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The Adventures of a Modest Man
The Adventures of a Modest Man

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of The Adventures of a Modest Man is here in full — 196 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Robert W. (Robert William) Chambers • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Adventures of a Modest Man
Context Illustration Reading 1/39 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.
"The first thing I noticed," said I, "was the entire United States walking down the Boulevard des Italiens."
"And your second impression, sir?" he asked somewhat uncertainly.
"The entire United States walking back again."
He lighted a cigarette and tried to appear cheerful.
0:00 / 0:00
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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.

The Adventures of a Modest Man

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of The Adventures of a Modest Man is here in full — 196 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/39 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.
Line 2
"The first thing I noticed," said I, "was the entire United States walking down the Boulevard des Italiens."
Line 3
"And your second impression, sir?" he asked somewhat uncertainly.
/ənd jɔːr ˈsekənd ˌɪmˈpreʃən sɜːr hiː æskt ˈsʌmˈwʌt ənˈsɜːrtənli/
Line 4
"The entire United States walking back again."
/ðə ɪnˈtaɪər juːˈnaɪtɪd steɪts ˈwɔːkɪŋ bæk əˈɡen/
Line 5
He lighted a cigarette and tried to appear cheerful.
/hiː ˈlaɪtəd ə ˌsɪɡərˈet ənd traɪd tuː əˈpɪr ˈtʃɪrfəl/

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.

Boulevard noun US /ˈbʊləvɑːrd/

a wide street or thoroughfare

From this reading “"The first thing I noticed," said I, "was the entire United States walking down the Boulevard des Italiens."”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bullied verb US /ˈbʊlid/

inflected form of “bully” — be bossy towards

From this reading “WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
corridor noun US /ˈkɔːrədər/

an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it

From this reading “WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
des noun US /des/

a potent estrogen used in medicine and in feed for livestock and poultry

From this reading “WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lighting noun US /ˈlaɪtɪŋ/

having abundant light or illumination

From this reading “WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
modest adjective US /ˈmɑːdəst/

marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself

From this reading “WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
practices noun US /ˈpræktəsəz/

plural of “practice” — a customary way of operation or behavior

From this reading “WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
uncertainly adverb US /ənˈsɜːrtənli/

in an unsteady manner

From this reading “"And your second impression, sir?" he asked somewhat uncertainly.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

young man adjective + noun

a teenager or a young adult male

In this reading “WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.”

130,774 times in 426,212 chapters
first impression adjective + noun

In this reading “WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.”

2,801 times in 426,212 chapters
first thing adjective + noun

In this reading “"The first thing I noticed," said I, "was the entire United States walking down the Boulevard des Italiens."”

15,960 times in 426,212 chapters
LITERARY MAN adjective + noun

In this reading “WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.”

903 times in 426,212 chapters
in the corridor preposition + article + noun counted as “in … corridor”

In this reading “WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.”

3,547 times in 426,212 chapters

All words in this reading · 62

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 WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading "The entire United States walking back again."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
appearverbUS /əˈpɪr/

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading He lighted a cigarette and tried to appear cheerful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading "And your second impression, sir?" he asked somewhat uncertainly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading "The entire United States walking back again."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BostonnounUS /ˈbɑːstən/

state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BoulevardnounUS /ˈbʊləvɑːrd/

a wide street or thoroughfare

From this reading "The first thing I noticed," said I, "was the entire United States walking down the Boulevard des Italiens."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
breakfastverbUS /ˈbrekfəst/

eat an early morning meal

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BULLIEDverbUS /ˈbʊlid/

inflected form of “bully” — be bossy towards

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
cheerfuladjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪrfəl/

being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits

From this reading He lighted a cigarette and tried to appear cheerful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/

a roll of tobacco for smoking

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
cigarettenounUS /ˌsɪɡərˈet/

finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking

From this reading He lighted a cigarette and tried to appear cheerful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/

an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
desnounUS /des/

a potent estrogen used in medicine and in feed for livestock and poultry

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading "The first thing I noticed," said I, "was the entire United States walking down the Boulevard des Italiens."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
EastnounUS /iːst/

the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
entireadjectiveUS /ɪnˈtaɪər/

constituting the full quantity or extent; complete

From this reading "The first thing I noticed," said I, "was the entire United States walking down the Boulevard des Italiens."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "And your second impression, sir?" he asked somewhat uncertainly.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Hôtel

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

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

Pending verification
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
impressionnounUS /ˌɪmˈpreʃən/

a vague idea in which some confidence is placed

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inquiredverbUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪərd/

past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Italiens

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

From this reading "The first thing I noticed," said I, "was the entire United States walking down the Boulevard des Italiens."

