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Fruitfulness
Fruitfulness

Chapter XII

Cover illustration for Fruitfulness
Context Illustration Reading 1/81 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.
He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.
And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.
She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.
But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.
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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.

Fruitfulness

Chapter XII

Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.
Line 2
He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.
Line 3
And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.
Line 4
She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.
Line 5
But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.”

Surprised noun US /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading “And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.”

Uttered noun US /ˈuttered/

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

From this reading “And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.”

All words in this reading · 83

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 And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.

absolutely

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

From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.

address

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

From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.

almost

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

From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.

amused

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

From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.

battle

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

From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.

brutal

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

From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.

charlatans

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

From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.

Constance

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

From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.

consulting

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

From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.

courage

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

From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.

death

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

From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.

decisive

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

From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.

despair

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

From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.

Dr

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

From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.

effort

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

From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.

face

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

From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.

fainted

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

From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.

flat

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

From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.

Gaude

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

From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.

grief

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

From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.

hope

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

From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.

idea

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

From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.

indeed

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

From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.

jesting

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

From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.

lay

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

From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.

light

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

From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.

loneliness

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

From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.

moment

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

From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.

nearly

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

From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.

now

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

From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.

profound

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

From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.

recovered

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

From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.

robbed

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

From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.

seized

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

From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.

self-possession

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

From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.

simply

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

From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.

stairs

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

From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.

surprisednounUS /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.

there

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

From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.

truth

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

From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.

two

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

From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.

useless

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

From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.

utterednounUS /ˈuttered/

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

From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.

way

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

From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.

welcome

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

From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.

words

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

From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.

years

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

From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.