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Michael's Crag
Michael's Crag

Chapter X

Cover illustration for Michael's Crag
Context Illustration Reading 1/23 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A BOLD ATTEMPT.
During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.
Trevennack, however, with unvarying tenderness, did his best in every way to calm her fears.
Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.
Whenever a dangerous topic cropped up in conversation, he would look across at her affectionately, with a reassuring smile.
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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.

Michael's Crag

Chapter X

Reading 1/23 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A BOLD ATTEMPT.
Line 2
During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.
Line 3
Trevennack, however, with unvarying tenderness, did his best in every way to calm her fears.
Line 4
Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.
Line 5
Whenever a dangerous topic cropped up in conversation, he would look across at her affectionately, with a reassuring smile.

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “Whenever a dangerous topic cropped up in conversation, he would look across at her affectionately, with a reassuring smile.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.”

Directly noun US /ˈdirectly/

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

From this reading “Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “Trevennack, however, with unvarying tenderness, did his best in every way to calm her fears.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “Trevennack, however, with unvarying tenderness, did his best in every way to calm her fears.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Whenever a dangerous topic cropped up in conversation, he would look across at her affectionately, with a reassuring smile.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.”

Poor noun US /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.”

Sudden noun US /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.”

Whenever conjunction US /weˈnevər/

at any time that; every time that

From this reading “Whenever a dangerous topic cropped up in conversation, he would look across at her affectionately, with a reassuring smile.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Whenever a dangerous topic cropped up in conversation, he would look across at her affectionately, with a reassuring smile.”

All words in this reading · 82

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 BOLD ATTEMPT.

abiding

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

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

access

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

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Whenever a dangerous topic cropped up in conversation, he would look across at her affectionately, with a reassuring smile.

affectionately

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

From this reading Whenever a dangerous topic cropped up in conversation, he would look across at her affectionately, with a reassuring smile.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Whenever a dangerous topic cropped up in conversation, he would look across at her affectionately, with a reassuring smile.

attack

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

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

ATTEMPT

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

From this reading A BOLD ATTEMPT.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

best

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

From this reading Trevennack, however, with unvarying tenderness, did his best in every way to calm her fears.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.

BOLD

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

From this reading A BOLD ATTEMPT.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

calm

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

From this reading Trevennack, however, with unvarying tenderness, did his best in every way to calm her fears.

Cleer

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

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

control

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

From this reading Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.

conversation

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

From this reading Whenever a dangerous topic cropped up in conversation, he would look across at her affectionately, with a reassuring smile.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

cropped

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

From this reading Whenever a dangerous topic cropped up in conversation, he would look across at her affectionately, with a reassuring smile.

dangerous

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

From this reading Whenever a dangerous topic cropped up in conversation, he would look across at her affectionately, with a reassuring smile.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Trevennack, however, with unvarying tenderness, did his best in every way to calm her fears.

directlynounUS /ˈdirectly/

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

From this reading Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.

DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

eleven

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

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

Eustace

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

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Trevennack, however, with unvarying tenderness, did his best in every way to calm her fears.

fears

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

From this reading Trevennack, however, with unvarying tenderness, did his best in every way to calm her fears.

feel

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

From this reading Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.

get

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

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Trevennack, however, with unvarying tenderness, did his best in every way to calm her fears.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Trevennack, however, with unvarying tenderness, did his best in every way to calm her fears.

husband

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

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Trevennack, however, with unvarying tenderness, did his best in every way to calm her fears.

insanity

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

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

irrepressible

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

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

keep

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

From this reading Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Whenever a dangerous topic cropped up in conversation, he would look across at her affectionately, with a reassuring smile.

manage

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

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

married

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

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

meant

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

From this reading Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

months

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

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

Mrs

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

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.

poornounUS /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

proper

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

From this reading Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.

reassuring

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

From this reading Whenever a dangerous topic cropped up in conversation, he would look across at her affectionately, with a reassuring smile.

singular

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

From this reading Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.

smile

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

From this reading Whenever a dangerous topic cropped up in conversation, he would look across at her affectionately, with a reassuring smile.

subject

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

From this reading Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

tact

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

From this reading Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.

ten

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

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

tenderness

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

From this reading Trevennack, however, with unvarying tenderness, did his best in every way to calm her fears.

terror

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

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.

ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

topic

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

From this reading Whenever a dangerous topic cropped up in conversation, he would look across at her affectionately, with a reassuring smile.

Trevennack

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

From this reading During the next ten or eleven months poor Mrs. Trevennack had but one abiding terror--that a sudden access of irrepressible insanity might attack her husband before Cleer and Eustace could manage to get married.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.

unvarying

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

From this reading Trevennack, however, with unvarying tenderness, did his best in every way to calm her fears.

up

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

From this reading Whenever a dangerous topic cropped up in conversation, he would look across at her affectionately, with a reassuring smile.

way

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

From this reading Trevennack, however, with unvarying tenderness, did his best in every way to calm her fears.

WheneverconjunctionUS /weˈnevər/

at any time that; every time that

From this reading Whenever a dangerous topic cropped up in conversation, he would look across at her affectionately, with a reassuring smile.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Trevennack, however, with unvarying tenderness, did his best in every way to calm her fears.

word

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

From this reading Though no word on the subject passed between them directly, he let her feel with singular tact that he meant to keep himself under proper control.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Whenever a dangerous topic cropped up in conversation, he would look across at her affectionately, with a reassuring smile.