Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
A Fortunate Term
A Fortunate Term

Chapter IX

Cover illustration for A Fortunate Term
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.
He liked the place, and would gladly have bought the whole property had it not been entailed.
He still lived in hopes that it might ultimately become his own, and periodically made offers to the owner and heir to effect a settlement.
Meantime, failing absolute possession, he posed to his city friends and to his neighbours in the county as the squire of Chagmouth.
He was a well-disposed man, according to his lights, and in his own way he had done a good deal for the place.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Fortunate Term

Chapter IX

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.
Line 2
He liked the place, and would gladly have bought the whole property had it not been entailed.
Line 3
He still lived in hopes that it might ultimately become his own, and periodically made offers to the owner and heir to effect a settlement.
Line 4
Meantime, failing absolute possession, he posed to his city friends and to his neighbours in the county as the squire of Chagmouth.
Line 5
He was a well-disposed man, according to his lights, and in his own way he had done a good deal for the place.

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 “He liked the place, and would gladly have bought the whole property had it not been entailed.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was a well-disposed man, according to his lights, and in his own way he had done a good deal for the place.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was a well-disposed man, according to his lights, and in his own way he had done a good deal for the place.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “He liked the place, and would gladly have bought the whole property had it not been entailed.”

Heir noun US /er/

A person legally or magically entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death.

From this reading “He still lived in hopes that it might ultimately become his own, and periodically made offers to the owner and heir to effect a settlement.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.”

Meantime noun US /ˈmiːntaɪm/

the period of time while something else is happening

From this reading “Meantime, failing absolute possession, he posed to his city friends and to his neighbours in the county as the squire of Chagmouth.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “He still lived in hopes that it might ultimately become his own, and periodically made offers to the owner and heir to effect a settlement.”

Question noun US /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading “A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He still lived in hopes that it might ultimately become his own, and periodically made offers to the owner and heir to effect a settlement.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “He liked the place, and would gladly have bought the whole property had it not been entailed.”

All words in this reading · 74

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 A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.

absolute

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

From this reading Meantime, failing absolute possession, he posed to his city friends and to his neighbours in the county as the squire of Chagmouth.

according

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

From this reading He was a well-disposed man, according to his lights, and in his own way he had done a good deal for the place.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He liked the place, and would gladly have bought the whole property had it not been entailed.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Meantime, failing absolute possession, he posed to his city friends and to his neighbours in the county as the squire of Chagmouth.

become

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

From this reading He still lived in hopes that it might ultimately become his own, and periodically made offers to the owner and heir to effect a settlement.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He liked the place, and would gladly have bought the whole property had it not been entailed.

bought

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

From this reading He liked the place, and would gladly have bought the whole property had it not been entailed.

Chagmouth

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

From this reading Meantime, failing absolute possession, he posed to his city friends and to his neighbours in the county as the squire of Chagmouth.

city

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

From this reading Meantime, failing absolute possession, he posed to his city friends and to his neighbours in the county as the squire of Chagmouth.

county

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

From this reading Meantime, failing absolute possession, he posed to his city friends and to his neighbours in the county as the squire of Chagmouth.

deal

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

From this reading He was a well-disposed man, according to his lights, and in his own way he had done a good deal for the place.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was a well-disposed man, according to his lights, and in his own way he had done a good deal for the place.

effect

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

From this reading He still lived in hopes that it might ultimately become his own, and periodically made offers to the owner and heir to effect a settlement.

entailed

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

From this reading He liked the place, and would gladly have bought the whole property had it not been entailed.

failing

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

From this reading Meantime, failing absolute possession, he posed to his city friends and to his neighbours in the county as the squire of Chagmouth.

financier

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

From this reading A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.

five

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

From this reading A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.

friends

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

From this reading Meantime, failing absolute possession, he posed to his city friends and to his neighbours in the county as the squire of Chagmouth.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.

General

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

From this reading A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.

gladly

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

From this reading He liked the place, and would gladly have bought the whole property had it not been entailed.

Glyn

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

From this reading A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was a well-disposed man, according to his lights, and in his own way he had done a good deal for the place.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He liked the place, and would gladly have bought the whole property had it not been entailed.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He liked the place, and would gladly have bought the whole property had it not been entailed.

heirnounUS /er/

A person legally or magically entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death.

