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A book of martyrs
A book of martyrs

Chapter II

Cover illustration for A book of martyrs
Context Illustration Reading 1/102 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When the congregation knelt for the last prayer, Serene knelt with them, but did not rise again.
She did not respond even when her companion touched her on the shoulder before turning to go.
She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.
“Let me be chastened forever,” the heart cries in such a moment, “so that I but learn more of thy ways!”
Some one came slowly down the aisle at last, and stopped, hesitating, beside the pew where she still knelt.
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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.

A book of martyrs

Chapter II

Reading 1/102 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When the congregation knelt for the last prayer, Serene knelt with them, but did not rise again.
Line 2
She did not respond even when her companion touched her on the shoulder before turning to go.
Line 3
She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.
Line 4
“Let me be chastened forever,” the heart cries in such a moment, “so that I but learn more of thy ways!”
Line 5
Some one came slowly down the aisle at last, and stopped, hesitating, beside the pew where she still knelt.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When the congregation knelt for the last prayer, Serene knelt with them, but did not rise again.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “She did not respond even when her companion touched her on the shoulder before turning to go.”

Beside preposition US /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading “Some one came slowly down the aisle at last, and stopped, hesitating, beside the pew where she still knelt.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She did not respond even when her companion touched her on the shoulder before turning to go.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When the congregation knelt for the last prayer, Serene knelt with them, but did not rise again.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading ““Let me be chastened forever,” the heart cries in such a moment, “so that I but learn more of thy ways!””

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Some one came slowly down the aisle at last, and stopped, hesitating, beside the pew where she still knelt.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Some one came slowly down the aisle at last, and stopped, hesitating, beside the pew where she still knelt.”

Stopped noun US /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Some one came slowly down the aisle at last, and stopped, hesitating, beside the pew where she still knelt.”

Sudden noun US /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.”

Thy determiner US /ðaɪ/

an old word for “your”, speaking to one person

From this reading ““Let me be chastened forever,” the heart cries in such a moment, “so that I but learn more of thy ways!””

All words in this reading · 82

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 “Let me be chastened forever,” the heart cries in such a moment, “so that I but learn more of thy ways!”

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When the congregation knelt for the last prayer, Serene knelt with them, but did not rise again.

aisle

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

From this reading Some one came slowly down the aisle at last, and stopped, hesitating, beside the pew where she still knelt.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Some one came slowly down the aisle at last, and stopped, hesitating, beside the pew where she still knelt.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Some one came slowly down the aisle at last, and stopped, hesitating, beside the pew where she still knelt.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading “Let me be chastened forever,” the heart cries in such a moment, “so that I but learn more of thy ways!”

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading She did not respond even when her companion touched her on the shoulder before turning to go.

besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading Some one came slowly down the aisle at last, and stopped, hesitating, beside the pew where she still knelt.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading When the congregation knelt for the last prayer, Serene knelt with them, but did not rise again.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

came

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

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

chastened

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

From this reading “Let me be chastened forever,” the heart cries in such a moment, “so that I but learn more of thy ways!”

clear

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

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

companion

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

From this reading She did not respond even when her companion touched her on the shoulder before turning to go.

congregation

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

From this reading When the congregation knelt for the last prayer, Serene knelt with them, but did not rise again.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

cries

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

From this reading “Let me be chastened forever,” the heart cries in such a moment, “so that I but learn more of thy ways!”

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading When the congregation knelt for the last prayer, Serene knelt with them, but did not rise again.

down

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

From this reading Some one came slowly down the aisle at last, and stopped, hesitating, beside the pew where she still knelt.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She did not respond even when her companion touched her on the shoulder before turning to go.

face

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

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading When the congregation knelt for the last prayer, Serene knelt with them, but did not rise again.

forever

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

From this reading “Let me be chastened forever,” the heart cries in such a moment, “so that I but learn more of thy ways!”

full

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

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

go

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

From this reading She did not respond even when her companion touched her on the shoulder before turning to go.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

heart

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

From this reading “Let me be chastened forever,” the heart cries in such a moment, “so that I but learn more of thy ways!”

