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Joshua Marvel
Joshua Marvel

Chapter XVII · The Rivalry of Love

Cover illustration for Joshua Marvel
Context Illustration Reading 1/75 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.
If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.
The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.
The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.
The very voices were hushed and low, and what was said was said in whispers.
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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.

Joshua Marvel

Chapter XVII · The Rivalry of Love

Reading 1/75 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.
Line 2
If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.
Line 3
The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.
Line 4
The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.
Line 5
The very voices were hushed and low, and what was said was said in whispers.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.”

Whether conjunction US /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading “If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.”

Wondered noun US /wondered/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.”

All words in this reading · 74

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 A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

almost

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

From this reading A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

beings

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

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

blind

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

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

cause

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

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

chance

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

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

cry

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

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

doors

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

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

footfall

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

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

ghostly

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

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

ghosts

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

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

grave

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

From this reading A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

handled

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

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

heard

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

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

house

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

From this reading A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.

human

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

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

hushed

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

From this reading The very voices were hushed and low, and what was said was said in whispers.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

like

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

From this reading A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.

low

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

From this reading The very voices were hushed and low, and what was said was said in whispers.

man

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

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

Marvels

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

From this reading A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

motion

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

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.

opened

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

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

out

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

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

pain

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

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

persons

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

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

reasonably

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

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

reigned

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

From this reading A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.

rough

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

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

said

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

From this reading The very voices were hushed and low, and what was said was said in whispers.

scarcely

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

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

shut

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

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.

some

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

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

tenanted

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

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

tenderly

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

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A silence almost like the silence of the grave reigned in the house of the Marvels.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

there

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

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

treatment

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

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

very

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

From this reading The very voices were hushed and low, and what was said was said in whispers.

voices

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

From this reading The very voices were hushed and low, and what was said was said in whispers.

walked

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

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

way

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

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading The very voices were hushed and low, and what was said was said in whispers.

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

whispers

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

From this reading The very voices were hushed and low, and what was said was said in whispers.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The persons in the house walked about it with such a ghostly motion that scarcely a footfall could be heard.

wonderednounUS /wondered/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If, by some chance, a blind man had found his way there, he might reasonably have wondered whether it was tenanted by ghosts or human beings.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.

wounds

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

From this reading The doors were opened and shut as tenderly as if wounds were being handled, and as if rough treatment would cause them to cry out with pain.