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Dear Brutus
Dear Brutus

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Dear Brutus
Context Illustration Reading 1/92 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The scene is a darkened room, which the curtain reveals so stealthily that if there was a mouse on the stage it is there still.
Our object is to catch our two chief characters unawares; they are Darkness and Light.
The room is so obscure as to be invisible, but at the back of the obscurity are French windows, through which is seen Lob's garden bathed in moon-shine.
The Darkness and Light, which this room and garden represent, are very still, but we should feel that it is only the pause in which old enemies regard each other before they come to the grip.
The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.
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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.

Dear Brutus

Chapter I

Reading 1/92 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The scene is a darkened room, which the curtain reveals so stealthily that if there was a mouse on the stage it is there still.
Line 2
Our object is to catch our two chief characters unawares; they are Darkness and Light.
Line 3
The room is so obscure as to be invisible, but at the back of the obscurity are French windows, through which is seen Lob's garden bathed in moon-shine.
Line 4
The Darkness and Light, which this room and garden represent, are very still, but we should feel that it is only the pause in which old enemies regard each other before they come to the grip.
Line 5
The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.”

Among preposition US /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading “The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “The Darkness and Light, which this room and garden represent, are very still, but we should feel that it is only the pause in which old enemies regard each other before they come to the grip.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The Darkness and Light, which this room and garden represent, are very still, but we should feel that it is only the pause in which old enemies regard each other before they come to the grip.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading “The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The scene is a darkened room, which the curtain reveals so stealthily that if there was a mouse on the stage it is there still.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “The room is so obscure as to be invisible, but at the back of the obscurity are French windows, through which is seen Lob's garden bathed in moon-shine.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.”

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 The scene is a darkened room, which the curtain reveals so stealthily that if there was a mouse on the stage it is there still.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Our object is to catch our two chief characters unawares; they are Darkness and Light.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Our object is to catch our two chief characters unawares; they are Darkness and Light.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The room is so obscure as to be invisible, but at the back of the obscurity are French windows, through which is seen Lob's garden bathed in moon-shine.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The room is so obscure as to be invisible, but at the back of the obscurity are French windows, through which is seen Lob's garden bathed in moon-shine.

back

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

From this reading The room is so obscure as to be invisible, but at the back of the obscurity are French windows, through which is seen Lob's garden bathed in moon-shine.

bathed

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

From this reading The room is so obscure as to be invisible, but at the back of the obscurity are French windows, through which is seen Lob's garden bathed in moon-shine.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The room is so obscure as to be invisible, but at the back of the obscurity are French windows, through which is seen Lob's garden bathed in moon-shine.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The Darkness and Light, which this room and garden represent, are very still, but we should feel that it is only the pause in which old enemies regard each other before they come to the grip.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The room is so obscure as to be invisible, but at the back of the obscurity are French windows, through which is seen Lob's garden bathed in moon-shine.

catch

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

From this reading Our object is to catch our two chief characters unawares; they are Darkness and Light.

characters

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

From this reading Our object is to catch our two chief characters unawares; they are Darkness and Light.

chief

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

From this reading Our object is to catch our two chief characters unawares; they are Darkness and Light.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The Darkness and Light, which this room and garden represent, are very still, but we should feel that it is only the pause in which old enemies regard each other before they come to the grip.

curtain

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

From this reading The scene is a darkened room, which the curtain reveals so stealthily that if there was a mouse on the stage it is there still.

darkened

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

From this reading The scene is a darkened room, which the curtain reveals so stealthily that if there was a mouse on the stage it is there still.

Darkness

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

From this reading Our object is to catch our two chief characters unawares; they are Darkness and Light.

dwellers

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

From this reading The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

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

From this reading The Darkness and Light, which this room and garden represent, are very still, but we should feel that it is only the pause in which old enemies regard each other before they come to the grip.

enemies

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

From this reading The Darkness and Light, which this room and garden represent, are very still, but we should feel that it is only the pause in which old enemies regard each other before they come to the grip.

feel

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

From this reading The Darkness and Light, which this room and garden represent, are very still, but we should feel that it is only the pause in which old enemies regard each other before they come to the grip.

flowers

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

From this reading The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.

French

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

From this reading The room is so obscure as to be invisible, but at the back of the obscurity are French windows, through which is seen Lob's garden bathed in moon-shine.

garden

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

From this reading The room is so obscure as to be invisible, but at the back of the obscurity are French windows, through which is seen Lob's garden bathed in moon-shine.

give

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

From this reading The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.

grip

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

From this reading The Darkness and Light, which this room and garden represent, are very still, but we should feel that it is only the pause in which old enemies regard each other before they come to the grip.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The scene is a darkened room, which the curtain reveals so stealthily that if there was a mouse on the stage it is there still.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The room is so obscure as to be invisible, but at the back of the obscurity are French windows, through which is seen Lob's garden bathed in moon-shine.

instructions

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

From this reading The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.

invisible

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

From this reading The room is so obscure as to be invisible, but at the back of the obscurity are French windows, through which is seen Lob's garden bathed in moon-shine.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The scene is a darkened room, which the curtain reveals so stealthily that if there was a mouse on the stage it is there still.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The scene is a darkened room, which the curtain reveals so stealthily that if there was a mouse on the stage it is there still.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.

