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We Can't Have Everything: A Novel
We Can't Have Everything: A Novel

Chapter XXIV

Cover illustration for We Can't Have Everything: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The villain in melodrama is as likely as not to be as decent a fellow as any.
When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.
Gilfoyle was as decent a fellow as ever villain was.
Circumstances and not himself cast him in an evil role, and as actors know, once so established, it is almost impossible to return to heroic parts.
Gilfoyle could not even remove his grease-paint.
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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.

We Can't Have Everything: A Novel

Chapter XXIV

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

Line 1
The villain in melodrama is as likely as not to be as decent a fellow as any.
Line 2
When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.
Line 3
Gilfoyle was as decent a fellow as ever villain was.
Line 4
Circumstances and not himself cast him in an evil role, and as actors know, once so established, it is almost impossible to return to heroic parts.
Line 5
Gilfoyle could not even remove his grease-paint.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “Gilfoyle could not even remove his grease-paint.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Gilfoyle could not even remove his grease-paint.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Gilfoyle was as decent a fellow as ever villain was.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Circumstances and not himself cast him in an evil role, and as actors know, once so established, it is almost impossible to return to heroic parts.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Circumstances and not himself cast him in an evil role, and as actors know, once so established, it is almost impossible to return to heroic parts.”

All words in this reading · 64

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

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The villain in melodrama is as likely as not to be as decent a fellow as any.

actors

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

From this reading Circumstances and not himself cast him in an evil role, and as actors know, once so established, it is almost impossible to return to heroic parts.

almost

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

From this reading Circumstances and not himself cast him in an evil role, and as actors know, once so established, it is almost impossible to return to heroic parts.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Circumstances and not himself cast him in an evil role, and as actors know, once so established, it is almost impossible to return to heroic parts.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

any

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

From this reading The villain in melodrama is as likely as not to be as decent a fellow as any.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The villain in melodrama is as likely as not to be as decent a fellow as any.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The villain in melodrama is as likely as not to be as decent a fellow as any.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

bowl

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

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

cast

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

From this reading Circumstances and not himself cast him in an evil role, and as actors know, once so established, it is almost impossible to return to heroic parts.

Circumstances

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

From this reading Circumstances and not himself cast him in an evil role, and as actors know, once so established, it is almost impossible to return to heroic parts.

club

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

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Gilfoyle could not even remove his grease-paint.

decent

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

From this reading The villain in melodrama is as likely as not to be as decent a fellow as any.

devoted

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

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

dressing-room

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

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

established

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

From this reading Circumstances and not himself cast him in an evil role, and as actors know, once so established, it is almost impossible to return to heroic parts.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Gilfoyle could not even remove his grease-paint.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Gilfoyle was as decent a fellow as ever villain was.

evil

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

From this reading Circumstances and not himself cast him in an evil role, and as actors know, once so established, it is almost impossible to return to heroic parts.

exit

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

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

family

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

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

fellow

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

From this reading The villain in melodrama is as likely as not to be as decent a fellow as any.

final

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

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

Gilfoyle

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

From this reading Gilfoyle was as decent a fellow as ever villain was.

goes

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

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

grease-paint

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

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

heroic

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

From this reading Circumstances and not himself cast him in an evil role, and as actors know, once so established, it is almost impossible to return to heroic parts.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Circumstances and not himself cast him in an evil role, and as actors know, once so established, it is almost impossible to return to heroic parts.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

hissed

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

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

impossible

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

From this reading Circumstances and not himself cast him in an evil role, and as actors know, once so established, it is almost impossible to return to heroic parts.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The villain in melodrama is as likely as not to be as decent a fellow as any.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The villain in melodrama is as likely as not to be as decent a fellow as any.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Circumstances and not himself cast him in an evil role, and as actors know, once so established, it is almost impossible to return to heroic parts.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Circumstances and not himself cast him in an evil role, and as actors know, once so established, it is almost impossible to return to heroic parts.

likely

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

From this reading The villain in melodrama is as likely as not to be as decent a fellow as any.

melodrama

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

From this reading The villain in melodrama is as likely as not to be as decent a fellow as any.

milk-and-crackers

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

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The villain in melodrama is as likely as not to be as decent a fellow as any.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

off

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

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

once

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

From this reading Circumstances and not himself cast him in an evil role, and as actors know, once so established, it is almost impossible to return to heroic parts.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

parts

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

From this reading Circumstances and not himself cast him in an evil role, and as actors know, once so established, it is almost impossible to return to heroic parts.

probably

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

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

remove

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

From this reading Gilfoyle could not even remove his grease-paint.

return

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

From this reading Circumstances and not himself cast him in an evil role, and as actors know, once so established, it is almost impossible to return to heroic parts.

returns

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

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

role

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

From this reading Circumstances and not himself cast him in an evil role, and as actors know, once so established, it is almost impossible to return to heroic parts.

scours

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

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

seats

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

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

slinks

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

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Circumstances and not himself cast him in an evil role, and as actors know, once so established, it is almost impossible to return to heroic parts.

stage

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

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The villain in melodrama is as likely as not to be as decent a fellow as any.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The villain in melodrama is as likely as not to be as decent a fellow as any.

villain

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

From this reading The villain in melodrama is as likely as not to be as decent a fellow as any.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Gilfoyle was as decent a fellow as ever villain was.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When he slinks from the stage in his final hissed exit he goes to his dressing-room, scours off his grease-paint, and probably returns to his devoted family or seats himself before a bowl of milk-and-crackers in his club.