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Comrade Yetta
Comrade Yetta

Chapter XX

Cover illustration for Comrade Yetta
Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
ISADORE BRAUN It was shortly before her visit to Cos-Cob that Isadore Braun asked Yetta to marry him.
In a way he was almost ashamed of himself for doing so.
His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.
Yetta had walked into his cold, impersonal life in an utterly disturbing way.
It was as if some sudden leak had let a glare of sunlight into a photographer's dark room.
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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.

Comrade Yetta

Chapter XX

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
ISADORE BRAUN It was shortly before her visit to Cos-Cob that Isadore Braun asked Yetta to marry him.
Line 2
In a way he was almost ashamed of himself for doing so.
Line 3
His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.
Line 4
Yetta had walked into his cold, impersonal life in an utterly disturbing way.
Line 5
It was as if some sudden leak had let a glare of sunlight into a photographer's dark room.

Learner Dictionary

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

Ashamed adjective US /əˈʃeɪmd/

feeling guilt or embarrassment after doing something that causes embarrassment

From this reading “In a way he was almost ashamed of himself for doing so.”

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “ISADORE BRAUN It was shortly before her visit to Cos-Cob that Isadore Braun asked Yetta to marry him.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “ISADORE BRAUN It was shortly before her visit to Cos-Cob that Isadore Braun asked Yetta to marry him.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.”

Glare noun US /glare/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was as if some sudden leak had let a glare of sunlight into a photographer's dark room.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “In a way he was almost ashamed of himself for doing so.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “It was as if some sudden leak had let a glare of sunlight into a photographer's dark room.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.”

Sudden noun US /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was as if some sudden leak had let a glare of sunlight into a photographer's dark room.”

Understand noun US /understand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.”

All words in this reading · 63

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 In a way he was almost ashamed of himself for doing so.

all

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

From this reading His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.

almost

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

From this reading In a way he was almost ashamed of himself for doing so.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Yetta had walked into his cold, impersonal life in an utterly disturbing way.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It was as if some sudden leak had let a glare of sunlight into a photographer's dark room.

ashamedadjectiveUS /əˈʃeɪmd/

feeling guilt or embarrassment after doing something that causes embarrassment

From this reading In a way he was almost ashamed of himself for doing so.

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ISADORE BRAUN It was shortly before her visit to Cos-Cob that Isadore Braun asked Yetta to marry him.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading ISADORE BRAUN It was shortly before her visit to Cos-Cob that Isadore Braun asked Yetta to marry him.

BRAUN

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

From this reading ISADORE BRAUN It was shortly before her visit to Cos-Cob that Isadore Braun asked Yetta to marry him.

cold

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

From this reading Yetta had walked into his cold, impersonal life in an utterly disturbing way.

control

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

From this reading His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.

Cos-Cob

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

From this reading ISADORE BRAUN It was shortly before her visit to Cos-Cob that Isadore Braun asked Yetta to marry him.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.

dark

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

From this reading It was as if some sudden leak had let a glare of sunlight into a photographer's dark room.

desire

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

From this reading His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.

disturbing

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

From this reading Yetta had walked into his cold, impersonal life in an utterly disturbing way.

doing

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

From this reading In a way he was almost ashamed of himself for doing so.

escaped

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

From this reading His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading In a way he was almost ashamed of himself for doing so.

forcibly

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

From this reading His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.

glarenounUS /glare/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was as if some sudden leak had let a glare of sunlight into a photographer's dark room.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading In a way he was almost ashamed of himself for doing so.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading ISADORE BRAUN It was shortly before her visit to Cos-Cob that Isadore Braun asked Yetta to marry him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading ISADORE BRAUN It was shortly before her visit to Cos-Cob that Isadore Braun asked Yetta to marry him.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading In a way he was almost ashamed of himself for doing so.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading It was as if some sudden leak had let a glare of sunlight into a photographer's dark room.

impersonal

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

From this reading Yetta had walked into his cold, impersonal life in an utterly disturbing way.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In a way he was almost ashamed of himself for doing so.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Yetta had walked into his cold, impersonal life in an utterly disturbing way.

ISADORE

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

From this reading ISADORE BRAUN It was shortly before her visit to Cos-Cob that Isadore Braun asked Yetta to marry him.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading ISADORE BRAUN It was shortly before her visit to Cos-Cob that Isadore Braun asked Yetta to marry him.

leak

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

From this reading It was as if some sudden leak had let a glare of sunlight into a photographer's dark room.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading It was as if some sudden leak had let a glare of sunlight into a photographer's dark room.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.

marry

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

From this reading ISADORE BRAUN It was shortly before her visit to Cos-Cob that Isadore Braun asked Yetta to marry him.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In a way he was almost ashamed of himself for doing so.

photographer's

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

From this reading It was as if some sudden leak had let a glare of sunlight into a photographer's dark room.

reason

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

From this reading His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.

room

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

From this reading It was as if some sudden leak had let a glare of sunlight into a photographer's dark room.

shortly

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

From this reading ISADORE BRAUN It was shortly before her visit to Cos-Cob that Isadore Braun asked Yetta to marry him.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading In a way he was almost ashamed of himself for doing so.

some

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

From this reading It was as if some sudden leak had let a glare of sunlight into a photographer's dark room.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.

submitted

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

From this reading His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was as if some sudden leak had let a glare of sunlight into a photographer's dark room.

sunlight

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

From this reading It was as if some sudden leak had let a glare of sunlight into a photographer's dark room.

tempestuous

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

From this reading His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading ISADORE BRAUN It was shortly before her visit to Cos-Cob that Isadore Braun asked Yetta to marry him.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading ISADORE BRAUN It was shortly before her visit to Cos-Cob that Isadore Braun asked Yetta to marry him.

understandnounUS /understand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.

utterly

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

From this reading Yetta had walked into his cold, impersonal life in an utterly disturbing way.

visit

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

From this reading ISADORE BRAUN It was shortly before her visit to Cos-Cob that Isadore Braun asked Yetta to marry him.

walked

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

From this reading Yetta had walked into his cold, impersonal life in an utterly disturbing way.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading ISADORE BRAUN It was shortly before her visit to Cos-Cob that Isadore Braun asked Yetta to marry him.

way

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

From this reading In a way he was almost ashamed of himself for doing so.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading His tempestuous desire for her was something he could not understand, something which forcibly escaped from the control of reason, to which all his life had been submitted.

Yetta

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

From this reading ISADORE BRAUN It was shortly before her visit to Cos-Cob that Isadore Braun asked Yetta to marry him.