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Barnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots of 'Eighty
Barnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots of 'Eighty

Chapter XVII

Cover illustration for Barnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots of 'Eighty
Context Illustration Reading 1/53 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.
Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.
In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.
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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.

Barnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots of 'Eighty

Chapter XVII

Reading 1/53 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
Line 2
A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.
Line 3
Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
Line 4
It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.
Line 5
In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.”

Reeled verb US /riːld/

moved unsteadily as if about to fall

From this reading “Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.”

Secret noun US /ˈsiː.krət/

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

From this reading “In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.”

All words in this reading · 103

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 One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

any

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

From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.

arose

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

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.

better

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

From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.

bitter

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

From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.

black

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

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

blast

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

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

brave

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

From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.

came

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

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

chimneys

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

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

coffee-houses

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

From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.

crashing

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

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

creaking

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

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

crowded

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

From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.

dark

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

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

dense

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

From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.

dismal

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

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.

early

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

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

earth

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

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

eighty

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

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

endurance

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

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

evening

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

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.

fell

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

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

fiercer

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

From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.

fire

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

From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.

forgot

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

From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.

frames

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

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

fury

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

From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.

get

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

From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.

gladness

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

From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.

grew

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

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

guests

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

From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.

hundred

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

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

icy-cold

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

From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

keen

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

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

light

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

From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.

looks

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

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

Lord

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

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

many

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

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

means

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

From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.

minute

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

From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.

night

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

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

north

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

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

old

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

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

other

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

From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

past

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

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

pavement

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

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

political

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

From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.

rattled

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

From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.

reeledverbUS /riːld/

moved unsteadily as if about to fall

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

rocked

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

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

round

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

From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.

secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

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

From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.

seven

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

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

shaken

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

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

sharp

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

From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.

Signboards

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

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

sleet

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

From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.

sort

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

From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.

staggered

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

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

steeple

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

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

storm

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

From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.

streets

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

From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.

swept

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

From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

thousand

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

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.

tottering

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

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

trembling

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

From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.

troubled

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

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

warmth

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

From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.

weather

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

From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.

wet

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

From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

windows

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

From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.

wintry

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

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.

year

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

From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.