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A Mummer's Tale
A Mummer's Tale

Chapter XV

Cover illustration for A Mummer's Tale
Context Illustration Reading 1/7 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
They met daily at the theatre, and they went for walks together.
Nanteuil was playing almost every night, and was eagerly working at her part of Cecile.
She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.
A fortnight went by in this fashion.
Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Mummer's Tale

Chapter XV

Reading 1/7 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
They met daily at the theatre, and they went for walks together.
Line 2
Nanteuil was playing almost every night, and was eagerly working at her part of Cecile.
Line 3
She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.
Line 4
A fortnight went by in this fashion.
Line 5
Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.

Learner Dictionary

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

Dead noun US /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “Nanteuil was playing almost every night, and was eagerly working at her part of Cecile.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.”

Nights noun US /naɪts/

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading “She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Nanteuil was playing almost every night, and was eagerly working at her part of Cecile.”

Toward preposition US /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading “Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They met daily at the theatre, and they went for walks together.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.”

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 A fortnight went by in this fashion.

almost

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

From this reading Nanteuil was playing almost every night, and was eagerly working at her part of Cecile.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading They met daily at the theatre, and they went for walks together.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.

asleep

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

From this reading She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading They met daily at the theatre, and they went for walks together.

bent

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

From this reading Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading A fortnight went by in this fashion.

Cecile

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

From this reading Nanteuil was playing almost every night, and was eagerly working at her part of Cecile.

combing

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

From this reading Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.

daily

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

From this reading They met daily at the theatre, and they went for walks together.

deadnounUS /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.

disturbed

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

From this reading She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.

dressing-table

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

From this reading Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.

eagerly

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

From this reading Nanteuil was playing almost every night, and was eagerly working at her part of Cecile.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Nanteuil was playing almost every night, and was eagerly working at her part of Cecile.

face

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

From this reading Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.

fashion

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

From this reading A fortnight went by in this fashion.

fell

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

From this reading She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading They met daily at the theatre, and they went for walks together.

fortnight

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

From this reading A fortnight went by in this fashion.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.

glass

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

From this reading Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.

gradually

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

From this reading She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.

hairs

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

From this reading Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.

hand

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

From this reading She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.

head

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

From this reading Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Nanteuil was playing almost every night, and was eagerly working at her part of Cecile.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.

hold

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

From this reading She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.

less

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

From this reading She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.

longer

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

From this reading She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.

made

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

From this reading She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.

man

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

From this reading Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.

met

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

From this reading They met daily at the theatre, and they went for walks together.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.

mother

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

From this reading She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.

Nanteuil

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

From this reading Nanteuil was playing almost every night, and was eagerly working at her part of Cecile.

night

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

From this reading Nanteuil was playing almost every night, and was eagerly working at her part of Cecile.

nightmares

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

From this reading She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.

nightsnounUS /naɪts/

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Nanteuil was playing almost every night, and was eagerly working at her part of Cecile.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.

overcast

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

From this reading Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.

own

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

From this reading Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Nanteuil was playing almost every night, and was eagerly working at her part of Cecile.

peace

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

From this reading She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.

playing

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

From this reading Nanteuil was playing almost every night, and was eagerly working at her part of Cecile.

recovering

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

From this reading She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.

saw

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

From this reading Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.

sitting

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

From this reading Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.

suffocating

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

From this reading She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading They met daily at the theatre, and they went for walks together.

theatre

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

From this reading They met daily at the theatre, and they went for walks together.

Then

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

From this reading Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They met daily at the theatre, and they went for walks together.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading A fortnight went by in this fashion.

together

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

From this reading They met daily at the theatre, and they went for walks together.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.

walks

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

From this reading They met daily at the theatre, and they went for walks together.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Nanteuil was playing almost every night, and was eagerly working at her part of Cecile.

weather

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

From this reading Then, one morning, while sitting at her dressing-table, combing her hairs she bent her head toward the glass, as the weather was overcast, and she saw in it, not her own face, but the face of the dead man.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They met daily at the theatre, and they went for walks together.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading She was gradually recovering her peace of mind; her nights were less disturbed; she no longer made her mother hold her hand while she fell asleep and no longer found herself suffocating in nightmares.

working

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

From this reading Nanteuil was playing almost every night, and was eagerly working at her part of Cecile.