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading She did not respond even when her companion touched her on the shoulder before turning to go.

hesitating

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

From this reading Some one came slowly down the aisle at last, and stopped, hesitating, beside the pew where she still knelt.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “Let me be chastened forever,” the heart cries in such a moment, “so that I but learn more of thy ways!”

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

Infinite

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

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

just

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

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

knelt

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

From this reading When the congregation knelt for the last prayer, Serene knelt with them, but did not rise again.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When the congregation knelt for the last prayer, Serene knelt with them, but did not rise again.

learn

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

From this reading “Let me be chastened forever,” the heart cries in such a moment, “so that I but learn more of thy ways!”

Letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “Let me be chastened forever,” the heart cries in such a moment, “so that I but learn more of thy ways!”

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

lift

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

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “Let me be chastened forever,” the heart cries in such a moment, “so that I but learn more of thy ways!”

moment

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

From this reading “Let me be chastened forever,” the heart cries in such a moment, “so that I but learn more of thy ways!”

more

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

From this reading “Let me be chastened forever,” the heart cries in such a moment, “so that I but learn more of thy ways!”

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading When the congregation knelt for the last prayer, Serene knelt with them, but did not rise again.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She did not respond even when her companion touched her on the shoulder before turning to go.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Some one came slowly down the aisle at last, and stopped, hesitating, beside the pew where she still knelt.

pew

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

From this reading Some one came slowly down the aisle at last, and stopped, hesitating, beside the pew where she still knelt.

prayer

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

From this reading When the congregation knelt for the last prayer, Serene knelt with them, but did not rise again.

rapture

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

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

realization

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

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

respond

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

From this reading She did not respond even when her companion touched her on the shoulder before turning to go.

rise

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

From this reading When the congregation knelt for the last prayer, Serene knelt with them, but did not rise again.

Serene

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

From this reading When the congregation knelt for the last prayer, Serene knelt with them, but did not rise again.

shaped

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

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She did not respond even when her companion touched her on the shoulder before turning to go.

shoulder

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

From this reading She did not respond even when her companion touched her on the shoulder before turning to go.

slowly

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

From this reading Some one came slowly down the aisle at last, and stopped, hesitating, beside the pew where she still knelt.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading “Let me be chastened forever,” the heart cries in such a moment, “so that I but learn more of thy ways!”

Some

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

From this reading Some one came slowly down the aisle at last, and stopped, hesitating, beside the pew where she still knelt.

soul

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

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Some one came slowly down the aisle at last, and stopped, hesitating, beside the pew where she still knelt.

stoppednounUS /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Some one came slowly down the aisle at last, and stopped, hesitating, beside the pew where she still knelt.

strange

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

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading “Let me be chastened forever,” the heart cries in such a moment, “so that I but learn more of thy ways!”

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading When the congregation knelt for the last prayer, Serene knelt with them, but did not rise again.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading When the congregation knelt for the last prayer, Serene knelt with them, but did not rise again.

then

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

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

thydeterminerUS /ðaɪ/

an old word for “your”, speaking to one person

From this reading “Let me be chastened forever,” the heart cries in such a moment, “so that I but learn more of thy ways!”

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading She did not respond even when her companion touched her on the shoulder before turning to go.

tool

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

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

touched

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

From this reading She did not respond even when her companion touched her on the shoulder before turning to go.

turning

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

From this reading She did not respond even when her companion touched her on the shoulder before turning to go.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

ways

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

From this reading “Let me be chastened forever,” the heart cries in such a moment, “so that I but learn more of thy ways!”

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When the congregation knelt for the last prayer, Serene knelt with them, but did not rise again.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Some one came slowly down the aisle at last, and stopped, hesitating, beside the pew where she still knelt.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading She could not lift her face just then, full as it was of that strange rapture which came of the sudden clear realization that her life was the tool in the hands of the Infinite by which her soul was shaped.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading When the congregation knelt for the last prayer, Serene knelt with them, but did not rise again.