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William Adolphus Turnpike
William Adolphus Turnpike

Chapter XXX

Cover illustration for William Adolphus Turnpike
Context Illustration Reading 1/19 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.
The company was two weeks in the old Academy of Music before taking the road, and from the first night drew large audiences.
William had two parts.
In the first and second acts he merely "appeared," describing himself to his friends as "part of the scenery."
In the third and fourth acts he had a speaking part, and in the latter a chance for a little bit of comedy that, short as it was, gave him a real opportunity.
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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.

William Adolphus Turnpike

Chapter XXX

Reading 1/19 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.
Line 2
The company was two weeks in the old Academy of Music before taking the road, and from the first night drew large audiences.
Line 3
William had two parts.
Line 4
In the first and second acts he merely "appeared," describing himself to his friends as "part of the scenery."
Line 5
In the third and fourth acts he had a speaking part, and in the latter a chance for a little bit of comedy that, short as it was, gave him a real opportunity.

Learner Dictionary

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

Academy noun US /əˈkæd.ə.mi/

A place of study or training in a special field of knowledge and arts.

From this reading “The company was two weeks in the old Academy of Music before taking the road, and from the first night drew large audiences.”

Appearance noun US /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading “William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “The company was two weeks in the old Academy of Music before taking the road, and from the first night drew large audiences.”

Drew noun US /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The company was two weeks in the old Academy of Music before taking the road, and from the first night drew large audiences.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.”

Fourth noun US /fourth/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the third and fourth acts he had a speaking part, and in the latter a chance for a little bit of comedy that, short as it was, gave him a real opportunity.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “In the first and second acts he merely "appeared," describing himself to his friends as "part of the scenery."”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the third and fourth acts he had a speaking part, and in the latter a chance for a little bit of comedy that, short as it was, gave him a real opportunity.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the first and second acts he merely "appeared," describing himself to his friends as "part of the scenery."”

Second noun US /second/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the first and second acts he merely "appeared," describing himself to his friends as "part of the scenery."”

Short adjective US /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading “In the third and fourth acts he had a speaking part, and in the latter a chance for a little bit of comedy that, short as it was, gave him a real opportunity.”

Third noun US /third/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the third and fourth acts he had a speaking part, and in the latter a chance for a little bit of comedy that, short as it was, gave him a real opportunity.”

All words in this reading · 71

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 William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

AcademynounUS /əˈkæd.ə.mi/

A place of study or training in a special field of knowledge and arts.

From this reading The company was two weeks in the old Academy of Music before taking the road, and from the first night drew large audiences.

acts

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

From this reading In the first and second acts he merely "appeared," describing himself to his friends as "part of the scenery."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

appeared

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

From this reading In the first and second acts he merely "appeared," describing himself to his friends as "part of the scenery."

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading In the first and second acts he merely "appeared," describing himself to his friends as "part of the scenery."

audiences

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

From this reading The company was two weeks in the old Academy of Music before taking the road, and from the first night drew large audiences.

autumn

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The company was two weeks in the old Academy of Music before taking the road, and from the first night drew large audiences.

bit

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

From this reading In the third and fourth acts he had a speaking part, and in the latter a chance for a little bit of comedy that, short as it was, gave him a real opportunity.

chance

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

From this reading In the third and fourth acts he had a speaking part, and in the latter a chance for a little bit of comedy that, short as it was, gave him a real opportunity.

comedy

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

From this reading In the third and fourth acts he had a speaking part, and in the latter a chance for a little bit of comedy that, short as it was, gave him a real opportunity.

comedy-drama

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

Company

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

day

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

describing

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

From this reading In the first and second acts he merely "appeared," describing himself to his friends as "part of the scenery."

drewnounUS /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The company was two weeks in the old Academy of Music before taking the road, and from the first night drew large audiences.

Etobicoke

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading In the third and fourth acts he had a speaking part, and in the latter a chance for a little bit of comedy that, short as it was, gave him a real opportunity.

fourthnounUS /fourth/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the third and fourth acts he had a speaking part, and in the latter a chance for a little bit of comedy that, short as it was, gave him a real opportunity.

friends

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

From this reading In the first and second acts he merely "appeared," describing himself to his friends as "part of the scenery."

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The company was two weeks in the old Academy of Music before taking the road, and from the first night drew large audiences.

gave

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

From this reading In the third and fourth acts he had a speaking part, and in the latter a chance for a little bit of comedy that, short as it was, gave him a real opportunity.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading In the first and second acts he merely "appeared," describing himself to his friends as "part of the scenery."

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading In the third and fourth acts he had a speaking part, and in the latter a chance for a little bit of comedy that, short as it was, gave him a real opportunity.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading In the first and second acts he merely "appeared," describing himself to his friends as "part of the scenery."

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

immensely

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading In the third and fourth acts he had a speaking part, and in the latter a chance for a little bit of comedy that, short as it was, gave him a real opportunity.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

Joe

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

large

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

From this reading The company was two weeks in the old Academy of Music before taking the road, and from the first night drew large audiences.

latter

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

From this reading In the third and fourth acts he had a speaking part, and in the latter a chance for a little bit of comedy that, short as it was, gave him a real opportunity.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the third and fourth acts he had a speaking part, and in the latter a chance for a little bit of comedy that, short as it was, gave him a real opportunity.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

made

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

merely

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

From this reading In the first and second acts he merely "appeared," describing himself to his friends as "part of the scenery."

Mertle's

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

Music

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

From this reading The company was two weeks in the old Academy of Music before taking the road, and from the first night drew large audiences.

night

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

From this reading The company was two weeks in the old Academy of Music before taking the road, and from the first night drew large audiences.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

Old

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

opportunity

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

From this reading In the third and fourth acts he had a speaking part, and in the latter a chance for a little bit of comedy that, short as it was, gave him a real opportunity.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the first and second acts he merely "appeared," describing himself to his friends as "part of the scenery."

parts

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

From this reading William had two parts.

popular

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

professional

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

real

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

From this reading In the third and fourth acts he had a speaking part, and in the latter a chance for a little bit of comedy that, short as it was, gave him a real opportunity.

road

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

From this reading The company was two weeks in the old Academy of Music before taking the road, and from the first night drew large audiences.

run

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

rural

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

scenery

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

From this reading In the first and second acts he merely "appeared," describing himself to his friends as "part of the scenery."

second

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

From this reading In the first and second acts he merely "appeared," describing himself to his friends as "part of the scenery."

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading In the third and fourth acts he had a speaking part, and in the latter a chance for a little bit of comedy that, short as it was, gave him a real opportunity.

speaking

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

From this reading In the third and fourth acts he had a speaking part, and in the latter a chance for a little bit of comedy that, short as it was, gave him a real opportunity.

taking

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

From this reading The company was two weeks in the old Academy of Music before taking the road, and from the first night drew large audiences.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

thirdnounUS /third/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the third and fourth acts he had a speaking part, and in the latter a chance for a little bit of comedy that, short as it was, gave him a real opportunity.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading In the first and second acts he merely "appeared," describing himself to his friends as "part of the scenery."

Toronto

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

two

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

From this reading The company was two weeks in the old Academy of Music before taking the road, and from the first night drew large audiences.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

weeks

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

From this reading The company was two weeks in the old Academy of Music before taking the road, and from the first night drew large audiences.

William

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.

year

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

From this reading William made his first professional appearance in Toronto in the autumn of that year with Joe Mertle's Company in _Old Etobicoke_, a rural comedy-drama that was immensely popular in its day and had a long run.