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Adrienne
Adrienne

Chapter XVIII

Cover illustration for Adrienne
Context Illustration Reading 1/50 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.
The afternoon was already drawing in, lights were twinkling in the village and in the windows of the Château.
Inside, there were blazing wood fires everywhere.
The passages and floors were like mirrors with much polishing, and Alain was improving the occasion by sliding up and down them.
There was a sense of bustle and expectancy in the house.
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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.

Adrienne

Chapter XVIII

Reading 1/50 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.
Line 2
The afternoon was already drawing in, lights were twinkling in the village and in the windows of the Château.
Line 3
Inside, there were blazing wood fires everywhere.
Line 4
The passages and floors were like mirrors with much polishing, and Alain was improving the occasion by sliding up and down them.
Line 5
There was a sense of bustle and expectancy in the house.

Learner Dictionary

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

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading “The afternoon was already drawing in, lights were twinkling in the village and in the windows of the Château.”

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The afternoon was already drawing in, lights were twinkling in the village and in the windows of the Château.”

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.”

Bustle noun US /ˈbʌsəl/

busy and excited activity

From this reading “There was a sense of bustle and expectancy in the house.”

Château noun US /ʃæˈtoʊ/

A large French country house or castle, often surrounded by expansive estates and private galleries.

From this reading “HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.”

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 HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading The afternoon was already drawing in, lights were twinkling in the village and in the windows of the Château.

Alain

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

From this reading The passages and floors were like mirrors with much polishing, and Alain was improving the occasion by sliding up and down them.

all

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

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The afternoon was already drawing in, lights were twinkling in the village and in the windows of the Château.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

beds

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

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

blazing

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

From this reading Inside, there were blazing wood fires everywhere.

bustlenounUS /ˈbʌsəl/

busy and excited activity

From this reading There was a sense of bustle and expectancy in the house.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The passages and floors were like mirrors with much polishing, and Alain was improving the occasion by sliding up and down them.

ChâteaunounUS /ʃæˈtoʊ/

A large French country house or castle, often surrounded by expansive estates and private galleries.

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

down

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

From this reading The passages and floors were like mirrors with much polishing, and Alain was improving the occasion by sliding up and down them.

drawing

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

From this reading The afternoon was already drawing in, lights were twinkling in the village and in the windows of the Château.

everywhere

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

From this reading Inside, there were blazing wood fires everywhere.

expanse

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

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

expectancy

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

From this reading There was a sense of bustle and expectancy in the house.

fires

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

From this reading Inside, there were blazing wood fires everywhere.

floors

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

From this reading The passages and floors were like mirrors with much polishing, and Alain was improving the occasion by sliding up and down them.

flower

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

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

house

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

From this reading There was a sense of bustle and expectancy in the house.

HUSBAND

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

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

improving

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

From this reading The passages and floors were like mirrors with much polishing, and Alain was improving the occasion by sliding up and down them.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The afternoon was already drawing in, lights were twinkling in the village and in the windows of the Château.

Inside

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

From this reading Inside, there were blazing wood fires everywhere.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

lights

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

From this reading The afternoon was already drawing in, lights were twinkling in the village and in the windows of the Château.

like

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

From this reading The passages and floors were like mirrors with much polishing, and Alain was improving the occasion by sliding up and down them.

mirrors

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

From this reading The passages and floors were like mirrors with much polishing, and Alain was improving the occasion by sliding up and down them.

much

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

From this reading The passages and floors were like mirrors with much polishing, and Alain was improving the occasion by sliding up and down them.

obliterating

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

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

occasion

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

From this reading The passages and floors were like mirrors with much polishing, and Alain was improving the occasion by sliding up and down them.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

old

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

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

only

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

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

passages

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

From this reading The passages and floors were like mirrors with much polishing, and Alain was improving the occasion by sliding up and down them.

paths

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

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

polishing

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

From this reading The passages and floors were like mirrors with much polishing, and Alain was improving the occasion by sliding up and down them.

pure

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

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

sense

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

From this reading There was a sense of bustle and expectancy in the house.

showing

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

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

sliding

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

From this reading The passages and floors were like mirrors with much polishing, and Alain was improving the occasion by sliding up and down them.

SNOW

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

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The passages and floors were like mirrors with much polishing, and Alain was improving the occasion by sliding up and down them.

there

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

From this reading Inside, there were blazing wood fires everywhere.

twinkling

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

From this reading The afternoon was already drawing in, lights were twinkling in the village and in the windows of the Château.

up

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

From this reading The passages and floors were like mirrors with much polishing, and Alain was improving the occasion by sliding up and down them.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

village

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

From this reading The afternoon was already drawing in, lights were twinkling in the village and in the windows of the Château.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The afternoon was already drawing in, lights were twinkling in the village and in the windows of the Château.

white

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

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

wide

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

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

WIFE

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

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE SNOW was upon the old Château, obliterating all paths and flower beds, showing only a wide expanse of pure white around it.

windows

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

From this reading The afternoon was already drawing in, lights were twinkling in the village and in the windows of the Château.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The passages and floors were like mirrors with much polishing, and Alain was improving the occasion by sliding up and down them.

wood

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

From this reading Inside, there were blazing wood fires everywhere.