Pending verification
lightedadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪtəd/

set afire or burning

From this reading He lighted a cigarette and tried to appear cheerful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lightingnounUS /ˈlaɪtɪŋ/

having abundant light or illumination

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LITERARYadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəreri/

of or relating to or characteristic of literature

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MANnounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Michetons

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

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

Pending verification
MODESTadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːdəst/

marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
noticedadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəst/

being perceived or observed

From this reading "The first thing I noticed," said I, "was the entire United States walking down the Boulevard des Italiens."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ParisnounUS /ˈperɪs/

the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PRACTICESnounUS /ˈpræktəsəz/

plural of “practice” — a customary way of operation or behavior

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "The first thing I noticed," said I, "was the entire United States walking down the Boulevard des Italiens."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
secondnounUS /ˈsekənd/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading "And your second impression, sir?" he asked somewhat uncertainly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sirnounUS /sɜːr/

term of address for a man

From this reading "And your second impression, sir?" he asked somewhat uncertainly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
somewhatadverbUS /ˈsʌmˈwʌt/

to a small degree or extent

From this reading "And your second impression, sir?" he asked somewhat uncertainly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
StatesnounUS /steɪts/

plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading "The first thing I noticed," said I, "was the entire United States walking down the Boulevard des Italiens."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
STYLEnounUS /staɪl/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading "The first thing I noticed," said I, "was the entire United States walking down the Boulevard des Italiens."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He lighted a cigarette and tried to appear cheerful.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
triedadjectiveUS /traɪd/

tested and proved useful or correct

From this reading He lighted a cigarette and tried to appear cheerful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Twiller

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

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

Pending verification
uncertainlyadverbUS /ənˈsɜːrtənli/

in an unsteady manner

From this reading "And your second impression, sir?" he asked somewhat uncertainly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
UnitedadjectiveUS /juːˈnaɪtɪd/

characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity

From this reading "The first thing I noticed," said I, "was the entire United States walking down the Boulevard des Italiens."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
VannounUS /væn/

any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
walkingadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːkɪŋ/

close enough to be walked to

From this reading "The first thing I noticed," said I, "was the entire United States walking down the Boulevard des Italiens."

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 WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WHEREIN

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

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

Pending verification
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading WHEREIN A MODEST MAN IS BULLIED AND A LITERARY MAN PRACTICES STYLE "What was your first impression of Paris, Mr. Van Twiller?" inquired the young man from East Boston, as I was lighting my cigar in the corridor of the Hôtel des Michetons after breakfast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 5 of The Adventures of a Modest Man by Robert W. (Robert William) Chambers holds 196 sentences, grouped into 40 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 The Adventures of a Modest Man contain?

Chapter 5 holds 196 sentences of The Adventures of a Modest Man, unabridged, divided into 40 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of The Adventures of a Modest Man by Robert W. (Robert William) Chambers exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 196 sentences, grouped into 40 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 The Adventures of a Modest Man?

Work through the 40 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 40 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 The Adventures of a Modest Man

Common questions about reading The Adventures of a Modest Man by Robert W. (Robert William) Chambers on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Adventures of a Modest Man?

Yes. All 4266 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #43702 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Adventures of a Modest Man is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #43702, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Adventures of a Modest Man take to read?

About 355 minutes of reading across 854 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Adventures of a Modest Man section by section

How to work through The Adventures of a Modest Man section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 26 chapters of The Adventures of a Modest Man 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 The Adventures of a Modest Man

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Adventures of a Modest Man, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Adventures
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Adventures of a Modest Man; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Modest
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Adventures of a Modest Man; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Ailsa
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Adventures of a Modest Man; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Paige
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Adventures of a Modest Man; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.