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Basil and Annette: A Novel
Basil and Annette: A Novel

Chapter XXVIII

Cover illustration for Basil and Annette: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/50 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Am I awake or dreaming?"
This was the thought that passed through Basil's mind as he opened his eyes.
Two weeks had passed since he had been rescued from death; and for the most of that time he had been unconscious.
But certain floating impressions were his, which now, as his eyes travelled round the walls of the room in which he lay, he endeavoured to recall.
It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.
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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.

Basil and Annette: A Novel

Chapter XXVIII

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

Line 1
"Am I awake or dreaming?"
Line 2
This was the thought that passed through Basil's mind as he opened his eyes.
Line 3
Two weeks had passed since he had been rescued from death; and for the most of that time he had been unconscious.
Line 4
But certain floating impressions were his, which now, as his eyes travelled round the walls of the room in which he lay, he endeavoured to recall.
Line 5
It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Two weeks had passed since he had been rescued from death; and for the most of that time he had been unconscious.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.”

Determined adjective US /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/

having firmly decided to do something

From this reading “It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This was the thought that passed through Basil's mind as he opened his eyes.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This was the thought that passed through Basil's mind as he opened his eyes.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “Two weeks had passed since he had been rescued from death; and for the most of that time he had been unconscious.”

Themselves pronoun US /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading “It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This was the thought that passed through Basil's mind as he opened his eyes.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “This was the thought that passed through Basil's mind as he opened his eyes.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Two weeks had passed since he had been rescued from death; and for the most of that time he had been unconscious.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.”

All words in this reading · 71

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 not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.

Amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading "Am I awake or dreaming?"

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Two weeks had passed since he had been rescued from death; and for the most of that time he had been unconscious.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading This was the thought that passed through Basil's mind as he opened his eyes.

awake

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

From this reading "Am I awake or dreaming?"

Basil's

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

From this reading This was the thought that passed through Basil's mind as he opened his eyes.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Two weeks had passed since he had been rescued from death; and for the most of that time he had been unconscious.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But certain floating impressions were his, which now, as his eyes travelled round the walls of the room in which he lay, he endeavoured to recall.

certain

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

From this reading But certain floating impressions were his, which now, as his eyes travelled round the walls of the room in which he lay, he endeavoured to recall.

death

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

From this reading Two weeks had passed since he had been rescued from death; and for the most of that time he had been unconscious.

determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/

having firmly decided to do something

From this reading It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.

difficulty

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

From this reading It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.

dreaming

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

From this reading "Am I awake or dreaming?"

effort

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

From this reading It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.

endeavoured

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

From this reading But certain floating impressions were his, which now, as his eyes travelled round the walls of the room in which he lay, he endeavoured to recall.

eyes

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

From this reading This was the thought that passed through Basil's mind as he opened his eyes.

floating

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

From this reading But certain floating impressions were his, which now, as his eyes travelled round the walls of the room in which he lay, he endeavoured to recall.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Two weeks had passed since he had been rescued from death; and for the most of that time he had been unconscious.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Two weeks had passed since he had been rescued from death; and for the most of that time he had been unconscious.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Two weeks had passed since he had been rescued from death; and for the most of that time he had been unconscious.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading This was the thought that passed through Basil's mind as he opened his eyes.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading This was the thought that passed through Basil's mind as he opened his eyes.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "Am I awake or dreaming?"

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.

impressions

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

From this reading But certain floating impressions were his, which now, as his eyes travelled round the walls of the room in which he lay, he endeavoured to recall.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But certain floating impressions were his, which now, as his eyes travelled round the walls of the room in which he lay, he endeavoured to recall.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.

lay

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

From this reading But certain floating impressions were his, which now, as his eyes travelled round the walls of the room in which he lay, he endeavoured to recall.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.

marshal

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

From this reading It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This was the thought that passed through Basil's mind as he opened his eyes.

most

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

From this reading Two weeks had passed since he had been rescued from death; and for the most of that time he had been unconscious.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.

now

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

From this reading But certain floating impressions were his, which now, as his eyes travelled round the walls of the room in which he lay, he endeavoured to recall.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Two weeks had passed since he had been rescued from death; and for the most of that time he had been unconscious.

opened

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

From this reading This was the thought that passed through Basil's mind as he opened his eyes.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading "Am I awake or dreaming?"

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This was the thought that passed through Basil's mind as he opened his eyes.

recall

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

From this reading But certain floating impressions were his, which now, as his eyes travelled round the walls of the room in which he lay, he endeavoured to recall.

rescued

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

From this reading Two weeks had passed since he had been rescued from death; and for the most of that time he had been unconscious.

room

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

From this reading But certain floating impressions were his, which now, as his eyes travelled round the walls of the room in which he lay, he endeavoured to recall.

round

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

From this reading But certain floating impressions were his, which now, as his eyes travelled round the walls of the room in which he lay, he endeavoured to recall.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Two weeks had passed since he had been rescued from death; and for the most of that time he had been unconscious.

state

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

From this reading It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.

succeeded

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

From this reading It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading This was the thought that passed through Basil's mind as he opened his eyes.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading This was the thought that passed through Basil's mind as he opened his eyes.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This was the thought that passed through Basil's mind as he opened his eyes.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This was the thought that passed through Basil's mind as he opened his eyes.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading This was the thought that passed through Basil's mind as he opened his eyes.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Two weeks had passed since he had been rescued from death; and for the most of that time he had been unconscious.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading But certain floating impressions were his, which now, as his eyes travelled round the walls of the room in which he lay, he endeavoured to recall.

travelled

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

From this reading But certain floating impressions were his, which now, as his eyes travelled round the walls of the room in which he lay, he endeavoured to recall.

Two

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

From this reading Two weeks had passed since he had been rescued from death; and for the most of that time he had been unconscious.

unconscious

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

From this reading Two weeks had passed since he had been rescued from death; and for the most of that time he had been unconscious.

used

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

From this reading It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.

walls

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

From this reading But certain floating impressions were his, which now, as his eyes travelled round the walls of the room in which he lay, he endeavoured to recall.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading This was the thought that passed through Basil's mind as he opened his eyes.

weak

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

From this reading It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.

weeks

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

From this reading Two weeks had passed since he had been rescued from death; and for the most of that time he had been unconscious.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading But certain floating impressions were his, which now, as his eyes travelled round the walls of the room in which he lay, he endeavoured to recall.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading But certain floating impressions were his, which now, as his eyes travelled round the walls of the room in which he lay, he endeavoured to recall.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.

word

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

From this reading It was not without difficulty that he succeeded, but after long and determined--if in his weak state such a word may be used--effort, these impressions began to marshal themselves.