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Cobwebs from an Empty Skull
Cobwebs from an Empty Skull

Chapter IV

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Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
"Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."
"I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."
"You don't, eh!" sneered the toadstool.
"You mean, do you, to fly in the face of all the moral and social philosophers?"
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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.

Cobwebs from an Empty Skull

Chapter IV

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
Line 2
"Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."
Line 3
"I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."
Line 4
"You don't, eh!" sneered the toadstool.
Line 5
"You mean, do you, to fly in the face of all the moral and social philosophers?"

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 “"Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “"Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."”

Replied noun US /replied/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “"Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."”

All words in this reading · 70

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 "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

Ah

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

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

all

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

From this reading "You mean, do you, to fly in the face of all the moral and social philosophers?"

alleviate

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

From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

comparatively

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

From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."

consider

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

From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."

considerable

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

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

contemplation

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

From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."

content

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

From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."

day

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

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

discern

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

From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "You mean, do you, to fly in the face of all the moral and social philosophers?"

don't

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

From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."

eh

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

From this reading "You don't, eh!" sneered the toadstool.

face

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

From this reading "You mean, do you, to fly in the face of all the moral and social philosophers?"

felicity

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

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."

fly

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

From this reading "You mean, do you, to fly in the face of all the moral and social philosophers?"

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

Ha

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

From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

happy

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

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

how

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

From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "You mean, do you, to fly in the face of all the moral and social philosophers?"

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

June

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

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."

lot

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

From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."

mean

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

From this reading "You mean, do you, to fly in the face of all the moral and social philosophers?"

misery

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

From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."

moral

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

From this reading "You mean, do you, to fly in the face of all the moral and social philosophers?"

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

only

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

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

philosophers

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

From this reading "You mean, do you, to fly in the face of all the moral and social philosophers?"

privation

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

From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."

quadruped

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

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

repliednounUS /replied/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."

said

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

From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

sighed

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

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

sneered

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

From this reading "You don't, eh!" sneered the toadstool.

social

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

From this reading "You mean, do you, to fly in the face of all the moral and social philosophers?"

stool

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

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

superior

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

From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."

tends

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

From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

three-legged

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

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."

toadstool

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

From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."

tripedal

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

From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."

twenty-first

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

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

unipedal

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

From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."

wretchedness

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

From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "You don't, eh!" sneered the toadstool.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."