

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

From this reading And of all the signs of a corrupt heart and a feeble head, the tendency of incredulity is the surest.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But, then, if he’s a wizard, are wizards so devoutly given as this man seems to be?

surest

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

From this reading And of all the signs of a corrupt heart and a feeble head, the tendency of incredulity is the surest.

tail

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

From this reading In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.”

tendency

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

From this reading Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against, there is none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to believe.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against, there is none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to believe.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading ‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.”

then

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

From this reading But, then, if he’s a wizard, are wizards so devoutly given as this man seems to be?

there

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

From this reading Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against, there is none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to believe.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against, there is none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to believe.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading ‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.

thousand

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

From this reading ‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.

Tis

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

From this reading ‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading ‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.

Translation

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

From this reading In short, I could make neither head nor tail on’t --The Count de Gabalis, Translation affixed to the second edition of the “Rape of the Lock.”

very

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

From this reading ‘Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand livres, and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments.

weaknesses

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

From this reading Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against, there is none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to believe.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against, there is none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to believe.

wizard

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

From this reading But, then, if he’s a wizard, are wizards so devoutly given as this man seems to be?

wizards

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

From this reading But, then, if he’s a wizard, are wizards so devoutly given as this man seems to be?