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The Troubadour
The Troubadour

Chapter I

Cover illustration for The Troubadour
Context Illustration Reading 1/15 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
There was something odd about the guest attraction, Mr. Fayliss, and something odder still about his songs.
So far as parties go, Jocelyn's were no duller than any others.
I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.
Kutrov adheres to the "onward and upward" school of linear progress, while Alva is more or less of a Spenglerian.
More when he goes along by himself; less when you try to pin him down to it.
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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 Troubadour

Chapter I

Reading 1/15 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
There was something odd about the guest attraction, Mr. Fayliss, and something odder still about his songs.
Line 2
So far as parties go, Jocelyn's were no duller than any others.
Line 3
I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.
Line 4
Kutrov adheres to the "onward and upward" school of linear progress, while Alva is more or less of a Spenglerian.
Line 5
More when he goes along by himself; less when you try to pin him down to it.

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 “There was something odd about the guest attraction, Mr. Fayliss, and something odder still about his songs.”

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “More when he goes along by himself; less when you try to pin him down to it.”

Double noun US /double/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “More when he goes along by himself; less when you try to pin him down to it.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “There was something odd about the guest attraction, Mr. Fayliss, and something odder still about his songs.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There was something odd about the guest attraction, Mr. Fayliss, and something odder still about his songs.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “Kutrov adheres to the "onward and upward" school of linear progress, while Alva is more or less of a Spenglerian.”

All words in this reading · 73

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 Kutrov adheres to the "onward and upward" school of linear progress, while Alva is more or less of a Spenglerian.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading There was something odd about the guest attraction, Mr. Fayliss, and something odder still about his songs.

adheres

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

From this reading Kutrov adheres to the "onward and upward" school of linear progress, while Alva is more or less of a Spenglerian.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading More when he goes along by himself; less when you try to pin him down to it.

Alva

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

From this reading I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading There was something odd about the guest attraction, Mr. Fayliss, and something odder still about his songs.

any

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

From this reading So far as parties go, Jocelyn's were no duller than any others.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading So far as parties go, Jocelyn's were no duller than any others.

attraction

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

From this reading There was something odd about the guest attraction, Mr. Fayliss, and something odder still about his songs.

bait

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

From this reading I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading More when he goes along by himself; less when you try to pin him down to it.

double

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

From this reading I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.

down

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

From this reading More when he goes along by himself; less when you try to pin him down to it.

duller

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

From this reading So far as parties go, Jocelyn's were no duller than any others.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

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

From this reading I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.

entertaining

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

From this reading I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.

far

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

From this reading So far as parties go, Jocelyn's were no duller than any others.

Fayliss

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

From this reading There was something odd about the guest attraction, Mr. Fayliss, and something odder still about his songs.

features

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

From this reading I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.

Frank

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

From this reading I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.

go

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

From this reading So far as parties go, Jocelyn's were no duller than any others.

goes

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

From this reading More when he goes along by himself; less when you try to pin him down to it.

guest

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

From this reading There was something odd about the guest attraction, Mr. Fayliss, and something odder still about his songs.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading More when he goes along by himself; less when you try to pin him down to it.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading More when he goes along by himself; less when you try to pin him down to it.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading More when he goes along by himself; less when you try to pin him down to it.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading There was something odd about the guest attraction, Mr. Fayliss, and something odder still about his songs.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading More when he goes along by himself; less when you try to pin him down to it.

Jocelyn's

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

From this reading So far as parties go, Jocelyn's were no duller than any others.

Kutrov

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

From this reading I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.

less

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

From this reading Kutrov adheres to the "onward and upward" school of linear progress, while Alva is more or less of a Spenglerian.

linear

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

From this reading Kutrov adheres to the "onward and upward" school of linear progress, while Alva is more or less of a Spenglerian.

listen

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

From this reading I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.

mainly

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

From this reading I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.

more

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

From this reading I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.

most

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

From this reading I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.

Mr

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

From this reading There was something odd about the guest attraction, Mr. Fayliss, and something odder still about his songs.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading So far as parties go, Jocelyn's were no duller than any others.

odd

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

From this reading There was something odd about the guest attraction, Mr. Fayliss, and something odder still about his songs.

odder

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

From this reading There was something odd about the guest attraction, Mr. Fayliss, and something odder still about his songs.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Kutrov adheres to the "onward and upward" school of linear progress, while Alva is more or less of a Spenglerian.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.

onward

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

From this reading Kutrov adheres to the "onward and upward" school of linear progress, while Alva is more or less of a Spenglerian.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Kutrov adheres to the "onward and upward" school of linear progress, while Alva is more or less of a Spenglerian.

other

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

From this reading I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.

others

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

From this reading So far as parties go, Jocelyn's were no duller than any others.

parties

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

From this reading So far as parties go, Jocelyn's were no duller than any others.

Paul

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

From this reading I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.

pin

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

From this reading More when he goes along by himself; less when you try to pin him down to it.

progress

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

From this reading Kutrov adheres to the "onward and upward" school of linear progress, while Alva is more or less of a Spenglerian.

school

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

From this reading Kutrov adheres to the "onward and upward" school of linear progress, while Alva is more or less of a Spenglerian.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So far as parties go, Jocelyn's were no duller than any others.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading There was something odd about the guest attraction, Mr. Fayliss, and something odder still about his songs.

songs

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

From this reading There was something odd about the guest attraction, Mr. Fayliss, and something odder still about his songs.

Spenglerian

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

From this reading Kutrov adheres to the "onward and upward" school of linear progress, while Alva is more or less of a Spenglerian.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There was something odd about the guest attraction, Mr. Fayliss, and something odder still about his songs.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading So far as parties go, Jocelyn's were no duller than any others.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading There was something odd about the guest attraction, Mr. Fayliss, and something odder still about his songs.

There

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

From this reading There was something odd about the guest attraction, Mr. Fayliss, and something odder still about his songs.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.

try

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

From this reading More when he goes along by himself; less when you try to pin him down to it.

upward

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

From this reading Kutrov adheres to the "onward and upward" school of linear progress, while Alva is more or less of a Spenglerian.

usually

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

From this reading I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was something odd about the guest attraction, Mr. Fayliss, and something odder still about his songs.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading So far as parties go, Jocelyn's were no duller than any others.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading More when he goes along by himself; less when you try to pin him down to it.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading I went to this one mainly to listen to Paul Kutrov and Frank Alva bait each other, which is usually more entertaining than most double features.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading Kutrov adheres to the "onward and upward" school of linear progress, while Alva is more or less of a Spenglerian.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading More when he goes along by himself; less when you try to pin him down to it.