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A Thorny Path — Complete
A Thorny Path — Complete

Chapter XXXIII

Cover illustration for A Thorny Path — Complete
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Melissa was once more alone.
She now knew that Philip walked no longer among the living.
He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.
She felt that with the death of this youth--so gifted, and so dear to her--a corner-stone had been torn from the paternal house.
In the loving circle that surrounded her, death had made another gap which yawned before her, dismal and void.
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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 Thorny Path — Complete

Chapter XXXIII

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Melissa was once more alone.
Line 2
She now knew that Philip walked no longer among the living.
Line 3
He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.
Line 4
She felt that with the death of this youth--so gifted, and so dear to her--a corner-stone had been torn from the paternal house.
Line 5
In the loving circle that surrounded her, death had made another gap which yawned before her, dismal and void.

Learner Dictionary

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

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Melissa was once more alone.”

Among preposition US /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading “She now knew that Philip walked no longer among the living.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “In the loving circle that surrounded her, death had made another gap which yawned before her, dismal and void.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “In the loving circle that surrounded her, death had made another gap which yawned before her, dismal and void.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Melissa was once more alone.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.”

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 He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Melissa was once more alone.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading She now knew that Philip walked no longer among the living.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading She felt that with the death of this youth--so gifted, and so dear to her--a corner-stone had been torn from the paternal house.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading In the loving circle that surrounded her, death had made another gap which yawned before her, dismal and void.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading In the loving circle that surrounded her, death had made another gap which yawned before her, dismal and void.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.

circle

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

From this reading In the loving circle that surrounded her, death had made another gap which yawned before her, dismal and void.

corner-stone

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

From this reading She felt that with the death of this youth--so gifted, and so dear to her--a corner-stone had been torn from the paternal house.

dear

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

From this reading She felt that with the death of this youth--so gifted, and so dear to her--a corner-stone had been torn from the paternal house.

death

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

From this reading She felt that with the death of this youth--so gifted, and so dear to her--a corner-stone had been torn from the paternal house.

dismal

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

From this reading In the loving circle that surrounded her, death had made another gap which yawned before her, dismal and void.

fallen

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

From this reading He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.

felt

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

From this reading She felt that with the death of this youth--so gifted, and so dear to her--a corner-stone had been torn from the paternal house.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading She felt that with the death of this youth--so gifted, and so dear to her--a corner-stone had been torn from the paternal house.

fury

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

From this reading He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.

gap

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

From this reading In the loving circle that surrounded her, death had made another gap which yawned before her, dismal and void.

gifted

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

From this reading She felt that with the death of this youth--so gifted, and so dear to her--a corner-stone had been torn from the paternal house.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading She felt that with the death of this youth--so gifted, and so dear to her--a corner-stone had been torn from the paternal house.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.

house

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

From this reading She felt that with the death of this youth--so gifted, and so dear to her--a corner-stone had been torn from the paternal house.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In the loving circle that surrounded her, death had made another gap which yawned before her, dismal and void.

knew

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

From this reading She now knew that Philip walked no longer among the living.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.

living

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

From this reading She now knew that Philip walked no longer among the living.

longer

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

From this reading She now knew that Philip walked no longer among the living.

loving

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

From this reading In the loving circle that surrounded her, death had made another gap which yawned before her, dismal and void.

made

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

From this reading In the loving circle that surrounded her, death had made another gap which yawned before her, dismal and void.

Melissa

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

From this reading Melissa was once more alone.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.

monster

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

From this reading He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.

more

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

From this reading Melissa was once more alone.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading She now knew that Philip walked no longer among the living.

now

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

From this reading She now knew that Philip walked no longer among the living.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.

once

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

From this reading Melissa was once more alone.

paternal

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

From this reading She felt that with the death of this youth--so gifted, and so dear to her--a corner-stone had been torn from the paternal house.

peace

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

From this reading He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.

Philip

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

From this reading She now knew that Philip walked no longer among the living.

sake

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

From this reading He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She now knew that Philip walked no longer among the living.

slain

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

From this reading He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading She felt that with the death of this youth--so gifted, and so dear to her--a corner-stone had been torn from the paternal house.

surrounded

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

From this reading In the loving circle that surrounded her, death had made another gap which yawned before her, dismal and void.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She now knew that Philip walked no longer among the living.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading She now knew that Philip walked no longer among the living.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading She felt that with the death of this youth--so gifted, and so dear to her--a corner-stone had been torn from the paternal house.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.

torn

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

From this reading She felt that with the death of this youth--so gifted, and so dear to her--a corner-stone had been torn from the paternal house.

victim

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

From this reading He must have fallen a victim to the fury of the monster, but the thought that he might have been slain for her sake left her mind no peace.

void

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

From this reading In the loving circle that surrounded her, death had made another gap which yawned before her, dismal and void.

walked

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

From this reading She now knew that Philip walked no longer among the living.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Melissa was once more alone.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading In the loving circle that surrounded her, death had made another gap which yawned before her, dismal and void.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading She felt that with the death of this youth--so gifted, and so dear to her--a corner-stone had been torn from the paternal house.

yawned

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

From this reading In the loving circle that surrounded her, death had made another gap which yawned before her, dismal and void.

youth

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

From this reading She felt that with the death of this youth--so gifted, and so dear to her--a corner-stone had been torn from the paternal house.