Light

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

From this reading Our object is to catch our two chief characters unawares; they are Darkness and Light.

Lob's

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

From this reading The room is so obscure as to be invisible, but at the back of the obscurity are French windows, through which is seen Lob's garden bathed in moon-shine.

menace

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

From this reading The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.

moon-shine

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

From this reading The room is so obscure as to be invisible, but at the back of the obscurity are French windows, through which is seen Lob's garden bathed in moon-shine.

moonshine

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

From this reading The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.

mouse

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

From this reading The scene is a darkened room, which the curtain reveals so stealthily that if there was a mouse on the stage it is there still.

object

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

From this reading Our object is to catch our two chief characters unawares; they are Darkness and Light.

obscure

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

From this reading The room is so obscure as to be invisible, but at the back of the obscurity are French windows, through which is seen Lob's garden bathed in moon-shine.

obscurity

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

From this reading The room is so obscure as to be invisible, but at the back of the obscurity are French windows, through which is seen Lob's garden bathed in moon-shine.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The room is so obscure as to be invisible, but at the back of the obscurity are French windows, through which is seen Lob's garden bathed in moon-shine.

old

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

From this reading The Darkness and Light, which this room and garden represent, are very still, but we should feel that it is only the pause in which old enemies regard each other before they come to the grip.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The scene is a darkened room, which the curtain reveals so stealthily that if there was a mouse on the stage it is there still.

only

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

From this reading The Darkness and Light, which this room and garden represent, are very still, but we should feel that it is only the pause in which old enemies regard each other before they come to the grip.

other

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

From this reading The Darkness and Light, which this room and garden represent, are very still, but we should feel that it is only the pause in which old enemies regard each other before they come to the grip.

OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Our object is to catch our two chief characters unawares; they are Darkness and Light.

pause

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

From this reading The Darkness and Light, which this room and garden represent, are very still, but we should feel that it is only the pause in which old enemies regard each other before they come to the grip.

regard

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

From this reading The Darkness and Light, which this room and garden represent, are very still, but we should feel that it is only the pause in which old enemies regard each other before they come to the grip.

represent

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

From this reading The Darkness and Light, which this room and garden represent, are very still, but we should feel that it is only the pause in which old enemies regard each other before they come to the grip.

reveals

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

From this reading The scene is a darkened room, which the curtain reveals so stealthily that if there was a mouse on the stage it is there still.

room

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

From this reading The scene is a darkened room, which the curtain reveals so stealthily that if there was a mouse on the stage it is there still.

scene

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

From this reading The scene is a darkened room, which the curtain reveals so stealthily that if there was a mouse on the stage it is there still.

seen

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

From this reading The room is so obscure as to be invisible, but at the back of the obscurity are French windows, through which is seen Lob's garden bathed in moon-shine.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading The Darkness and Light, which this room and garden represent, are very still, but we should feel that it is only the pause in which old enemies regard each other before they come to the grip.

smile

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

From this reading The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The scene is a darkened room, which the curtain reveals so stealthily that if there was a mouse on the stage it is there still.

stage

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

From this reading The scene is a darkened room, which the curtain reveals so stealthily that if there was a mouse on the stage it is there still.

stealing

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

From this reading The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.

stealthily

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

From this reading The scene is a darkened room, which the curtain reveals so stealthily that if there was a mouse on the stage it is there still.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The scene is a darkened room, which the curtain reveals so stealthily that if there was a mouse on the stage it is there still.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The scene is a darkened room, which the curtain reveals so stealthily that if there was a mouse on the stage it is there still.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The scene is a darkened room, which the curtain reveals so stealthily that if there was a mouse on the stage it is there still.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.

there

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

From this reading The scene is a darkened room, which the curtain reveals so stealthily that if there was a mouse on the stage it is there still.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Our object is to catch our two chief characters unawares; they are Darkness and Light.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading The Darkness and Light, which this room and garden represent, are very still, but we should feel that it is only the pause in which old enemies regard each other before they come to the grip.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading The room is so obscure as to be invisible, but at the back of the obscurity are French windows, through which is seen Lob's garden bathed in moon-shine.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Our object is to catch our two chief characters unawares; they are Darkness and Light.

two

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

From this reading Our object is to catch our two chief characters unawares; they are Darkness and Light.

unawares

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

From this reading Our object is to catch our two chief characters unawares; they are Darkness and Light.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.

very

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

From this reading The Darkness and Light, which this room and garden represent, are very still, but we should feel that it is only the pause in which old enemies regard each other before they come to the grip.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The scene is a darkened room, which the curtain reveals so stealthily that if there was a mouse on the stage it is there still.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading The Darkness and Light, which this room and garden represent, are very still, but we should feel that it is only the pause in which old enemies regard each other before they come to the grip.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The scene is a darkened room, which the curtain reveals so stealthily that if there was a mouse on the stage it is there still.

windows

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

From this reading The room is so obscure as to be invisible, but at the back of the obscurity are French windows, through which is seen Lob's garden bathed in moon-shine.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The moonshine stealing about among the flowers, to give them their last instructions, has left a smile upon them, but it is a smile with a menace in it for the dwellers in darkness.