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Absolution
Absolution

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Absolution
Context Illustration Reading 1/76 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"The rats!
Ugh, the rats!" cried beautiful Mrs. Tiralla, as she stood in the cellar with her maid.
They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.
But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.
"Where are the rats?"
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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.

Absolution

Chapter I

Reading 1/76 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"The rats!
Line 2
Ugh, the rats!" cried beautiful Mrs. Tiralla, as she stood in the cellar with her maid.
Line 3
They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.
Line 4
But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.
Line 5
"Where are the rats?"

Learner Dictionary

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

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.”

Cried noun US /cried/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Ugh, the rats!" cried beautiful Mrs. Tiralla, as she stood in the cellar with her maid.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.”

Order noun US /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Ugh, the rats!" cried beautiful Mrs. Tiralla, as she stood in the cellar with her maid.”

Whilst conjunction US /waɪlst/

an old and formal word for “while”

From this reading “They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.”

All words in this reading · 65

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 But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading "Where are the rats?"

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Ugh, the rats!" cried beautiful Mrs. Tiralla, as she stood in the cellar with her maid.

beautiful

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

From this reading Ugh, the rats!" cried beautiful Mrs. Tiralla, as she stood in the cellar with her maid.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.

cabbage

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

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

carrying

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

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

cellar

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

From this reading Ugh, the rats!" cried beautiful Mrs. Tiralla, as she stood in the cellar with her maid.

cook

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

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

corner

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

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.

criednounUS /cried/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Ugh, the rats!" cried beautiful Mrs. Tiralla, as she stood in the cellar with her maid.

dish

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

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

down

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

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

earthenware

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

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

encased

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

From this reading But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.

fall

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

From this reading But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.

feet

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

From this reading But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.

fetch

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

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

gay-coloured

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

From this reading But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.

gone

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

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

held

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

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Ugh, the rats!" cried beautiful Mrs. Tiralla, as she stood in the cellar with her maid.

high

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

From this reading But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Ugh, the rats!" cried beautiful Mrs. Tiralla, as she stood in the cellar with her maid.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

lamp

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

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

leather

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

From this reading But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.

lifted

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

From this reading But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.

maid

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

From this reading Ugh, the rats!" cried beautiful Mrs. Tiralla, as she stood in the cellar with her maid.

Mrs

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

From this reading Ugh, the rats!" cried beautiful Mrs. Tiralla, as she stood in the cellar with her maid.

neat

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

From this reading But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.

now

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

From this reading But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

ordernounUS /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

pickled

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

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

piercing

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

From this reading But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.

rats

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

From this reading "The rats!

see

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

From this reading But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Ugh, the rats!" cried beautiful Mrs. Tiralla, as she stood in the cellar with her maid.

shiny

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

From this reading But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.

shriek

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

From this reading But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.

skirts

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

From this reading But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.

slippers

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

From this reading But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.

some

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

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

stockings

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

From this reading But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Ugh, the rats!" cried beautiful Mrs. Tiralla, as she stood in the cellar with her maid.

striped

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

From this reading But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "The rats!

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

Tiralla

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

From this reading Ugh, the rats!" cried beautiful Mrs. Tiralla, as she stood in the cellar with her maid.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

tub

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

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

Ugh

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

From this reading Ugh, the rats!" cried beautiful Mrs. Tiralla, as she stood in the cellar with her maid.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

WhereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading "Where are the rats?"

whilstconjunctionUS /waɪlst/

an old and formal word for “while”

From this reading They had gone down to fetch some of the pickled cabbage from the tub in the corner in order to cook it, and the maid was carrying the lamp whilst Mrs. Tiralla held the earthenware dish.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Ugh, the rats!" cried beautiful Mrs. Tiralla, as she stood in the cellar with her maid.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading But now she let it fall with a piercing shriek, and lifted her skirts so high that you could see her gay-coloured, striped stockings, and her neat feet encased in shiny leather slippers.