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A Rent In A Cloud
A Rent In A Cloud

Chapter II · The Passengers on the Steamboat

Cover illustration for A Rent In A Cloud
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.
“All gone to Lahnech, Franz?” asked Calvert of the waiter.
“Yes, Sir, but they’ll be sorry for it, for there’s thunder in the air, and we are sure to have a deluge before nightfall.”
“And the new arrivals, are they gone too?”
“No, Sir.
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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 Rent In A Cloud

Chapter II · The Passengers on the Steamboat

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.
Line 2
“All gone to Lahnech, Franz?” asked Calvert of the waiter.
Line 3
“Yes, Sir, but they’ll be sorry for it, for there’s thunder in the air, and we are sure to have a deluge before nightfall.”
Line 4
“And the new arrivals, are they gone too?”
Line 5
“No, Sir.

Learner Dictionary

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

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““All gone to Lahnech, Franz?” asked Calvert of the waiter.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading ““Yes, Sir, but they’ll be sorry for it, for there’s thunder in the air, and we are sure to have a deluge before nightfall.””

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading ““Yes, Sir, but they’ll be sorry for it, for there’s thunder in the air, and we are sure to have a deluge before nightfall.””

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.”

Sure noun US /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Yes, Sir, but they’ll be sorry for it, for there’s thunder in the air, and we are sure to have a deluge before nightfall.””

Thunder noun US /ˈthunder/

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

From this reading ““Yes, Sir, but they’ll be sorry for it, for there’s thunder in the air, and we are sure to have a deluge before nightfall.””

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.”

All words in this reading · 58

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 table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

air

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

From this reading “Yes, Sir, but they’ll be sorry for it, for there’s thunder in the air, and we are sure to have a deluge before nightfall.”

All

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

From this reading “All gone to Lahnech, Franz?” asked Calvert of the waiter.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading “Yes, Sir, but they’ll be sorry for it, for there’s thunder in the air, and we are sure to have a deluge before nightfall.”

arrivals

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

From this reading “And the new arrivals, are they gone too?”

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “All gone to Lahnech, Franz?” asked Calvert of the waiter.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading “Yes, Sir, but they’ll be sorry for it, for there’s thunder in the air, and we are sure to have a deluge before nightfall.”

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Yes, Sir, but they’ll be sorry for it, for there’s thunder in the air, and we are sure to have a deluge before nightfall.”

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “Yes, Sir, but they’ll be sorry for it, for there’s thunder in the air, and we are sure to have a deluge before nightfall.”

Calvert

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

From this reading “All gone to Lahnech, Franz?” asked Calvert of the waiter.

d'hôte

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

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

deluge

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

From this reading “Yes, Sir, but they’ll be sorry for it, for there’s thunder in the air, and we are sure to have a deluge before nightfall.”

empty

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

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

end

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

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

Englishmen

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

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

enough

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

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

entered

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

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

Franz

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

From this reading “All gone to Lahnech, Franz?” asked Calvert of the waiter.

gone

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

From this reading “All gone to Lahnech, Franz?” asked Calvert of the waiter.

guests

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

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Yes, Sir, but they’ll be sorry for it, for there’s thunder in the air, and we are sure to have a deluge before nightfall.”

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “Yes, Sir, but they’ll be sorry for it, for there’s thunder in the air, and we are sure to have a deluge before nightfall.”

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

Lahnech

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

From this reading “All gone to Lahnech, Franz?” asked Calvert of the waiter.

laid

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

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

moodily

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

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

new

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

From this reading “And the new arrivals, are they gone too?”

nigh

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

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

nightfall

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

From this reading “Yes, Sir, but they’ll be sorry for it, for there’s thunder in the air, and we are sure to have a deluge before nightfall.”

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading “No, Sir.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

places

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

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

room

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

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

Sir

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

From this reading “Yes, Sir, but they’ll be sorry for it, for there’s thunder in the air, and we are sure to have a deluge before nightfall.”

sorry

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

From this reading “Yes, Sir, but they’ll be sorry for it, for there’s thunder in the air, and we are sure to have a deluge before nightfall.”

supper-time

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

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

surenounUS /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Yes, Sir, but they’ll be sorry for it, for there’s thunder in the air, and we are sure to have a deluge before nightfall.”

table

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

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

there's

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

From this reading “Yes, Sir, but they’ll be sorry for it, for there’s thunder in the air, and we are sure to have a deluge before nightfall.”

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

they'll

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

From this reading “Yes, Sir, but they’ll be sorry for it, for there’s thunder in the air, and we are sure to have a deluge before nightfall.”

thirty

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

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

thundernounUS /ˈthunder/

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

From this reading “Yes, Sir, but they’ll be sorry for it, for there’s thunder in the air, and we are sure to have a deluge before nightfall.”

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “All gone to Lahnech, Franz?” asked Calvert of the waiter.

too

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

From this reading “And the new arrivals, are they gone too?”

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

two

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

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

waiter

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

From this reading “All gone to Lahnech, Franz?” asked Calvert of the waiter.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE table d’hôte room was empty as the two Englishmen entered it at supper-time, and they took their places, moodily enough, at one end of a table laid for nigh thirty guests.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “Yes, Sir, but they’ll be sorry for it, for there’s thunder in the air, and we are sure to have a deluge before nightfall.”

Yes

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

From this reading “Yes, Sir, but they’ll be sorry for it, for there’s thunder in the air, and we are sure to have a deluge before nightfall.”