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Over the Teacups
Over the Teacups

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Over the Teacups
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
PREFACE.
The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.
I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”
It has not proved so.
My old readers have come forward in the pleasantest possible way and assured me that they were glad to see me again.
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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.

Over the Teacups

Chapter I

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
PREFACE.
Line 2
The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.
Line 3
I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”
Line 4
It has not proved so.
Line 5
My old readers have come forward in the pleasantest possible way and assured me that they were glad to see me again.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.””

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.””

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.””

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.””

Forward noun US /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “My old readers have come forward in the pleasantest possible way and assured me that they were glad to see me again.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading “The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “My old readers have come forward in the pleasantest possible way and assured me that they were glad to see me again.”

Ought modal verb US /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading “I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.””

Surprised noun US /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.””

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 The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

anticipate

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

From this reading The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.

ardent

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

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

assured

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

From this reading My old readers have come forward in the pleasantest possible way and assured me that they were glad to see me again.

attention

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

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.

candidates

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

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

comer

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

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

crowd

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

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

dared

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

From this reading The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.

day

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

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

eager

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

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

felt

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

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

forwardnounUS /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading My old readers have come forward in the pleasantest possible way and assured me that they were glad to see me again.

Frenchman

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

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

glad

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

From this reading My old readers have come forward in the pleasantest possible way and assured me that they were glad to see me again.

greater

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

From this reading The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading My old readers have come forward in the pleasantest possible way and assured me that they were glad to see me again.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It has not proved so.

kind

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

From this reading The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.

late

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

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

like

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

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading My old readers have come forward in the pleasantest possible way and assured me that they were glad to see me again.

midst

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

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

Monsieur

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

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.

old

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

From this reading My old readers have come forward in the pleasantest possible way and assured me that they were glad to see me again.

oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

papers

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

From this reading The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.

pleasantest

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

From this reading My old readers have come forward in the pleasantest possible way and assured me that they were glad to see me again.

pleasure

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

From this reading The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.

possible

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

From this reading My old readers have come forward in the pleasantest possible way and assured me that they were glad to see me again.

PREFACE

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

From this reading PREFACE.

proved

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

From this reading It has not proved so.

public

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

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

read

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

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

readers

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

From this reading My old readers have come forward in the pleasantest possible way and assured me that they were glad to see me again.

received

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

From this reading The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.

see

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

From this reading My old readers have come forward in the pleasantest possible way and assured me that they were glad to see me again.

series

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

From this reading The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It has not proved so.

surprisednounUS /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading My old readers have come forward in the pleasantest possible way and assured me that they were glad to see me again.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.

Tonson

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

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

unfortunate

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

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

used

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

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

way

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

From this reading The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

welcome

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

From this reading I felt that I was a late comer in the midst of a crowd of ardent and eager candidates for public attention, that I had already had my day, and that if, like the unfortunate Frenchman we used read about, I had “come again,” I ought not to surprised if I received the welcome of “Monsieur Tonson.”

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading My old readers have come forward in the pleasantest possible way and assured me that they were glad to see me again.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The kind way in which this series of papers has been received has been a pleasure greater than I dared to anticipate.