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Merton of the Movies
Merton of the Movies

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of Merton of the Movies is here in full — 693 sentences across 139 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Harry Leon Wilson • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Merton of the Movies
Context Illustration Reading 1/138 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
He approached the office of the Holden studios the following morning with a new air of assurance.
Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.
But now his feeling was that he had, somehow, become a part of that higher life beyond the gate.
He might linger outside at odd moments, but rightfully he belonged inside.
His novitiate had passed.
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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.

Merton of the Movies

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of Merton of the Movies is here in full — 693 sentences across 139 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/138 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
He approached the office of the Holden studios the following morning with a new air of assurance.
Line 2
Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.
Line 3
But now his feeling was that he had, somehow, become a part of that higher life beyond the gate.
/bʌt naʊ hɪz ˈfiːlɪŋ wɑːz ðæt hiː hæd ˈsʌmhaʊ bɪˈkʌm ə pɑːrt ʌv ðæt ˈhaɪər laɪf bɪˈɑːnd ðə ɡeɪt/
Line 4
He might linger outside at odd moments, but rightfully he belonged inside.
/hiː maɪt ˈlɪŋɡər ˈaʊtˈsaɪd æt ɑːd ˈmoʊmənts bʌt ˈraɪtfəli hiː bɪˈlɔːŋd ˌɪnˈsaɪd/
Line 5
His novitiate had passed.

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.

assurance noun US /əˈʃʊrəns/

freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities

From this reading “He approached the office of the Holden studios the following morning with a new air of assurance.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
glimpse noun US /ɡlɪmps/

a quick look

From this reading “Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hopeful adjective US /ˈhoʊpfəl/

having or manifesting hope

From this reading “Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
linger verb US /ˈlɪŋɡər/

remain present although waning or gradually dying

From this reading “He might linger outside at odd moments, but rightfully he belonged inside.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mingling noun US /ˈmɪŋɡəlɪŋ/

the action of people mingling and coming into contact

From this reading “Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
privileged adjective US /ˈprɪvlədʒd/

blessed with privileges

From this reading “Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rightfully adverb US /ˈraɪtfəli/

by right

From this reading “He might linger outside at odd moments, but rightfully he belonged inside.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
studios noun US /ˈstuːdioʊz/

plural of “studio” — workplace for the teaching or practice of an art

From this reading “He approached the office of the Holden studios the following morning with a new air of assurance.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 59

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 He approached the office of the Holden studios the following morning with a new air of assurance.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
adventureverbUS /ædˈventʃər/

take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome

From this reading Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading He approached the office of the Holden studios the following morning with a new air of assurance.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
approachverbUS /əˈproʊtʃ/

move towards

From this reading Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
approachedverbUS /əˈproʊtʃt/

past form of “approach” — move towards

From this reading He approached the office of the Holden studios the following morning with a new air of assurance.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
assurancenounUS /əˈʃʊrəns/

freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities

From this reading He approached the office of the Holden studios the following morning with a new air of assurance.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He might linger outside at odd moments, but rightfully he belonged inside.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
becomeverbUS /bɪˈkʌm/

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading But now his feeling was that he had, somehow, become a part of that higher life beyond the gate.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
belongedverbUS /bɪˈlɔːŋd/

past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of

From this reading He might linger outside at odd moments, but rightfully he belonged inside.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading But now his feeling was that he had, somehow, become a part of that higher life beyond the gate.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But now his feeling was that he had, somehow, become a part of that higher life beyond the gate.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/

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

From this reading Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
feelingnounUS /ˈfiːlɪŋ/

the experiencing of affective and emotional states

From this reading But now his feeling was that he had, somehow, become a part of that higher life beyond the gate.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading He approached the office of the Holden studios the following morning with a new air of assurance.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FormerlyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrmərli/

at a previous time

From this reading Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gatenounUS /ɡeɪt/

a movable barrier in a fence or wall

From this reading Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
glimpsenounUS /ɡlɪmps/

a quick look

From this reading Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He approached the office of the Holden studios the following morning with a new air of assurance.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
higheradjectiveUS /ˈhaɪər/

advanced in complexity or elaboration

From this reading But now his feeling was that he had, somehow, become a part of that higher life beyond the gate.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading But now his feeling was that he had, somehow, become a part of that higher life beyond the gate.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Holden

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

From this reading He approached the office of the Holden studios the following morning with a new air of assurance.

