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Idols
Idols

Chapter XXVI

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Context Illustration Reading 1/70 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.
Now, for the first time, his heart seemed to fail him.
It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.
He had entered the house buoyant with hope.
That morning he had received the offer of an appointment which was generally held to be the stepping-stone to the silk of the Queen’s Counsel.
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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.

Idols

Chapter XXVI

Reading 1/70 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.
Line 2
Now, for the first time, his heart seemed to fail him.
Line 3
It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.
Line 4
He had entered the house buoyant with hope.
Line 5
That morning he had received the offer of an appointment which was generally held to be the stepping-stone to the silk of the Queen’s Counsel.

Learner Dictionary

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

Buoyant adjective US /ˈbɔɪənt/

able to float or rise easily in water

From this reading “He had entered the house buoyant with hope.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Now, for the first time, his heart seemed to fail him.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.”

Lest conjunction US /lest/

in order that something should not happen

From this reading “It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “That morning he had received the offer of an appointment which was generally held to be the stepping-stone to the silk of the Queen’s Counsel.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Now, for the first time, his heart seemed to fail him.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Now, for the first time, his heart seemed to fail him.”

All words in this reading · 78

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

accustomed

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

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading That morning he had received the offer of an appointment which was generally held to be the stepping-stone to the silk of the Queen’s Counsel.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

appointment

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

From this reading That morning he had received the offer of an appointment which was generally held to be the stepping-stone to the silk of the Queen’s Counsel.

away

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

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading That morning he had received the offer of an appointment which was generally held to be the stepping-stone to the silk of the Queen’s Counsel.

boy's

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

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

buoyantadjectiveUS /ˈbɔɪənt/

able to float or rise easily in water

From this reading He had entered the house buoyant with hope.

cause

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

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

chair

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

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

committed

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

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

Counsel

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

From this reading That morning he had received the offer of an appointment which was generally held to be the stepping-stone to the silk of the Queen’s Counsel.

crime

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

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

entered

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

From this reading He had entered the house buoyant with hope.

fail

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

From this reading Now, for the first time, his heart seemed to fail him.

fear

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

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Now, for the first time, his heart seemed to fail him.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Now, for the first time, his heart seemed to fail him.

forfeit

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

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

generally

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

From this reading That morning he had received the offer of an appointment which was generally held to be the stepping-stone to the silk of the Queen’s Counsel.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

hand

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

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

happiness

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

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

haunted

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

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

head

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

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

heart

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

From this reading Now, for the first time, his heart seemed to fail him.

held

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

From this reading That morning he had received the offer of an appointment which was generally held to be the stepping-stone to the silk of the Queen’s Counsel.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Now, for the first time, his heart seemed to fail him.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

hope

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

From this reading He had entered the house buoyant with hope.

horrible

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

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

house

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

From this reading He had entered the house buoyant with hope.

Hugh

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

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

Irene's

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

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

lestconjunctionUS /lest/

in order that something should not happen

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

love

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

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

mechanical

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

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading That morning he had received the offer of an appointment which was generally held to be the stepping-stone to the silk of the Queen’s Counsel.

nearest

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

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

Now

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

From this reading Now, for the first time, his heart seemed to fail him.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

off

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

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

offer

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

From this reading That morning he had received the offer of an appointment which was generally held to be the stepping-stone to the silk of the Queen’s Counsel.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

photograph

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

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

place

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

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

precision

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

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

premonitions

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

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

put

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

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

Queen's

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

From this reading That morning he had received the offer of an appointment which was generally held to be the stepping-stone to the silk of the Queen’s Counsel.

received

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

From this reading That morning he had received the offer of an appointment which was generally held to be the stepping-stone to the silk of the Queen’s Counsel.

rested

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

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Now, for the first time, his heart seemed to fail him.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

silk

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

From this reading That morning he had received the offer of an appointment which was generally held to be the stepping-stone to the silk of the Queen’s Counsel.

stepping-stone

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

From this reading That morning he had received the offer of an appointment which was generally held to be the stepping-stone to the silk of the Queen’s Counsel.

stone-cold

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

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That morning he had received the offer of an appointment which was generally held to be the stepping-stone to the silk of the Queen’s Counsel.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

then

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

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

three

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

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

threw

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

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Now, for the first time, his heart seemed to fail him.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Now, for the first time, his heart seemed to fail him.

turned

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

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Hugh put the boy’s photograph with mechanical precision in its accustomed place, then turned away and threw himself into the nearest chair and rested his head on his hand.

years

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

From this reading It was stone-cold with fear, the horrible fear, of which premonitions had haunted him, off and on, during the three years of his great happiness, lest this crime which he had committed should cause him to forfeit Irene’s love.