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The Far Horizon
The Far Horizon

Chapter XXXV

Cover illustration for The Far Horizon
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.
The series of moods usually resultant on such recourse to spirituous liquors, followed one another with clock-work regularity.
He was alternately hysterically elated, preternaturally moral, offensively quarrelsome, maudlin to the point of tears.
The first _matinee_ of his long-promised play had prospered but very ill, notwithstanding large advertisement and free list.
The second had prospered even worse.
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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 Far Horizon

Chapter XXXV

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.
Line 2
The series of moods usually resultant on such recourse to spirituous liquors, followed one another with clock-work regularity.
Line 3
He was alternately hysterically elated, preternaturally moral, offensively quarrelsome, maudlin to the point of tears.
Line 4
The first _matinee_ of his long-promised play had prospered but very ill, notwithstanding large advertisement and free list.
Line 5
The second had prospered even worse.

Learner Dictionary

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

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “The series of moods usually resultant on such recourse to spirituous liquors, followed one another with clock-work regularity.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The second had prospered even worse.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The first _matinee_ of his long-promised play had prospered but very ill, notwithstanding large advertisement and free list.”

Free adjective US /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading “The first _matinee_ of his long-promised play had prospered but very ill, notwithstanding large advertisement and free list.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The series of moods usually resultant on such recourse to spirituous liquors, followed one another with clock-work regularity.”

Point noun US /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading “He was alternately hysterically elated, preternaturally moral, offensively quarrelsome, maudlin to the point of tears.”

Second noun US /second/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The second had prospered even worse.”

All words in this reading · 72

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

advertisement

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

From this reading The first _matinee_ of his long-promised play had prospered but very ill, notwithstanding large advertisement and free list.

alternately

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

From this reading He was alternately hysterically elated, preternaturally moral, offensively quarrelsome, maudlin to the point of tears.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading The series of moods usually resultant on such recourse to spirituous liquors, followed one another with clock-work regularity.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

clock-work

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

From this reading The series of moods usually resultant on such recourse to spirituous liquors, followed one another with clock-work regularity.

courage

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

Courcy

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

custom

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

De

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

drinking

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

drunk

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

elated

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

From this reading He was alternately hysterically elated, preternaturally moral, offensively quarrelsome, maudlin to the point of tears.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The second had prospered even worse.

excitement

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

fallacious

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The first _matinee_ of his long-promised play had prospered but very ill, notwithstanding large advertisement and free list.

followed

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

From this reading The series of moods usually resultant on such recourse to spirituous liquors, followed one another with clock-work regularity.

freeadjectiveUS /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading The first _matinee_ of his long-promised play had prospered but very ill, notwithstanding large advertisement and free list.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

hope

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

hysterically

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

From this reading He was alternately hysterically elated, preternaturally moral, offensively quarrelsome, maudlin to the point of tears.

ill

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

From this reading The first _matinee_ of his long-promised play had prospered but very ill, notwithstanding large advertisement and free list.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

irritable

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

keeping

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

large

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

From this reading The first _matinee_ of his long-promised play had prospered but very ill, notwithstanding large advertisement and free list.

liquors

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

From this reading The series of moods usually resultant on such recourse to spirituous liquors, followed one another with clock-work regularity.

list

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

From this reading The first _matinee_ of his long-promised play had prospered but very ill, notwithstanding large advertisement and free list.

long-promised

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

From this reading The first _matinee_ of his long-promised play had prospered but very ill, notwithstanding large advertisement and free list.

matinee

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

From this reading The first _matinee_ of his long-promised play had prospered but very ill, notwithstanding large advertisement and free list.

maudlin

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

From this reading He was alternately hysterically elated, preternaturally moral, offensively quarrelsome, maudlin to the point of tears.

mental

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

moods

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

From this reading The series of moods usually resultant on such recourse to spirituous liquors, followed one another with clock-work regularity.

moral

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

From this reading He was alternately hysterically elated, preternaturally moral, offensively quarrelsome, maudlin to the point of tears.

nerves

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

nipping

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

notwithstanding

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

From this reading The first _matinee_ of his long-promised play had prospered but very ill, notwithstanding large advertisement and free list.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

offensively

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

From this reading He was alternately hysterically elated, preternaturally moral, offensively quarrelsome, maudlin to the point of tears.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The series of moods usually resultant on such recourse to spirituous liquors, followed one another with clock-work regularity.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The series of moods usually resultant on such recourse to spirituous liquors, followed one another with clock-work regularity.

persistently

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

play

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

From this reading The first _matinee_ of his long-promised play had prospered but very ill, notwithstanding large advertisement and free list.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading He was alternately hysterically elated, preternaturally moral, offensively quarrelsome, maudlin to the point of tears.

preternaturally

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

From this reading He was alternately hysterically elated, preternaturally moral, offensively quarrelsome, maudlin to the point of tears.

prospered

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

From this reading The first _matinee_ of his long-promised play had prospered but very ill, notwithstanding large advertisement and free list.

quarrelsome

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

From this reading He was alternately hysterically elated, preternaturally moral, offensively quarrelsome, maudlin to the point of tears.

recourse

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

From this reading The series of moods usually resultant on such recourse to spirituous liquors, followed one another with clock-work regularity.

regularity

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

From this reading The series of moods usually resultant on such recourse to spirituous liquors, followed one another with clock-work regularity.

resultant

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

From this reading The series of moods usually resultant on such recourse to spirituous liquors, followed one another with clock-work regularity.

second

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

From this reading The second had prospered even worse.

series

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

From this reading The series of moods usually resultant on such recourse to spirituous liquors, followed one another with clock-work regularity.

Smyth

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

spirituous

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

From this reading The series of moods usually resultant on such recourse to spirituous liquors, followed one another with clock-work regularity.

steadying

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading The series of moods usually resultant on such recourse to spirituous liquors, followed one another with clock-work regularity.

tears

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

From this reading He was alternately hysterically elated, preternaturally moral, offensively quarrelsome, maudlin to the point of tears.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

times

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The series of moods usually resultant on such recourse to spirituous liquors, followed one another with clock-work regularity.

up

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

usually

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

From this reading The series of moods usually resultant on such recourse to spirituous liquors, followed one another with clock-work regularity.

very

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

From this reading The first _matinee_ of his long-promised play had prospered but very ill, notwithstanding large advertisement and free list.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading De Courcy Smyth was not drunk, but he had been drinking--persistently nipping, as his custom was in times of mental excitement, in the fallacious hope of keeping up courage and steadying irritable nerves.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The series of moods usually resultant on such recourse to spirituous liquors, followed one another with clock-work regularity.

worse

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

From this reading The second had prospered even worse.