From this reading He still lived in hopes that it might ultimately become his own, and periodically made offers to the owner and heir to effect a settlement.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He still lived in hopes that it might ultimately become his own, and periodically made offers to the owner and heir to effect a settlement.

Honour

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

From this reading A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.

hopes

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

From this reading He still lived in hopes that it might ultimately become his own, and periodically made offers to the owner and heir to effect a settlement.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He still lived in hopes that it might ultimately become his own, and periodically made offers to the owner and heir to effect a settlement.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He liked the place, and would gladly have bought the whole property had it not been entailed.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.

lights

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

From this reading He was a well-disposed man, according to his lights, and in his own way he had done a good deal for the place.

liked

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

From this reading He liked the place, and would gladly have bought the whole property had it not been entailed.

lived

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

From this reading He still lived in hopes that it might ultimately become his own, and periodically made offers to the owner and heir to effect a settlement.

London

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

From this reading A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.

made

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

From this reading He still lived in hopes that it might ultimately become his own, and periodically made offers to the owner and heir to effect a settlement.

man

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

From this reading He was a well-disposed man, according to his lights, and in his own way he had done a good deal for the place.

MeantimenounUS /ˈmiːntaɪm/

the period of time while something else is happening

From this reading Meantime, failing absolute possession, he posed to his city friends and to his neighbours in the county as the squire of Chagmouth.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading He still lived in hopes that it might ultimately become his own, and periodically made offers to the owner and heir to effect a settlement.

Mr

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

From this reading A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.

neighbours

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

From this reading Meantime, failing absolute possession, he posed to his city friends and to his neighbours in the county as the squire of Chagmouth.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He liked the place, and would gladly have bought the whole property had it not been entailed.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.

offers

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

From this reading He still lived in hopes that it might ultimately become his own, and periodically made offers to the owner and heir to effect a settlement.

own

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

From this reading He still lived in hopes that it might ultimately become his own, and periodically made offers to the owner and heir to effect a settlement.

owner

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

From this reading He still lived in hopes that it might ultimately become his own, and periodically made offers to the owner and heir to effect a settlement.

periodically

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

From this reading He still lived in hopes that it might ultimately become his own, and periodically made offers to the owner and heir to effect a settlement.

place

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

From this reading He liked the place, and would gladly have bought the whole property had it not been entailed.

posed

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

From this reading Meantime, failing absolute possession, he posed to his city friends and to his neighbours in the county as the squire of Chagmouth.

possession

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

From this reading Meantime, failing absolute possession, he posed to his city friends and to his neighbours in the county as the squire of Chagmouth.

prominent

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

From this reading A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.

property

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

From this reading He liked the place, and would gladly have bought the whole property had it not been entailed.

QuestionnounUS /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.

rented

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

From this reading A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.

settlement

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

From this reading He still lived in hopes that it might ultimately become his own, and periodically made offers to the owner and heir to effect a settlement.

squire

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

From this reading Meantime, failing absolute possession, he posed to his city friends and to his neighbours in the county as the squire of Chagmouth.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He still lived in hopes that it might ultimately become his own, and periodically made offers to the owner and heir to effect a settlement.

Talland

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

From this reading A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He still lived in hopes that it might ultimately become his own, and periodically made offers to the owner and heir to effect a settlement.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He still lived in hopes that it might ultimately become his own, and periodically made offers to the owner and heir to effect a settlement.

ultimately

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

From this reading He still lived in hopes that it might ultimately become his own, and periodically made offers to the owner and heir to effect a settlement.

Warren

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

From this reading A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was a well-disposed man, according to his lights, and in his own way he had done a good deal for the place.

way

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

From this reading He was a well-disposed man, according to his lights, and in his own way he had done a good deal for the place.

well-disposed

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

From this reading He was a well-disposed man, according to his lights, and in his own way he had done a good deal for the place.

whole

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

From this reading He liked the place, and would gladly have bought the whole property had it not been entailed.

Williams

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

From this reading A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading He liked the place, and would gladly have bought the whole property had it not been entailed.

years

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

From this reading A Question of Honour For the last five years Mr. Glyn Williams, a prominent London financier, had rented The Warren from General Talland.