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Men's Wives
Men's Wives

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of Men's Wives is here in full — 208 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Men's Wives
Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The describing of all these persons does not advance Morgiana's story much.
But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.
The making of a theatrical success is a much more complicated and curious thing than such persons fancy it to be.
Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.
Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Men's Wives

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of Men's Wives is here in full — 208 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The describing of all these persons does not advance Morgiana's story much.
Line 2
But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.
/bʌt pərˈhæps sʌm ˈkʌntri ˈriːdərz ɑːr nɑːt əˈkweɪntɪd wɪð ðə klæs ʌv ˈpɜːrsənz baɪ huːz ˈprɪntɪd əˈpɪnjənz ðeɪ ɑːr ˈɡaɪdəd ənd ɑːr ˈsɪmpəl ɪˈnʌf tuː ˌɪˈmædʒən ðæt mɪr ˈmerət wɪl meɪk ə ˌrepjəˈteɪʃən ɑːn ðə steɪdʒ ɔːr ˈelswer/
Line 3
The making of a theatrical success is a much more complicated and curious thing than such persons fancy it to be.
/ðə ˈmeɪkɪŋ ʌv ə θiˈætrɪkəl səkˈses ɪz ə mʌtʃ mɔːr ˈkɑːmpləkeɪtəd ənd ˈkjʊriəs θɪŋ ðæn sʌtʃ ˈpɜːrsənz ˈfænsi ɪt tuː biː/
Line 4
Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.
Line 5
Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.

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.

advertised adjective US /ˈædvərtaɪzd/

called to public attention

From this reading “Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.”

Courier noun US /ˈkɜːriər/

a person who carries a message

From this reading “Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.”

describing verb US /dɪˈskraɪbɪŋ/

-ing form of “describe” — give a description of

From this reading “The describing of all these persons does not advance Morgiana's story much.”

editors noun US /ˈedɪtərz/

plural of “editor” — a person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication; the person who determines the final content of a text (especially of a newspaper or magazine)

From this reading “Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.”

ingenuity noun US /ˌɪndʒəˈnuːətiː/

the power of creative imagination

From this reading “Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.”

metropolis noun US /məˈtrɑːpələs/

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading “Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.”

puffed adjective US /pʌft/

gathered for protruding fullness

From this reading “Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.”

theatrical adjective US /θiˈætrɪkəl/

of or relating to the theater

From this reading “The making of a theatrical success is a much more complicated and curious thing than such persons fancy it to be.”

All words in this reading · 104

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 But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

acquaintedadjectiveUS /əˈkweɪntɪd/

having fair knowledge of

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

advanceverbUS /ədˈvæns/

move forward, also in the metaphorical sense

From this reading The describing of all these persons does not advance Morgiana's story much.

advertisedadjectiveUS /ˈædvərtaɪzd/

called to public attention

From this reading Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading The describing of all these persons does not advance Morgiana's story much.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

ArtistsnounUS /ˈɑːrtɪsts/

plural of “artist” — a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination

From this reading Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.

attentionnounUS /əˈtenʃən/

the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

From this reading Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.

awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/

not in a state of sleep; completely conscious

From this reading Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The making of a theatrical success is a much more complicated and curious thing than such persons fancy it to be.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

blackingnoun

a substance used to produce a shiny protective surface on footwear

From this reading Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

cannot

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

From this reading Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.

classnounUS /klæs/

a collection of things sharing a common attribute

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

complicatedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmpləkeɪtəd/

difficult to analyze or understand

From this reading The making of a theatrical success is a much more complicated and curious thing than such persons fancy it to be.

countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

CouriernounUS /ˈkɜːriər/

a person who carries a message

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

criticnounUS /ˈkrɪtɪk/

a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

curiousadjectiveUS /ˈkjʊriəs/

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading The making of a theatrical success is a much more complicated and curious thing than such persons fancy it to be.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

describingverbUS /dɪˈskraɪbɪŋ/

-ing form of “describe” — give a description of

From this reading The describing of all these persons does not advance Morgiana's story much.

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

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

From this reading The describing of all these persons does not advance Morgiana's story much.

editorsnounUS /ˈedɪtərz/

plural of “editor” — a person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication; the person who determines the final content of a text (especially of a newspaper or magazine)

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

elsewhereadverbUS /ˈelswer/

in or to another place

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

endlessadjectiveUS /ˈendləs/

tiresomely long; seemingly without end

From this reading Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

fancynounUS /ˈfænsi/

something many people believe that is false

From this reading The making of a theatrical success is a much more complicated and curious thing than such persons fancy it to be.

favournounUS /ˈfeɪvər/

a feeling of favorable regard

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

guidedadjectiveUS /ˈɡaɪdəd/

subject to guidance or control especially after launching

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

henceadverbUS /hens/

for this reason

From this reading Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.

humournounUS /ˈhjuːmər/

a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

imagineverbUS /ˌɪˈmædʒən/

form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

ImmenseadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmens/

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.

ingenuitynounUS /ˌɪndʒəˈnuːətiː/

the power of creative imagination

From this reading Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The making of a theatrical success is a much more complicated and curious thing than such persons fancy it to be.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The making of a theatrical success is a much more complicated and curious thing than such persons fancy it to be.

keepverbUS /kiːp/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.

