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Heartbreak House
Heartbreak House

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Heartbreak House
Context Illustration Reading 1/81 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.
It is cultured, leisured Europe before the war.
When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.
Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.
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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.

Heartbreak House

Chapter I

Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.
Line 2
It is cultured, leisured Europe before the war.
Line 3
When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
Line 4
A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.
Line 5
Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.

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 “When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “It is cultured, leisured Europe before the war.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.”

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.”

All words in this reading · 72

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 When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

amateurs

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

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading It is cultured, leisured Europe before the war.

begun

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

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

Cherry

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

From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.

contemptuous

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

From this reading Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.

cultured

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

From this reading It is cultured, leisured Europe before the war.

diplomatists

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

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

dramatic

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

From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.

England

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

From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.

Enlightenment

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

From this reading Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.

Europe

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

From this reading It is cultured, leisured Europe before the war.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

fascinating

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

From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.

ferociously

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

From this reading Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.

few

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

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

fired

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

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

follows

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

From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.

foreign

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

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

four

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

From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.

Fruits

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

From this reading Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.

guns

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

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

Heartbreak

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

From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.

hobby

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

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

House

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

From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is cultured, leisured Europe before the war.

knew

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

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

leisured

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

From this reading It is cultured, leisured Europe before the war.

loaded

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

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

manner

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

From this reading Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.

merely

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

From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.

most

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

From this reading Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.

only

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

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

Orchard

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

From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.

performed

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

From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.

play

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

From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.

playwright

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

From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.

policy

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

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

preface

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

From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.

produced

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

From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.

professional

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

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

Russian

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

From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.

Seagull

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

From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.

shot

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

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

shown

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

From this reading Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.

studies

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

From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.

Tchekov

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

From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.

three

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

From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.

Tolstoy

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

From this reading Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.

Uncle

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

From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

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

From this reading Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.

Vanya

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

From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.

very

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

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

war

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

From this reading It is cultured, leisured Europe before the war.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.