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Claude's Confession
Claude's Confession

Chapter VI

Cover illustration for Claude's Confession
Context Illustration Reading 1/5 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
DESPAIR I resumed my work, but with repugnance, and was weary from the commencement.
Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.
When I seated myself at my table, I leaned sadly on my elbows, letting the pen slip from my fingers and muttering: "What is the good!"
My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.
Scold me, brothers, for limping verses are shorn of their power to keep me awake.
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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.

Claude's Confession

Chapter VI

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

Line 1
DESPAIR I resumed my work, but with repugnance, and was weary from the commencement.
Line 2
Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.
Line 3
When I seated myself at my table, I leaned sadly on my elbows, letting the pen slip from my fingers and muttering: "What is the good!"
Line 4
My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.
Line 5
Scold me, brothers, for limping verses are shorn of their power to keep me awake.

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 “Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When I seated myself at my table, I leaned sadly on my elbows, letting the pen slip from my fingers and muttering: "What is the good!"”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “When I seated myself at my table, I leaned sadly on my elbows, letting the pen slip from my fingers and muttering: "What is the good!"”

Neither determiner US /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading “Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.”

Repugnance noun US /rɪˈpʌɡnəns/

strong disgust or dislike showing strong disgust or dislike toward something

From this reading “DESPAIR I resumed my work, but with repugnance, and was weary from the commencement.”

Resumed noun US /ˈresumed/

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

From this reading “DESPAIR I resumed my work, but with repugnance, and was weary from the commencement.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.”

Worn verb US /wɔːrn/

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading “My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.”

All words in this reading · 85

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 Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.

altogether

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

From this reading Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading DESPAIR I resumed my work, but with repugnance, and was weary from the commencement.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Scold me, brothers, for limping verses are shorn of their power to keep me awake.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading When I seated myself at my table, I leaned sadly on my elbows, letting the pen slip from my fingers and muttering: "What is the good!"

awake

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

From this reading Scold me, brothers, for limping verses are shorn of their power to keep me awake.

away

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

From this reading Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.

boldness

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

From this reading Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.

brothers

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

From this reading Scold me, brothers, for limping verses are shorn of their power to keep me awake.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading DESPAIR I resumed my work, but with repugnance, and was weary from the commencement.

childish

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

From this reading My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.

commencement

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

From this reading DESPAIR I resumed my work, but with repugnance, and was weary from the commencement.

corner

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

From this reading Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.

courage

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

From this reading Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.

dare

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

From this reading My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.

DESPAIR

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

From this reading DESPAIR I resumed my work, but with repugnance, and was weary from the commencement.

draw

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

From this reading Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.

elbows

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

From this reading When I seated myself at my table, I leaned sadly on my elbows, letting the pen slip from my fingers and muttering: "What is the good!"

fall

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

From this reading Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.

felt

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

From this reading My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.

few

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

From this reading My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.

fills

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

From this reading My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.

fingers

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

From this reading When I seated myself at my table, I leaned sadly on my elbows, letting the pen slip from my fingers and muttering: "What is the good!"

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Scold me, brothers, for limping verses are shorn of their power to keep me awake.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading DESPAIR I resumed my work, but with repugnance, and was weary from the commencement.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When I seated myself at my table, I leaned sadly on my elbows, letting the pen slip from my fingers and muttering: "What is the good!"

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.

happy

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

From this reading My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading DESPAIR I resumed my work, but with repugnance, and was weary from the commencement.

intelligence

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

From this reading My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading When I seated myself at my table, I leaned sadly on my elbows, letting the pen slip from my fingers and muttering: "What is the good!"

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.

joy

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

From this reading My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.

keep

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

From this reading Scold me, brothers, for limping verses are shorn of their power to keep me awake.

laughter

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

From this reading My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.

leaned

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

From this reading When I seated myself at my table, I leaned sadly on my elbows, letting the pen slip from my fingers and muttering: "What is the good!"

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.

letting

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

From this reading When I seated myself at my table, I leaned sadly on my elbows, letting the pen slip from my fingers and muttering: "What is the good!"

lifted

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

From this reading Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.

limping

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

From this reading Scold me, brothers, for limping verses are shorn of their power to keep me awake.

longer

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

From this reading My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Scold me, brothers, for limping verses are shorn of their power to keep me awake.

muttering

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

From this reading When I seated myself at my table, I leaned sadly on my elbows, letting the pen slip from my fingers and muttering: "What is the good!"

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading DESPAIR I resumed my work, but with repugnance, and was weary from the commencement.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading When I seated myself at my table, I leaned sadly on my elbows, letting the pen slip from my fingers and muttering: "What is the good!"

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

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

From this reading Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.

Now

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

From this reading Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading When I seated myself at my table, I leaned sadly on my elbows, letting the pen slip from my fingers and muttering: "What is the good!"

out

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

From this reading My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.

pen

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

From this reading When I seated myself at my table, I leaned sadly on my elbows, letting the pen slip from my fingers and muttering: "What is the good!"

phrases

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

From this reading My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.

poet

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

From this reading My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.

power

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

From this reading Scold me, brothers, for limping verses are shorn of their power to keep me awake.

re-read

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

From this reading My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.

repugnancenounUS /rɪˈpʌɡnəns/

strong disgust or dislike showing strong disgust or dislike toward something

From this reading DESPAIR I resumed my work, but with repugnance, and was weary from the commencement.

resumednounUS /ˈresumed/

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

From this reading DESPAIR I resumed my work, but with repugnance, and was weary from the commencement.

rhyme

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

From this reading My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.

sadly

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

From this reading When I seated myself at my table, I leaned sadly on my elbows, letting the pen slip from my fingers and muttering: "What is the good!"

Scold

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

From this reading Scold me, brothers, for limping verses are shorn of their power to keep me awake.

seated

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

From this reading When I seated myself at my table, I leaned sadly on my elbows, letting the pen slip from my fingers and muttering: "What is the good!"

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.

shorn

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

From this reading Scold me, brothers, for limping verses are shorn of their power to keep me awake.

slip

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

From this reading When I seated myself at my table, I leaned sadly on my elbows, letting the pen slip from my fingers and muttering: "What is the good!"

table

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

From this reading When I seated myself at my table, I leaned sadly on my elbows, letting the pen slip from my fingers and muttering: "What is the good!"

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading DESPAIR I resumed my work, but with repugnance, and was weary from the commencement.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Scold me, brothers, for limping verses are shorn of their power to keep me awake.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.

unreasoning

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

From this reading My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.

veil

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

From this reading Now that I had lifted a corner of the veil, I had neither the courage to let it fall again nor the boldness to draw it away altogether.

verses

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

From this reading Scold me, brothers, for limping verses are shorn of their power to keep me awake.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading DESPAIR I resumed my work, but with repugnance, and was weary from the commencement.

weary

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

From this reading DESPAIR I resumed my work, but with repugnance, and was weary from the commencement.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading When I seated myself at my table, I leaned sadly on my elbows, letting the pen slip from my fingers and muttering: "What is the good!"

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When I seated myself at my table, I leaned sadly on my elbows, letting the pen slip from my fingers and muttering: "What is the good!"

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading DESPAIR I resumed my work, but with repugnance, and was weary from the commencement.

work

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

From this reading DESPAIR I resumed my work, but with repugnance, and was weary from the commencement.

wornverbUS /wɔːrn/

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.

written

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

From this reading My intelligence seemed worn out; I dare not re-read the few phrases I had written; I no longer felt that joy of the poet, whom a happy rhyme fills with unreasoning and childish laughter.