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Chapter XII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A CHANGE flashed over Coleman as if it had come from an electric storage.
He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.
His own voice had not quavered.
When he spoke, he spoke in a low tone, it was the voice of the master of the situation.
He could hear his dupes fluttering there in the darkness.
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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.

Active Service

Chapter XII

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A CHANGE flashed over Coleman as if it had come from an electric storage.
Line 2
He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.
Line 3
His own voice had not quavered.
Line 4
When he spoke, he spoke in a low tone, it was the voice of the master of the situation.
Line 5
He could hear his dupes fluttering there in the darkness.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A CHANGE flashed over Coleman as if it had come from an electric storage.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “He could hear his dupes fluttering there in the darkness.”

Fluttering verb US /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/

moving with quick light beats or trembles

From this reading “He could hear his dupes fluttering there in the darkness.”

Hear noun US /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He could hear his dupes fluttering there in the darkness.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “A CHANGE flashed over Coleman as if it had come from an electric storage.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.”

All words in this reading · 60

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 CHANGE flashed over Coleman as if it had come from an electric storage.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading A CHANGE flashed over Coleman as if it had come from an electric storage.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading A CHANGE flashed over Coleman as if it had come from an electric storage.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

CHANGE

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

From this reading A CHANGE flashed over Coleman as if it had come from an electric storage.

Coleman

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

From this reading A CHANGE flashed over Coleman as if it had come from an electric storage.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A CHANGE flashed over Coleman as if it had come from an electric storage.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading He could hear his dupes fluttering there in the darkness.

dangers

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

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

darkness

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

From this reading He could hear his dupes fluttering there in the darkness.

disregard

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

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

dupes

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

From this reading He could hear his dupes fluttering there in the darkness.

electric

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

From this reading A CHANGE flashed over Coleman as if it had come from an electric storage.

final

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

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

flashed

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

From this reading A CHANGE flashed over Coleman as if it had come from an electric storage.

flutteringverbUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/

moving with quick light beats or trembles

From this reading He could hear his dupes fluttering there in the darkness.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A CHANGE flashed over Coleman as if it had come from an electric storage.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading A CHANGE flashed over Coleman as if it had come from an electric storage.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

hearnounUS /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He could hear his dupes fluttering there in the darkness.

heard

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

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading A CHANGE flashed over Coleman as if it had come from an electric storage.

impel

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

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A CHANGE flashed over Coleman as if it had come from an electric storage.

known

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

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

low

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

From this reading When he spoke, he spoke in a low tone, it was the voice of the master of the situation.

master

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

From this reading When he spoke, he spoke in a low tone, it was the voice of the master of the situation.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading His own voice had not quavered.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading A CHANGE flashed over Coleman as if it had come from an electric storage.

own

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

From this reading His own voice had not quavered.

professor

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

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

quaver

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

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

quavered

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

From this reading His own voice had not quavered.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

situation

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

From this reading When he spoke, he spoke in a low tone, it was the voice of the master of the situation.

spoke

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

From this reading When he spoke, he spoke in a low tone, it was the voice of the master of the situation.

storage

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

From this reading A CHANGE flashed over Coleman as if it had come from an electric storage.

supreme

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

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

there

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

From this reading He could hear his dupes fluttering there in the darkness.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

tone

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

From this reading When he spoke, he spoke in a low tone, it was the voice of the master of the situation.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

voice

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

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When he spoke, he spoke in a low tone, it was the voice of the master of the situation.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading He had known the professor long, but he had never before heard a quaver in his voice, and it was this little quaver that seemed to impel him to supreme disregard of the dangers which he looked upon as being the final dangers.