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The Man Who Was Afraid
The Man Who Was Afraid

Chapter XI · Chapter 11

Chapter 11 of The Man Who Was Afraid is here in full — 267 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Man Who Was Afraid
Context Illustration Reading 1/53 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
LUBAVKA!” said Mayakin one day when he came home from the Exchange, prepare yourself for this evening.
I am going to bring you a bridegroom!
Prepare a nice hearty little lunch for us.
Put out on the table as much of our old silverware as possible, also bring out the fruit-vases, so that he is impressed by our table!
Let him see that each and everything we have is a rarity!”
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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 Man Who Was Afraid

Chapter XI · Chapter 11

Chapter 11 of The Man Who Was Afraid is here in full — 267 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/53 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
LUBAVKA!” said Mayakin one day when he came home from the Exchange, “prepare yourself for this evening.
Line 2
I am going to bring you a bridegroom!
/aɪ æm ˈɡoʊɪŋ tuː brɪŋ juː ə ˈbraɪdɡruːm/
Line 3
Prepare a nice hearty little lunch for us.
/priˈper ə naɪs ˈhɑːrti ˈlɪtəl lʌntʃ fɔːr ʌs/
Line 4
Put out on the table as much of our old silverware as possible, also bring out the fruit-vases, so that he is impressed by our table!
Line 5
Let him see that each and everything we have is a rarity!”
/let hɪm siː ðæt iːtʃ ənd ˈevriθɪŋ wiː hæv ɪz ə ˈrerəti/

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.

bridegroom noun US /ˈbraɪdɡruːm/

a man who has recently been married

From this reading “I am going to bring you a bridegroom!”

Exchange noun US /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/

chemical process in which one atom or ion or group changes places with another

From this reading ““LUBAVKA!” said Mayakin one day when he came home from the Exchange, “prepare yourself for this evening.”

hearty adjective US /ˈhɑːrti/

showing warm and heartfelt friendliness

From this reading “Prepare a nice hearty little lunch for us.”

impressed adjective US /ˌɪmˈprest/

deeply or markedly affected or influenced

From this reading “Put out on the table as much of our old silverware as possible, also bring out the fruit-vases, so that he is impressed by our table!”

lunch verb US /lʌntʃ/

take the midday meal

From this reading “Prepare a nice hearty little lunch for us.”

prepare verb US /priˈper/

make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc

From this reading ““LUBAVKA!” said Mayakin one day when he came home from the Exchange, “prepare yourself for this evening.”

rarity noun US /ˈrerəti/

noteworthy scarcity

From this reading “Let him see that each and everything we have is a rarity!””

silverware noun US /ˈsɪlvərwer/

tableware made of silver or silver plate or pewter or stainless steel

From this reading “Put out on the table as much of our old silverware as possible, also bring out the fruit-vases, so that he is impressed by our table!”

All words in this reading · 57

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 I am going to bring you a bridegroom!

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading Put out on the table as much of our old silverware as possible, also bring out the fruit-vases, so that he is impressed by our table!

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading I am going to bring you a bridegroom!

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Let him see that each and everything we have is a rarity!”

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Put out on the table as much of our old silverware as possible, also bring out the fruit-vases, so that he is impressed by our table!

bridegroomnounUS /ˈbraɪdɡruːm/

a man who has recently been married

From this reading I am going to bring you a bridegroom!

bringverbUS /brɪŋ/

take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading I am going to bring you a bridegroom!

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Put out on the table as much of our old silverware as possible, also bring out the fruit-vases, so that he is impressed by our table!

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading “LUBAVKA!” said Mayakin one day when he came home from the Exchange, “prepare yourself for this evening.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading “LUBAVKA!” said Mayakin one day when he came home from the Exchange, “prepare yourself for this evening.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Let him see that each and everything we have is a rarity!”

eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading “LUBAVKA!” said Mayakin one day when he came home from the Exchange, “prepare yourself for this evening.

everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading Let him see that each and everything we have is a rarity!”

ExchangenounUS /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/

chemical process in which one atom or ion or group changes places with another

From this reading “LUBAVKA!” said Mayakin one day when he came home from the Exchange, “prepare yourself for this evening.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “LUBAVKA!” said Mayakin one day when he came home from the Exchange, “prepare yourself for this evening.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading “LUBAVKA!” said Mayakin one day when he came home from the Exchange, “prepare yourself for this evening.

fruit-vases

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

From this reading Put out on the table as much of our old silverware as possible, also bring out the fruit-vases, so that he is impressed by our table!

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading I am going to bring you a bridegroom!

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Let him see that each and everything we have is a rarity!”

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading “LUBAVKA!” said Mayakin one day when he came home from the Exchange, “prepare yourself for this evening.

heartyadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrti/

showing warm and heartfelt friendliness

From this reading Prepare a nice hearty little lunch for us.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Let him see that each and everything we have is a rarity!”

