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Chapter XI
THE TORTURE-HOUSE _They sat in the darkness, watching where the starlight gleamed upon the water. “We had always hope,” she was saying. “How endlessly we hoped!” “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_ Section 1.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
later than; following
From this reading ““Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ““Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading ““Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_”
an old word for “your”, speaking to one person
From this reading ““Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_”
a formal word for “on”
From this reading “THE TORTURE-HOUSE _They sat in the darkness, watching where the starlight gleamed upon the water.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading ““Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Section 1.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
later than; following
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We had always hope,” she was saying.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TORTURE-HOUSE _They sat in the darkness, watching where the starlight gleamed upon the water.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How endlessly we hoped!”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TORTURE-HOUSE _They sat in the darkness, watching where the starlight gleamed upon the water.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “We had always hope,” she was saying.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We had always hope,” she was saying.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How endlessly we hoped!”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How endlessly we hoped!”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE TORTURE-HOUSE _They sat in the darkness, watching where the starlight gleamed upon the water.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TORTURE-HOUSE _They sat in the darkness, watching where the starlight gleamed upon the water.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We had always hope,” she was saying.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Section 1.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “We had always hope,” she was saying.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TORTURE-HOUSE _They sat in the darkness, watching where the starlight gleamed upon the water.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TORTURE-HOUSE _They sat in the darkness, watching where the starlight gleamed upon the water.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE TORTURE-HOUSE _They sat in the darkness, watching where the starlight gleamed upon the water.
an old word for “your”, speaking to one person
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TORTURE-HOUSE _They sat in the darkness, watching where the starlight gleamed upon the water.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
a formal word for “on”
From this reading THE TORTURE-HOUSE _They sat in the darkness, watching where the starlight gleamed upon the water.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “We had always hope,” she was saying.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TORTURE-HOUSE _They sat in the darkness, watching where the starlight gleamed upon the water.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TORTURE-HOUSE _They sat in the darkness, watching where the starlight gleamed upon the water.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “We had always hope,” she was saying.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
in or at the place that
From this reading THE TORTURE-HOUSE _They sat in the darkness, watching where the starlight gleamed upon the water.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Could we do it now?” he asked; and after a pause, he quoted from the poem-- “Unbreachable the fort Of the long-batter’d world uplifts its wall; And strange and vain the earthly turmoil grows, And near and real the charm of thy repose, And night as welcome as a friend would fall!”_
