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Athalie
Athalie

Chapter XXXI

Cover illustration for Athalie
Context Illustration Reading 1/6 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Lights yet burned on the lower floors and behind the drawn blinds of Athalie's room.
The night was quiet and soft and lovely; the moon still young in its first quarter.
There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.
Somewhere in distant darkness the little owl trilled.
* * * * * If he were walking or motionless he no longer knew it; nor did he seem to be aware of anything around.
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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.

Athalie

Chapter XXXI

Reading 1/6 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Lights yet burned on the lower floors and behind the drawn blinds of Athalie's room.
Line 2
The night was quiet and soft and lovely; the moon still young in its first quarter.
Line 3
There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.
Line 4
Somewhere in distant darkness the little owl trilled.
Line 5
* * * * * If he were walking or motionless he no longer knew it; nor did he seem to be aware of anything around.

Learner Dictionary

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

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.”

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.”

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “* * * * * If he were walking or motionless he no longer knew it; nor did he seem to be aware of anything around.”

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “* * * * * If he were walking or motionless he no longer knew it; nor did he seem to be aware of anything around.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “Lights yet burned on the lower floors and behind the drawn blinds of Athalie's room.”

Distant adjective US /ˈdɪstənt/

not friendly or close

From this reading “Somewhere in distant darkness the little owl trilled.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The night was quiet and soft and lovely; the moon still young in its first quarter.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Somewhere in distant darkness the little owl trilled.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The night was quiet and soft and lovely; the moon still young in its first quarter.”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Lights yet burned on the lower floors and behind the drawn blinds of Athalie's room.”

All words in this reading · 74

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 There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Lights yet burned on the lower floors and behind the drawn blinds of Athalie's room.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading * * * * * If he were walking or motionless he no longer knew it; nor did he seem to be aware of anything around.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading * * * * * If he were walking or motionless he no longer knew it; nor did he seem to be aware of anything around.

Athalie's

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

From this reading Lights yet burned on the lower floors and behind the drawn blinds of Athalie's room.

aware

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

From this reading * * * * * If he were walking or motionless he no longer knew it; nor did he seem to be aware of anything around.

back

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

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading * * * * * If he were walking or motionless he no longer knew it; nor did he seem to be aware of anything around.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Lights yet burned on the lower floors and behind the drawn blinds of Athalie's room.

blinds

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

From this reading Lights yet burned on the lower floors and behind the drawn blinds of Athalie's room.

blow

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

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

broke

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

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

burned

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

From this reading Lights yet burned on the lower floors and behind the drawn blinds of Athalie's room.

column

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

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

darkness

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

From this reading Somewhere in distant darkness the little owl trilled.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading * * * * * If he were walking or motionless he no longer knew it; nor did he seem to be aware of anything around.

distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/

not friendly or close

From this reading Somewhere in distant darkness the little owl trilled.

drawn

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

From this reading Lights yet burned on the lower floors and behind the drawn blinds of Athalie's room.

drop

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

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

fell

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

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The night was quiet and soft and lovely; the moon still young in its first quarter.

floors

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

From this reading Lights yet burned on the lower floors and behind the drawn blinds of Athalie's room.

fountain

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

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

garden

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

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading * * * * * If he were walking or motionless he no longer knew it; nor did he seem to be aware of anything around.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading * * * * * If he were walking or motionless he no longer knew it; nor did he seem to be aware of anything around.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The night was quiet and soft and lovely; the moon still young in its first quarter.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading * * * * * If he were walking or motionless he no longer knew it; nor did he seem to be aware of anything around.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The night was quiet and soft and lovely; the moon still young in its first quarter.

jet

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

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

knew

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

From this reading * * * * * If he were walking or motionless he no longer knew it; nor did he seem to be aware of anything around.

Lights

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

From this reading Lights yet burned on the lower floors and behind the drawn blinds of Athalie's room.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Somewhere in distant darkness the little owl trilled.

longer

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

From this reading * * * * * If he were walking or motionless he no longer knew it; nor did he seem to be aware of anything around.

lovely

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

From this reading The night was quiet and soft and lovely; the moon still young in its first quarter.

lower

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

From this reading Lights yet burned on the lower floors and behind the drawn blinds of Athalie's room.

moon

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

From this reading The night was quiet and soft and lovely; the moon still young in its first quarter.

motionless

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

From this reading * * * * * If he were walking or motionless he no longer knew it; nor did he seem to be aware of anything around.

night

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

From this reading The night was quiet and soft and lovely; the moon still young in its first quarter.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading * * * * * If he were walking or motionless he no longer knew it; nor did he seem to be aware of anything around.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Lights yet burned on the lower floors and behind the drawn blinds of Athalie's room.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Lights yet burned on the lower floors and behind the drawn blinds of Athalie's room.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading * * * * * If he were walking or motionless he no longer knew it; nor did he seem to be aware of anything around.

owl

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

From this reading Somewhere in distant darkness the little owl trilled.

quarter

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

From this reading The night was quiet and soft and lovely; the moon still young in its first quarter.

quiet

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

From this reading The night was quiet and soft and lovely; the moon still young in its first quarter.

room

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

From this reading Lights yet burned on the lower floors and behind the drawn blinds of Athalie's room.

seem

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

From this reading * * * * * If he were walking or motionless he no longer knew it; nor did he seem to be aware of anything around.

slim

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

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

soft

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

From this reading The night was quiet and soft and lovely; the moon still young in its first quarter.

Somewhere

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

From this reading Somewhere in distant darkness the little owl trilled.

stars

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

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The night was quiet and soft and lovely; the moon still young in its first quarter.

straight

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

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

strip

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

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Lights yet burned on the lower floors and behind the drawn blinds of Athalie's room.

There

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

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

trilled

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

From this reading Somewhere in distant darkness the little owl trilled.

walking

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

From this reading * * * * * If he were walking or motionless he no longer knew it; nor did he seem to be aware of anything around.

wall

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

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The night was quiet and soft and lovely; the moon still young in its first quarter.

water

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

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading * * * * * If he were walking or motionless he no longer knew it; nor did he seem to be aware of anything around.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There was no wind to blow the fountain jet, so that every drop fell straight back where the slim column of water broke against a strip of stars above the garden wall.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Lights yet burned on the lower floors and behind the drawn blinds of Athalie's room.

young

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

From this reading The night was quiet and soft and lovely; the moon still young in its first quarter.