A Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I

Chapter XI

Chapter 11 of A Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I is here in full — 138 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Frank Frankfort Moore • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for A Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

MR.

DURDAN was explaining something--he usually was explaining something.

When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification.

In private his explanations were sometimes intelligible.

As Harold entered the room where a straggling breakfast was proceeding--everything except dinner had a tendency to be straggling at Castle Innisfail--Mr. Dur dan was explaining how Brian had been bewildered.

Narrator

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.

Chapter XI Reading 1/27

A Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I Frank Frankfort Moore

Chapter XI

Chapter 11 of A Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I is here in full — 138 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

MR. DURDAN was explaining something--he usually was explaining something. When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification. In private his explanations were sometimes intelligible. As Harold entered the room where a straggling breakfast was proceeding--everything except dinner had a tendency to be straggling at Castle Innisfail--Mr. Dur dan was explaining how Brian had been bewildered.

A Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I

Chapter XI

Chapter 11 of A Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I is here in full — 138 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

MR.

/ˈmɪstər/

Line 2

DURDAN was explaining something--he usually was explaining something.

Line 3

When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification.

Line 4

In private his explanations were sometimes intelligible.

/ɪn ˈpraɪvət hɪz ˌekspləˈneɪʃənz wɜːr səmˈtaɪmz ˌɪnˈtelədʒəbəl/

Line 5

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.

bewildered adjective US /bɪˈwɪldərd/

perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment

From this reading “As Harold entered the room where a straggling breakfast was proceeding--everything except dinner had a tendency to be straggling at Castle Innisfail--Mr. Dur dan was explaining how Brian had been bewildered.”

explaining verb US /ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ/

-ing form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible

From this reading “DURDAN was explaining something--he usually was explaining something.”

explanations noun US /ˌekspləˈneɪʃənz/

plural of “explanation” — a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.

From this reading “In private his explanations were sometimes intelligible.”

intelligible adjective US /ˌɪnˈtelədʒəbəl/

capable of being apprehended or understood

From this reading “In private his explanations were sometimes intelligible.”

member noun US /ˈmembər/

one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)

From this reading “When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification.”

proceeding noun US /prəˈsiːdɪŋ/

(law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked

process verb US /ˈprɑːses/

subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition

From this reading “When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification.”

tendency noun US /ˈtendənsi/

an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others

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.

entered the room verb + article + noun counted as “enter … room”

In this reading “As Harold entered the room where a straggling breakfast was proceeding--everything except dinner had a tendency to be straggling at Castle Innisfail--Mr. Dur dan was explaining how Brian had been bewildered.”

process of verb + particle

In this reading “When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification.”

All words in this reading · 51

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 When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading As Harold entered the room where a straggling breakfast was proceeding--everything except dinner had a tendency to be straggling at Castle Innisfail--Mr. Dur dan was explaining how Brian had been bewildered.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification.

bewilderedadjectiveUS /bɪˈwɪldərd/

perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment

breakfastverbUS /ˈbrekfəst/

eat an early morning meal

Brian

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

CastlenounUS /ˈkæsəl/

a large and stately mansion

dan

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

dinnernounUS /ˈdɪnər/

the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

Dur

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

DURDAN

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

From this reading DURDAN was explaining something--he usually was explaining something.

effortnounUS /ˈefərt/

earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification.

enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

explainingverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ/

-ing form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible

From this reading DURDAN was explaining something--he usually was explaining something.

explanationsnounUS /ˌekspləˈneɪʃənz/

plural of “explanation” — a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.

From this reading In private his explanations were sometimes intelligible.

fineadjectiveUS /faɪn/

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification.

generallyadverbUS /ˈdʒenərəli/

usually; as a rule

From this reading When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification.

GovernmentnounUS /ˈɡʌvərmənt/

the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit

From this reading When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification.

Harold

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

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading DURDAN was explaining something--he usually was explaining something.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification.

how

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

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In private his explanations were sometimes intelligible.

Innisfail

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

intelligibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtelədʒəbəl/

capable of being apprehended or understood

From this reading In private his explanations were sometimes intelligible.

lateadjectiveUS /leɪt/

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification.

membernounUS /ˈmembər/

one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)

From this reading When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification.

MRnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading MR.

mystificationnoun

confusion resulting from failure to understand

From this reading When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification.

privateadjectiveUS /ˈpraɪvət/

confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy

From this reading In private his explanations were sometimes intelligible.

proceedingnounUS /prəˈsiːdɪŋ/

(law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked

processverbUS /ˈprɑːses/

subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition

From this reading When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification.

regardedverbUS /rɪˈɡɑːrdɪd/

past form of “regard” — deem to be

From this reading When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification.

roomnounUS /ruːm/

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading DURDAN was explaining something--he usually was explaining something.

sometimesadverbUS /səmˈtaɪmz/

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading In private his explanations were sometimes intelligible.

stragglingadjective

spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly

tendencynounUS /ˈtendənsi/

an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

usuallyadverbUS /ˈjuːʒəwəli/

under normal conditions

From this reading DURDAN was explaining something--he usually was explaining something.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading DURDAN was explaining something--he usually was explaining something.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading In private his explanations were sometimes intelligible.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When he had been a member of the late Government his process of explaining something was generally regarded as a fine effort at mystification.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

Chapter 11 of A Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I by Frank Frankfort Moore holds 138 sentences, grouped into 28 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 11 of A Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I contain?

Chapter 11 holds 138 sentences of A Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I, unabridged, divided into 28 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 11 of A Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I by Frank Frankfort Moore exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 138 sentences, grouped into 28 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 11 of A Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I?

Work through the 28 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 28 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 11 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 11 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.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #51944, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 157 minutes of reading across 378 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in A Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Talking: A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Woman: A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Abstract: A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Harold: A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter XI

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