Macassar

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

From this reading Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

makingnounUS /ˈmeɪkɪŋ/

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading The making of a theatrical success is a much more complicated and curious thing than such persons fancy it to be.

mereadjectiveUS /mɪr/

being nothing more than specified

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

meritnounUS /ˈmerət/

any admirable quality or attribute

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

metropolisnounUS /məˈtrɑːpələs/

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading The making of a theatrical success is a much more complicated and curious thing than such persons fancy it to be.

Morgiana's

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

From this reading The describing of all these persons does not advance Morgiana's story much.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading The describing of all these persons does not advance Morgiana's story much.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.

nameverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The describing of all these persons does not advance Morgiana's story much.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The describing of all these persons does not advance Morgiana's story much.

oilnounUS /ɔɪl/

A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.

From this reading Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

opinionsnounUS /əˈpɪnjənz/

plural of “opinion” — a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

ordernounUS /ˈɔːrdər/

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.

painsnounUS /peɪnz/

an effortful attempt to attain a goal

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/

by chance

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

perpetuallyadverbUS /pərˈpetʃuːəli/

everlastingly; for all time

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

personnounUS /ˈpɜːrsən/

a human being

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

personsnounUS /ˈpɜːrsənz/

plural of “person” — a human being

From this reading The describing of all these persons does not advance Morgiana's story much.

popularadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːpjələr/

regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public

From this reading Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.

practisedadjectiveUS /ˈpræktɪst/

skillful after much practice

From this reading Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.

printedverbUS /ˈprɪntɪd/

past form of “print” — put into print

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

propitiateverb

make peace with

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

publicnounUS /ˈpʌblɪk/

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

puffedadjectiveUS /pʌft/

gathered for protruding fullness

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

readersnounUS /ˈriːdərz/

plural of “reader” — a person who enjoys reading

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

reputationnounUS /ˌrepjəˈteɪʃən/

the state of being held in high esteem and honor

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

simpleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪmpəl/

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

stagenounUS /steɪdʒ/

any distinct time period in a sequence of events

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

StarnounUS /stɑːr/

(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading The describing of all these persons does not advance Morgiana's story much.

successnounUS /səkˈses/

an event that accomplishes its intended purpose

From this reading The making of a theatrical success is a much more complicated and curious thing than such persons fancy it to be.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading The making of a theatrical success is a much more complicated and curious thing than such persons fancy it to be.

takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The making of a theatrical success is a much more complicated and curious thing than such persons fancy it to be.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The describing of all these persons does not advance Morgiana's story much.

theatricaladjectiveUS /θiˈætrɪkəl/

of or relating to the theater

From this reading The making of a theatrical success is a much more complicated and curious thing than such persons fancy it to be.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

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

From this reading The describing of all these persons does not advance Morgiana's story much.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading The making of a theatrical success is a much more complicated and curious thing than such persons fancy it to be.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading Artists cannot be advertised like Macassar oil or blacking, and they want it to the full as much; hence endless ingenuity must be practised in order to keep the popular attention awake.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading But, perhaps, some country readers are not acquainted with the class of persons by whose printed opinions they are guided, and are simple enough to imagine that mere merit will make a reputation on the stage or elsewhere.

wordnounUS /wɜːrd/

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading Immense are the pains taken to get a good word from Mr. This of the Star, or Mr. That of the Courier, to propitiate the favour of the critic of the day, and get the editors of the metropolis into a good humour,--above all, to have the name of the person to be puffed perpetually before the public.

Chapter 8 of Men's Wives by William Makepeace Thackeray holds 208 sentences, grouped into 42 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 8 of Men's Wives contain?

Chapter 8 holds 208 sentences of Men's Wives, unabridged, divided into 42 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of Men's Wives by William Makepeace Thackeray exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 208 sentences, grouped into 42 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 8 of Men's Wives?

Work through the 42 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 42 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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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.

Questions about reading Men's Wives

Common questions about reading Men's Wives by William Makepeace Thackeray on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Men's Wives?

Yes. All 2457 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1985 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Men's Wives is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1985, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Men's Wives take to read?

About 204 minutes of reading across 492 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Men's Wives section by section

How to work through Men's Wives section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 10 chapters of Men's Wives to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Men's Wives

Words and structures a reader meets early in Men's Wives, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Crump
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Men's Wives; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Suitors
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Men's Wives; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Family
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Men's Wives; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Circle
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Men's Wives; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.