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A Black Adonis
A Black Adonis

Chapter XV

Chapter 15 of A Black Adonis is here in full — 172 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for A Black Adonis
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"LET US HAVE A BETRAYAL."
Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.
Everybody in the Fern family liked Archie.
Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.
Millicent liked him because he was so "facile," as she expressed it; a man with whom one could talk without feeling it necessary to pick each step.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Black Adonis

Chapter XV

Chapter 15 of A Black Adonis is here in full — 172 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"LET US HAVE A BETRAYAL."
/let ʌs hæv ə bɪˈtreɪ.əl/
Line 2
Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.
Line 3
Everybody in the Fern family liked Archie.
Line 4
Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.
Line 5
Millicent liked him because he was so "facile," as she expressed it; a man with whom one could talk without feeling it necessary to pick each step.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

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

alternate adjective US /ˈɔːltərnət/

every second one of a series

From this reading “Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.”

betrayal noun US /bɪˈtreɪ.əl/

The action of betraying one's country, a group, or a person; breach of trust.

From this reading “"LET US HAVE A BETRAYAL."”

errands noun US /ˈerəndz/

plural of “errand” — a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission

From this reading “Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.”

facile adjective US /ˈfæsəl/

superficially impressive, but lacking depth and attention to the true complexities of a subject

From this reading “Millicent liked him because he was so "facile," as she expressed it; a man with whom one could talk without feeling it necessary to pick each step.”

Fern noun US /fɜːrn/

any of numerous flowerless and seedless vascular plants having true roots from a rhizome and fronds that uncurl upward; reproduce by spores

From this reading “Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.”

Gouger noun US /ˈɡaʊdʒər/

an attacker who gouges out the antagonist's eye

From this reading “Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.”

Hannibal noun US /ˈhænɪbəl/

general who commanded the Carthaginian army in the second Punic War; crossed the Alps and defeated the Romans but was recalled to defend Carthage and was defeated (247-182 BC)

From this reading “Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.”

Weil noun US /waɪl/

French philosopher (1909-1943)

From this reading “Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

few days adjective + noun

In this reading “Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.”

between the two preposition + article + noun counted as “between … two”

In this reading “Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.”

become quite verb + particle

In this reading “Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.”

at the entrance preposition + article + noun counted as “at … entrance”

In this reading “Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.”

without feeling preposition + noun

In this reading “Millicent liked him because he was so "facile," as she expressed it; a man with whom one could talk without feeling it necessary to pick each step.”

at night preposition + noun

In this reading “Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.”

All words in this reading · 98

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

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 "LET US HAVE A BETRAYAL."

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

alternateadjectiveUS /ˈɔːltərnət/

every second one of a series

From this reading Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

annoyancenounUS /əˈnɔɪəns/

the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

Archie

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

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading Millicent liked him because he was so "facile," as she expressed it; a man with whom one could talk without feeling it necessary to pick each step.

becomeverbUS /bɪˈkʌm/

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

BETRAYALnounUS /bɪˈtreɪ.əl/

The action of betraying one's country, a group, or a person; breach of trust.

From this reading "LET US HAVE A BETRAYAL."

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.

brightenedverbUS /ˈbraɪtənd/

past form of “brighten” — make more cheerful through the use of color

From this reading Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.

businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

calledverbUS /kɔːld/

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

conceivedverbUS /kənˈsiːvd/

past form of “conceive” — have the idea for

From this reading Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Millicent liked him because he was so "facile," as she expressed it; a man with whom one could talk without feeling it necessary to pick each step.

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Millicent liked him because he was so "facile," as she expressed it; a man with whom one could talk without feeling it necessary to pick each step.

eatverbUS /iːt/

take in solid food

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.

entrancenounUS /ˈentrəns/

something that provides access (to get in or get out)

From this reading Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.

errandsnounUS /ˈerəndz/

plural of “errand” — a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

EvenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.

eveningsnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋz/

plural of “evening” — the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

EverybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/

every person

From this reading Everybody in the Fern family liked Archie.

expressedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsprest/

communicated in words

From this reading Millicent liked him because he was so "facile," as she expressed it; a man with whom one could talk without feeling it necessary to pick each step.

facileadjectiveUS /ˈfæsəl/

superficially impressive, but lacking depth and attention to the true complexities of a subject

From this reading Millicent liked him because he was so "facile," as she expressed it; a man with whom one could talk without feeling it necessary to pick each step.

familynounUS /ˈfæməli/

a social unit living together

From this reading Everybody in the Fern family liked Archie.

feelingnounUS /ˈfiːlɪŋ/

the experiencing of affective and emotional states

From this reading Millicent liked him because he was so "facile," as she expressed it; a man with whom one could talk without feeling it necessary to pick each step.

FernnounUS /fɜːrn/

any of numerous flowerless and seedless vascular plants having true roots from a rhizome and fronds that uncurl upward; reproduce by spores

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.

