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Homo Sum — Complete
Homo Sum — Complete

Chapter XXII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/15 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.
They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.
"Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.
I shall find it harder to forget.
The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.
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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.

Homo Sum — Complete

Chapter XXII

Reading 1/15 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.
Line 2
They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.
Line 3
"Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.
Line 4
I shall find it harder to forget.
Line 5
The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

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 “"Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.”

Broken noun US /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “"Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “"Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.”

Pieces noun US /pieces/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.”

Remember verb US /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading “"Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.”

Shall modal verb US /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading “I shall find it harder to forget.”

Struck noun US /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.”

Weakness noun US /ˈwiːknəs/

a lack of physical strength

From this reading “The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.”

Wounded noun US /wounded/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “"Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.”

All words in this reading · 106

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 "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

accompanied

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

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

anchorite

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

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

bearers

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

bed

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

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

borne

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

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

brokennounUS /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

cave

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

construct

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

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

down

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

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

easy

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

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

farther

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

father

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

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

find

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

From this reading I shall find it harder to forget.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

forget

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

From this reading I shall find it harder to forget.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

front

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

Gaulish

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

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

hand

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

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

harder

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

From this reading I shall find it harder to forget.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

heaven

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

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

home

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

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

hour

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

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I shall find it harder to forget.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I shall find it harder to forget.

kiss

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

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

labored

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

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

ladder

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

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

lessened

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

lies

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

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

light

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

lighted

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

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

lips

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

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

litter

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

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

lofty

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

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

lying

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

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

many

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

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

mother

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

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

mother's

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

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

oasis

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

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

own

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

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

Paulus

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

perhaps

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

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

pieces

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

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

Polykarp

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

pressed

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

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

rise

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

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

rosy

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

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

safe

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

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

scale

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

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

scar

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

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

sculptor

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

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading I shall find it harder to forget.

sheltered

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

Sirona

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

sister

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

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

sitting

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

son

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

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

strucknounUS /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

there

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

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

torches

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

valley

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

watched

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

way

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

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

weaknessnounUS /ˈwiːknəs/

a lack of physical strength

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

week

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

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

woman's

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

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

wounded

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

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

year

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

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

years

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

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

yesterday

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

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

YetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.