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At Bay
At Bay

Chapter IX

Cover illustration for At Bay
Context Illustration Reading 1/100 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE SECRET OF THE PRISON HOUSE.
It was many a month since Glynn enjoyed such refreshing sleep as soothed his weary brain that night.
To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.
All must turn out well, while Elsie was the same, untouched, unchanged.
To him she seemed more charming in her grief and terror than in the freshness of her beauty, which first attracted him.
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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.

At Bay

Chapter IX

Reading 1/100 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE SECRET OF THE PRISON HOUSE.
Line 2
It was many a month since Glynn enjoyed such refreshing sleep as soothed his weary brain that night.
Line 3
To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.
Line 4
All must turn out well, while Elsie was the same, untouched, unchanged.
Line 5
To him she seemed more charming in her grief and terror than in the freshness of her beauty, which first attracted him.

Learner Dictionary

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

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To him she seemed more charming in her grief and terror than in the freshness of her beauty, which first attracted him.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “All must turn out well, while Elsie was the same, untouched, unchanged.”

Relief noun US /rɪˈliːf/

a feeling of comfort after worry or pain

From this reading “To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “All must turn out well, while Elsie was the same, untouched, unchanged.”

SECRET noun US /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading “THE SECRET OF THE PRISON HOUSE.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To him she seemed more charming in her grief and terror than in the freshness of her beauty, which first attracted him.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “It was many a month since Glynn enjoyed such refreshing sleep as soothed his weary brain that night.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “All must turn out well, while Elsie was the same, untouched, unchanged.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “All must turn out well, while Elsie was the same, untouched, unchanged.”

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 It was many a month since Glynn enjoyed such refreshing sleep as soothed his weary brain that night.

All

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

From this reading All must turn out well, while Elsie was the same, untouched, unchanged.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading To him she seemed more charming in her grief and terror than in the freshness of her beauty, which first attracted him.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It was many a month since Glynn enjoyed such refreshing sleep as soothed his weary brain that night.

attracted

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

From this reading To him she seemed more charming in her grief and terror than in the freshness of her beauty, which first attracted him.

beauty

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

From this reading To him she seemed more charming in her grief and terror than in the freshness of her beauty, which first attracted him.

blessed

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

From this reading To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.

brain

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

From this reading It was many a month since Glynn enjoyed such refreshing sleep as soothed his weary brain that night.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.

charming

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

From this reading To him she seemed more charming in her grief and terror than in the freshness of her beauty, which first attracted him.

circumstances

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

From this reading To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.

doubtful

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

From this reading To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.

Elsie

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

From this reading To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.

enjoyed

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

From this reading It was many a month since Glynn enjoyed such refreshing sleep as soothed his weary brain that night.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To him she seemed more charming in her grief and terror than in the freshness of her beauty, which first attracted him.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.

freshness

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

From this reading To him she seemed more charming in her grief and terror than in the freshness of her beauty, which first attracted him.

Glynn

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

From this reading It was many a month since Glynn enjoyed such refreshing sleep as soothed his weary brain that night.

grief

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

From this reading To him she seemed more charming in her grief and terror than in the freshness of her beauty, which first attracted him.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.

haze

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

From this reading To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading To him she seemed more charming in her grief and terror than in the freshness of her beauty, which first attracted him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading To him she seemed more charming in her grief and terror than in the freshness of her beauty, which first attracted him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It was many a month since Glynn enjoyed such refreshing sleep as soothed his weary brain that night.

HOUSE

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

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE PRISON HOUSE.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading To him she seemed more charming in her grief and terror than in the freshness of her beauty, which first attracted him.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was many a month since Glynn enjoyed such refreshing sleep as soothed his weary brain that night.

many

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

From this reading It was many a month since Glynn enjoyed such refreshing sleep as soothed his weary brain that night.

month

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

From this reading It was many a month since Glynn enjoyed such refreshing sleep as soothed his weary brain that night.

more

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

From this reading To him she seemed more charming in her grief and terror than in the freshness of her beauty, which first attracted him.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading All must turn out well, while Elsie was the same, untouched, unchanged.

mystery

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

From this reading To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.

night

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

From this reading It was many a month since Glynn enjoyed such refreshing sleep as soothed his weary brain that night.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE PRISON HOUSE.

out

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

From this reading All must turn out well, while Elsie was the same, untouched, unchanged.

painful

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

From this reading To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.

PRISON

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

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE PRISON HOUSE.

refreshing

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

From this reading It was many a month since Glynn enjoyed such refreshing sleep as soothed his weary brain that night.

reliefnounUS /rɪˈliːf/

a feeling of comfort after worry or pain

From this reading To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.

safe

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

From this reading To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading All must turn out well, while Elsie was the same, untouched, unchanged.

SECRETnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE PRISON HOUSE.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To him she seemed more charming in her grief and terror than in the freshness of her beauty, which first attracted him.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading To him she seemed more charming in her grief and terror than in the freshness of her beauty, which first attracted him.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading It was many a month since Glynn enjoyed such refreshing sleep as soothed his weary brain that night.

sleep

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

From this reading It was many a month since Glynn enjoyed such refreshing sleep as soothed his weary brain that night.

soothed

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

From this reading It was many a month since Glynn enjoyed such refreshing sleep as soothed his weary brain that night.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading It was many a month since Glynn enjoyed such refreshing sleep as soothed his weary brain that night.

surrounded

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

From this reading To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.

terror

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

From this reading To him she seemed more charming in her grief and terror than in the freshness of her beauty, which first attracted him.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading To him she seemed more charming in her grief and terror than in the freshness of her beauty, which first attracted him.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was many a month since Glynn enjoyed such refreshing sleep as soothed his weary brain that night.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE PRISON HOUSE.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.

turn

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

From this reading All must turn out well, while Elsie was the same, untouched, unchanged.

unchanged

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

From this reading All must turn out well, while Elsie was the same, untouched, unchanged.

unharmed

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

From this reading To have found Elsie safe, unharmed, even though surrounded by a haze of doubtful circumstances, of painful mystery, was a blessed relief.

untouched

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

From this reading All must turn out well, while Elsie was the same, untouched, unchanged.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was many a month since Glynn enjoyed such refreshing sleep as soothed his weary brain that night.

weary

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

From this reading It was many a month since Glynn enjoyed such refreshing sleep as soothed his weary brain that night.

well

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

From this reading All must turn out well, while Elsie was the same, untouched, unchanged.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading To him she seemed more charming in her grief and terror than in the freshness of her beauty, which first attracted him.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading All must turn out well, while Elsie was the same, untouched, unchanged.