GougernounUS /ˈɡaʊdʒər/

an attacker who gouges out the antagonist's eye

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

HannibalnounUS /ˈhænɪbəl/

general who commanded the Carthaginian army in the second Punic War; crossed the Alps and defeated the Romans but was recalled to defend Carthage and was defeated (247-182 BC)

From this reading Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.

hatrednounUS /ˈheɪtrəd/

the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action

From this reading Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.

HAVEauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "LET US HAVE A BETRAYAL."

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Everybody in the Fern family liked Archie.

intimateadjectiveUS /ˈɪntəmət/

marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Millicent liked him because he was so "facile," as she expressed it; a man with whom one could talk without feeling it necessary to pick each step.

LawrencenounUS /ˈlɔːrəns/

Roman martyr; supposedly Lawrence was ordered by the police to give up the church's treasure and when he responded by presenting the poor people of Rome he was roasted to death on a gridiron (died in 258)

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

LETauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading "LET US HAVE A BETRAYAL."

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

likedadjectiveUS /laɪkt/

found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form

From this reading Everybody in the Fern family liked Archie.

lunchverbUS /lʌntʃ/

take the midday meal

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Millicent liked him because he was so "facile," as she expressed it; a man with whom one could talk without feeling it necessary to pick each step.

Millicent

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

From this reading Millicent liked him because he was so "facile," as she expressed it; a man with whom one could talk without feeling it necessary to pick each step.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

necessaryadjectiveUS /ˈnesəseri/

absolutely essential

From this reading Millicent liked him because he was so "facile," as she expressed it; a man with whom one could talk without feeling it necessary to pick each step.

negronounUS /ˈniːɡroʊ/

a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today

From this reading Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

officenounUS /ˈɔːfɪs/

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Millicent liked him because he was so "facile," as she expressed it; a man with whom one could talk without feeling it necessary to pick each step.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.

partynounUS /ˈpɑːrti/

an organization to gain political power

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

pickverbUS /pɪk/

select carefully from a group

From this reading Millicent liked him because he was so "facile," as she expressed it; a man with whom one could talk without feeling it necessary to pick each step.

placesnounUS /ˈpleɪsəz/

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.

pleasedadjectiveUS /pliːzd/

experiencing or manifesting pleasure

From this reading Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.

quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

Roseleaf

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

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

seemingadjectiveUS /ˈsiːmɪŋ/

appearing as such but not necessarily so

From this reading Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Millicent liked him because he was so "facile," as she expressed it; a man with whom one could talk without feeling it necessary to pick each step.

Shirley

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

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

sometimesadverbUS /səmˈtaɪmz/

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

stepnounUS /step/

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading Millicent liked him because he was so "facile," as she expressed it; a man with whom one could talk without feeling it necessary to pick each step.

talkverbUS /tɔːk/

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading Millicent liked him because he was so "facile," as she expressed it; a man with whom one could talk without feeling it necessary to pick each step.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

trainverbUS /treɪn/

create by training and teaching

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.

USpronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "LET US HAVE A BETRAYAL."

veritableadjectiveUS /ˈverɪtəbəl/

often used as intensifiers

From this reading Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading Even Hannibal, who had conceived a veritable hatred for Roseleaf, brightened at the entrance of Mr. Weil either at the house or office, the negro seeming to alternate between the two places very much as he pleased.

walksnounUS /wɔːks/

plural of “walk” — the act of traveling by foot

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

WeilnounUS /waɪl/

French philosopher (1909-1943)

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Millicent liked him because he was so "facile," as she expressed it; a man with whom one could talk without feeling it necessary to pick each step.

WiltonnounUS /ˈwɪltən/

a carpet woven on a Jacquard loom with loops like a Brussels carpet but having the loops cut to form a close velvety pile

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Mr. Archie Weil had become quite intimate with Mr. Wilton Fern; so much so that he called at his office every few days, took walks with him on business errands, went with him to lunch (to the annoyance of Lawrence Gouger, who did not like to eat alone) and sometimes took the train home with him at night, on evenings when Shirley Roseleaf was not of the party.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Millicent liked him because he was so "facile," as she expressed it; a man with whom one could talk without feeling it necessary to pick each step.

Chapter 15 of A Black Adonis by Linn Boyd Porter holds 172 sentences, grouped into 35 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 15 of A Black Adonis contain?

Chapter 15 holds 172 sentences of A Black Adonis, unabridged, divided into 35 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 15 of A Black Adonis by Linn Boyd Porter exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 172 sentences, grouped into 35 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 15 of A Black Adonis?

Work through the 35 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 35 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 15 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 15 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading A Black Adonis

Common questions about reading A Black Adonis by Linn Boyd Porter on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Black Adonis?

Yes. All 5408 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #26599 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Black Adonis is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #26599, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Black Adonis take to read?

About 450 minutes of reading across 1082 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Black Adonis section by section

How to work through A Black Adonis section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 30 chapters of A Black Adonis to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in A Black Adonis

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Black Adonis, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Every
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Black Adonis; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Effort
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Black Adonis; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Replicate
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Black Adonis; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Faithfully
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Black Adonis; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.