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Adventures in Criticism
Adventures in Criticism

Chapter III

Cover illustration for Adventures in Criticism
Context Illustration Reading 1/77 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I do not suppose for a moment that Thackeray consciously defamed these men.
The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.
And of course poor Sterne was the easiest victim.
The fellow was so full of his confounded sentiments.
You ring a choice few of these on the counter and prove them base metal.
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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.

Adventures in Criticism

Chapter III

Reading 1/77 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I do not suppose for a moment that Thackeray consciously defamed these men.
Line 2
The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.
Line 3
And of course poor Sterne was the easiest victim.
Line 4
The fellow was so full of his confounded sentiments.
Line 5
You ring a choice few of these on the counter and prove them base metal.

Learner Dictionary

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

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.”

Confounded adjective US /kənˈfaʊndɪd/

annoying or confusing

From this reading “The fellow was so full of his confounded sentiments.”

Course noun US /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And of course poor Sterne was the easiest victim.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.”

Poor noun US /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And of course poor Sterne was the easiest victim.”

Suppose noun US /ˈsuppose/

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

From this reading “I do not suppose for a moment that Thackeray consciously defamed these men.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “I do not suppose for a moment that Thackeray consciously defamed these men.”

All words in this reading · 59

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 I do not suppose for a moment that Thackeray consciously defamed these men.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

base

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

From this reading You ring a choice few of these on the counter and prove them base metal.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

choice

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

From this reading You ring a choice few of these on the counter and prove them base metal.

Colonel

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

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

confoundedadjectiveUS /kənˈfaʊndɪd/

annoying or confusing

From this reading The fellow was so full of his confounded sentiments.

consciously

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

From this reading I do not suppose for a moment that Thackeray consciously defamed these men.

counter

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

From this reading You ring a choice few of these on the counter and prove them base metal.

coursenounUS /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And of course poor Sterne was the easiest victim.

defamed

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

From this reading I do not suppose for a moment that Thackeray consciously defamed these men.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading I do not suppose for a moment that Thackeray consciously defamed these men.

easiest

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

From this reading And of course poor Sterne was the easiest victim.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

fellow

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

From this reading The fellow was so full of his confounded sentiments.

few

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

From this reading You ring a choice few of these on the counter and prove them base metal.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I do not suppose for a moment that Thackeray consciously defamed these men.

full

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

From this reading The fellow was so full of his confounded sentiments.

gusto

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

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The fellow was so full of his confounded sentiments.

horrible

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

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

humanity

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

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I do not suppose for a moment that Thackeray consciously defamed these men.

interested

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

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

Mackenzie

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

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

men

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

From this reading I do not suppose for a moment that Thackeray consciously defamed these men.

metal

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

From this reading You ring a choice few of these on the counter and prove them base metal.

moment

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

From this reading I do not suppose for a moment that Thackeray consciously defamed these men.

Mrs

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

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

Newcome

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

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I do not suppose for a moment that Thackeray consciously defamed these men.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading You ring a choice few of these on the counter and prove them base metal.

pettinesses

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

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

poornounUS /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And of course poor Sterne was the easiest victim.

prove

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

From this reading You ring a choice few of these on the counter and prove them base metal.

ring

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

From this reading You ring a choice few of these on the counter and prove them base metal.

scene

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

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

sentiments

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

From this reading The fellow was so full of his confounded sentiments.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The fellow was so full of his confounded sentiments.

spares

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

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

Sterne

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

From this reading And of course poor Sterne was the easiest victim.

supposenounUS /ˈsuppose/

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

From this reading I do not suppose for a moment that Thackeray consciously defamed these men.

Thackeray

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

From this reading I do not suppose for a moment that Thackeray consciously defamed these men.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I do not suppose for a moment that Thackeray consciously defamed these men.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading I do not suppose for a moment that Thackeray consciously defamed these men.

treated

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

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

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

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

victim

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

From this reading And of course poor Sterne was the easiest victim.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading And of course poor Sterne was the easiest victim.

weaknesses

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

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The weaknesses, the pettinesses of humanity interested him, and he treated them with gusto, even as he spares us nothing of that horrible scene between Mrs. Mackenzie and Colonel Newcome.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You ring a choice few of these on the counter and prove them base metal.