Pending verification
hopefuladjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpfəl/

having or manifesting hope

From this reading Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
insideadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsaɪd/

relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space

From this reading He might linger outside at odd moments, but rightfully he belonged inside.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lateradverbUS /ˈleɪtər/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading But now his feeling was that he had, somehow, become a part of that higher life beyond the gate.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lingerverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡər/

remain present although waning or gradually dying

From this reading He might linger outside at odd moments, but rightfully he belonged inside.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mereadjectiveUS /mɪr/

being nothing more than specified

From this reading Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading He might linger outside at odd moments, but rightfully he belonged inside.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
minglingnounUS /ˈmɪŋɡəlɪŋ/

the action of people mingling and coming into contact

From this reading Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
momentsnounUS /ˈmoʊmənts/

plural of “moment” — a particular point in time

From this reading He might linger outside at odd moments, but rightfully he belonged inside.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading He approached the office of the Holden studios the following morning with a new air of assurance.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
near-hopeless

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

From this reading Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.

Pending verification
newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading He approached the office of the Holden studios the following morning with a new air of assurance.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
novitiatenoun

the period during which you are a novice (especially in a religious order)

From this reading His novitiate had passed.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading But now his feeling was that he had, somehow, become a part of that higher life beyond the gate.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
oddadjectiveUS /ɑːd/

not divisible by two

From this reading He might linger outside at odd moments, but rightfully he belonged inside.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He approached the office of the Holden studios the following morning with a new air of assurance.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
officenounUS /ˈɔːfɪs/

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading He approached the office of the Holden studios the following morning with a new air of assurance.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
onesnounUS /wʌnz/

plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
outsideadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading He might linger outside at odd moments, but rightfully he belonged inside.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
partnounUS /pɑːrt/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading But now his feeling was that he had, somehow, become a part of that higher life beyond the gate.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
passedverbUS /pæst/

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading His novitiate had passed.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
privilegedadjectiveUS /ˈprɪvlədʒd/

blessed with privileges

From this reading Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
quickadjectiveUS /kwɪk/

accomplished rapidly and without delay

From this reading Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rightfullyadverbUS /ˈraɪtfəli/

by right

From this reading He might linger outside at odd moments, but rightfully he belonged inside.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
somehowadverbUS /ˈsʌmhaʊ/

in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means

From this reading But now his feeling was that he had, somehow, become a part of that higher life beyond the gate.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
studiosnounUS /ˈstuːdioʊz/

plural of “studio” — workplace for the teaching or practice of an art

From this reading He approached the office of the Holden studios the following morning with a new air of assurance.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But now his feeling was that he had, somehow, become a part of that higher life beyond the gate.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading He approached the office of the Holden studios the following morning with a new air of assurance.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
waitedverbUS /ˈweɪtɪd/

past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But now his feeling was that he had, somehow, become a part of that higher life beyond the gate.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Formerly the mere approach had been an adventure; the look through the gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He approached the office of the Holden studios the following morning with a new air of assurance.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 5 of Merton of the Movies by Harry Leon Wilson holds 693 sentences, grouped into 139 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 5 of Merton of the Movies contain?

Chapter 5 holds 693 sentences of Merton of the Movies, unabridged, divided into 139 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of Merton of the Movies by Harry Leon Wilson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 693 sentences, grouped into 139 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 5 of Merton of the Movies?

Work through the 139 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 139 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 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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 Merton of the Movies

Common questions about reading Merton of the Movies by Harry Leon Wilson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Merton of the Movies?

Yes. All 7117 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #3472 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Merton of the Movies is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #3472, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Merton of the Movies take to read?

About 593 minutes of reading across 1424 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in Merton of the Movies

Words and structures a reader meets early in Merton of the Movies, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Merton
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Merton of the Movies; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Mealed
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Merton of the Movies; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Gashwiler
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Merton of the Movies; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Supper
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Merton of the Movies; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.