Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Ironheart
Ironheart

Chapter XXXII

Cover illustration for Ironheart
Context Illustration Reading 1/24 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.
It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.
She was caught in the current of a stream of emotion sweeping down in flood.
Though it gave her a great thrill, none the less it was devastating.
She wanted to escape, to be by herself behind a locked door, where she could sit down, find herself again, and take stock of the situation.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Ironheart

Chapter XXXII

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.
Line 2
It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.
Line 3
She was caught in the current of a stream of emotion sweeping down in flood.
Line 4
Though it gave her a great thrill, none the less it was devastating.
Line 5
She wanted to escape, to be by herself behind a locked door, where she could sit down, find herself again, and take stock of the situation.

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 “She wanted to escape, to be by herself behind a locked door, where she could sit down, find herself again, and take stock of the situation.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “She wanted to escape, to be by herself behind a locked door, where she could sit down, find herself again, and take stock of the situation.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “She wanted to escape, to be by herself behind a locked door, where she could sit down, find herself again, and take stock of the situation.”

Current noun US /ˈcurrent/

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

From this reading “She was caught in the current of a stream of emotion sweeping down in flood.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Though it gave her a great thrill, none the less it was devastating.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

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

From this reading “She wanted to escape, to be by herself behind a locked door, where she could sit down, find herself again, and take stock of the situation.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.”

None pronoun US /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading “Though it gave her a great thrill, none the less it was devastating.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.”

Step noun US /step/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading “It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She wanted to escape, to be by herself behind a locked door, where she could sit down, find herself again, and take stock of the situation.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.”

Whatever determiner US /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading “It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.”

WITHOUT preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.”

All words in this reading · 75

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 WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

accelerator

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

From this reading It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She wanted to escape, to be by herself behind a locked door, where she could sit down, find herself again, and take stock of the situation.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

any

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

From this reading It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading She wanted to escape, to be by herself behind a locked door, where she could sit down, find herself again, and take stock of the situation.

begun

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

From this reading It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading She wanted to escape, to be by herself behind a locked door, where she could sit down, find herself again, and take stock of the situation.

Betty

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

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading She wanted to escape, to be by herself behind a locked door, where she could sit down, find herself again, and take stock of the situation.

caught

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

From this reading She was caught in the current of a stream of emotion sweeping down in flood.

chemical

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

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading She wanted to escape, to be by herself behind a locked door, where she could sit down, find herself again, and take stock of the situation.

currentnounUS /ˈcurrent/

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

From this reading She was caught in the current of a stream of emotion sweeping down in flood.

decided

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

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

devastating

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

From this reading Though it gave her a great thrill, none the less it was devastating.

door

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

From this reading She wanted to escape, to be by herself behind a locked door, where she could sit down, find herself again, and take stock of the situation.

down

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

From this reading She was caught in the current of a stream of emotion sweeping down in flood.

emotion

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

From this reading She was caught in the current of a stream of emotion sweeping down in flood.

escape

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

From this reading She wanted to escape, to be by herself behind a locked door, where she could sit down, find herself again, and take stock of the situation.

explainable

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

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

far

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

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

Fate

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

From this reading It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.

find

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

From this reading She wanted to escape, to be by herself behind a locked door, where she could sit down, find herself again, and take stock of the situation.

flood

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

From this reading She was caught in the current of a stream of emotion sweeping down in flood.

gave

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

From this reading Though it gave her a great thrill, none the less it was devastating.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Though it gave her a great thrill, none the less it was devastating.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

happened

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

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

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

From this reading She wanted to escape, to be by herself behind a locked door, where she could sit down, find herself again, and take stock of the situation.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She was caught in the current of a stream of emotion sweeping down in flood.

intended

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

From this reading It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

less

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

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.

locked

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

From this reading She wanted to escape, to be by herself behind a locked door, where she could sit down, find herself again, and take stock of the situation.

move

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

From this reading It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading Though it gave her a great thrill, none the less it was devastating.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She was caught in the current of a stream of emotion sweeping down in flood.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.

ORconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

reaction

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

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

REASON

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

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

RHYME

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

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She was caught in the current of a stream of emotion sweeping down in flood.

sit

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

From this reading She wanted to escape, to be by herself behind a locked door, where she could sit down, find herself again, and take stock of the situation.

situation

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

From this reading She wanted to escape, to be by herself behind a locked door, where she could sit down, find herself again, and take stock of the situation.

speed

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

From this reading It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.

stepnounUS /step/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.

stock

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

From this reading She wanted to escape, to be by herself behind a locked door, where she could sit down, find herself again, and take stock of the situation.

stream

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

From this reading She was caught in the current of a stream of emotion sweeping down in flood.

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.

sweeping

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

From this reading She was caught in the current of a stream of emotion sweeping down in flood.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She wanted to escape, to be by herself behind a locked door, where she could sit down, find herself again, and take stock of the situation.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.

thrill

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

From this reading Though it gave her a great thrill, none the less it was devastating.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

tremendous

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

From this reading It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.

upsetting

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

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

wanted

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

From this reading She wanted to escape, to be by herself behind a locked door, where she could sit down, find herself again, and take stock of the situation.

warning

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

From this reading It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.

whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading It seemed to her as though life had suddenly begun to move at tremendous speed, without any warning to her whatever that Fate intended to step on the accelerator.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading She wanted to escape, to be by herself behind a locked door, where she could sit down, find herself again, and take stock of the situation.

WITHOUTprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON It was an upsetting thing, this that had happened to Betty, as decided and far less explainable than a chemical reaction.