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading “LUBAVKA!” said Mayakin one day when he came home from the Exchange, “prepare yourself for this evening.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I am going to bring you a bridegroom!

impressedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈprest/

deeply or markedly affected or influenced

From this reading Put out on the table as much of our old silverware as possible, also bring out the fruit-vases, so that he is impressed by our table!

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Put out on the table as much of our old silverware as possible, also bring out the fruit-vases, so that he is impressed by our table!

Letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Let him see that each and everything we have is a rarity!”

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Prepare a nice hearty little lunch for us.

LUBAVKA

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

From this reading “LUBAVKA!” said Mayakin one day when he came home from the Exchange, “prepare yourself for this evening.

lunchverbUS /lʌntʃ/

take the midday meal

From this reading Prepare a nice hearty little lunch for us.

Mayakin

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

From this reading “LUBAVKA!” said Mayakin one day when he came home from the Exchange, “prepare yourself for this evening.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Put out on the table as much of our old silverware as possible, also bring out the fruit-vases, so that he is impressed by our table!

niceadjectiveUS /naɪs/

pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance

From this reading Prepare a nice hearty little lunch for us.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Put out on the table as much of our old silverware as possible, also bring out the fruit-vases, so that he is impressed by our table!

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Put out on the table as much of our old silverware as possible, also bring out the fruit-vases, so that he is impressed by our table!

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Put out on the table as much of our old silverware as possible, also bring out the fruit-vases, so that he is impressed by our table!

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “LUBAVKA!” said Mayakin one day when he came home from the Exchange, “prepare yourself for this evening.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Put out on the table as much of our old silverware as possible, also bring out the fruit-vases, so that he is impressed by our table!

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Put out on the table as much of our old silverware as possible, also bring out the fruit-vases, so that he is impressed by our table!

possibleadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːsəbəl/

capable of happening or existing

From this reading Put out on the table as much of our old silverware as possible, also bring out the fruit-vases, so that he is impressed by our table!

prepareverbUS /priˈper/

make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc

From this reading “LUBAVKA!” said Mayakin one day when he came home from the Exchange, “prepare yourself for this evening.

PutverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Put out on the table as much of our old silverware as possible, also bring out the fruit-vases, so that he is impressed by our table!

raritynounUS /ˈrerəti/

noteworthy scarcity

From this reading Let him see that each and everything we have is a rarity!”

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “LUBAVKA!” said Mayakin one day when he came home from the Exchange, “prepare yourself for this evening.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Let him see that each and everything we have is a rarity!”

silverwarenounUS /ˈsɪlvərwer/

tableware made of silver or silver plate or pewter or stainless steel

From this reading Put out on the table as much of our old silverware as possible, also bring out the fruit-vases, so that he is impressed by our table!

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Put out on the table as much of our old silverware as possible, also bring out the fruit-vases, so that he is impressed by our table!

tablenounUS /ˈteɪbəl/

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading Put out on the table as much of our old silverware as possible, also bring out the fruit-vases, so that he is impressed by our table!

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Put out on the table as much of our old silverware as possible, also bring out the fruit-vases, so that he is impressed by our table!

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “LUBAVKA!” said Mayakin one day when he came home from the Exchange, “prepare yourself for this evening.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading “LUBAVKA!” said Mayakin one day when he came home from the Exchange, “prepare yourself for this evening.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I am going to bring you a bridegroom!

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Prepare a nice hearty little lunch for us.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Let him see that each and everything we have is a rarity!”

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading “LUBAVKA!” said Mayakin one day when he came home from the Exchange, “prepare yourself for this evening.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading I am going to bring you a bridegroom!

yourselfpronounUS /jərˈself/

used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action

From this reading “LUBAVKA!” said Mayakin one day when he came home from the Exchange, “prepare yourself for this evening.

Chapter 11 of The Man Who Was Afraid by Maksim Gorky holds 267 sentences, grouped into 54 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 11 of The Man Who Was Afraid contain?

Chapter 11 holds 267 sentences of The Man Who Was Afraid, unabridged, divided into 54 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 11 of The Man Who Was Afraid by Maksim Gorky exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 267 sentences, grouped into 54 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 11 of The Man Who Was Afraid?

Work through the 54 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 54 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 11 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 11 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 Man Who Was Afraid

Common questions about reading The Man Who Was Afraid by Maksim Gorky on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Man Who Was Afraid?

Yes. All 9760 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2709 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Man Who Was Afraid is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2709, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Man Who Was Afraid take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1952 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Man Who Was Afraid section by section

How to work through The Man Who Was Afraid section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 13 chapters of The Man Who Was Afraid 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 Man Who Was Afraid

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Man Who Was Afraid, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Sixty
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Man Who Was Afraid; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Years
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Man Who Was Afraid; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Fortunes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Man Who Was Afraid; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Millions
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Man Who Was Afraid; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.