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Nancy: A Novel
Nancy: A Novel

Chapter XXVI

Cover illustration for Nancy: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/54 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
So this is the way in which Barbara's hope dies!
Our hopes have as many ways of dying as our bodies.
Sometimes they pine and fall into a slow consumption, we nursing, cockering, and physicking them to the last.
Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.
This last has been Barbara's case.
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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.

Nancy: A Novel

Chapter XXVI

Reading 1/54 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
So this is the way in which Barbara's hope dies!
Line 2
Our hopes have as many ways of dying as our bodies.
Line 3
Sometimes they pine and fall into a slow consumption, we nursing, cockering, and physicking them to the last.
Line 4
Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.
Line 5
This last has been Barbara's case.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “This last has been Barbara's case.”

Dead noun US /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “This last has been Barbara's case.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Our hopes have as many ways of dying as our bodies.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sometimes they pine and fall into a slow consumption, we nursing, cockering, and physicking them to the last.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.”

Sometimes noun US /sometimes/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sometimes they pine and fall into a slow consumption, we nursing, cockering, and physicking them to the last.”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading “Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.”

All words in this reading · 56

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 Sometimes they pine and fall into a slow consumption, we nursing, cockering, and physicking them to the last.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Sometimes they pine and fall into a slow consumption, we nursing, cockering, and physicking them to the last.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Our hopes have as many ways of dying as our bodies.

Barbara's

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

From this reading So this is the way in which Barbara's hope dies!

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading This last has been Barbara's case.

bodies

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

From this reading Our hopes have as many ways of dying as our bodies.

bones

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

From this reading Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.

case

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

From this reading This last has been Barbara's case.

cockering

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

From this reading Sometimes they pine and fall into a slow consumption, we nursing, cockering, and physicking them to the last.

consumption

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

From this reading Sometimes they pine and fall into a slow consumption, we nursing, cockering, and physicking them to the last.

deadnounUS /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.

dies

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

From this reading So this is the way in which Barbara's hope dies!

down

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

From this reading Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.

drops

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

From this reading Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.

dying

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

From this reading Our hopes have as many ways of dying as our bodies.

eyes

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

From this reading Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.

fall

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

From this reading Sometimes they pine and fall into a slow consumption, we nursing, cockering, and physicking them to the last.

full

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

From this reading Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading This last has been Barbara's case.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Our hopes have as many ways of dying as our bodies.

health

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

From this reading Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.

hope

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

From this reading So this is the way in which Barbara's hope dies!

hopes

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

From this reading Our hopes have as many ways of dying as our bodies.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading So this is the way in which Barbara's hope dies!

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Sometimes they pine and fall into a slow consumption, we nursing, cockering, and physicking them to the last.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading So this is the way in which Barbara's hope dies!

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Sometimes they pine and fall into a slow consumption, we nursing, cockering, and physicking them to the last.

light

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

From this reading Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.

many

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

From this reading Our hopes have as many ways of dying as our bodies.

marrow

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

From this reading Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.

nursing

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

From this reading Sometimes they pine and fall into a slow consumption, we nursing, cockering, and physicking them to the last.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Our hopes have as many ways of dying as our bodies.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.

OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Our hopes have as many ways of dying as our bodies.

physicking

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

From this reading Sometimes they pine and fall into a slow consumption, we nursing, cockering, and physicking them to the last.

pine

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

From this reading Sometimes they pine and fall into a slow consumption, we nursing, cockering, and physicking them to the last.

slow

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

From this reading Sometimes they pine and fall into a slow consumption, we nursing, cockering, and physicking them to the last.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So this is the way in which Barbara's hope dies!

Sometimes

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

From this reading Sometimes they pine and fall into a slow consumption, we nursing, cockering, and physicking them to the last.

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading So this is the way in which Barbara's hope dies!

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Sometimes they pine and fall into a slow consumption, we nursing, cockering, and physicking them to the last.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Sometimes they pine and fall into a slow consumption, we nursing, cockering, and physicking them to the last.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading So this is the way in which Barbara's hope dies!

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Sometimes they pine and fall into a slow consumption, we nursing, cockering, and physicking them to the last.

unaware

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

From this reading Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.

way

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

From this reading So this is the way in which Barbara's hope dies!

ways

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

From this reading Our hopes have as many ways of dying as our bodies.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Sometimes they pine and fall into a slow consumption, we nursing, cockering, and physicking them to the last.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading So this is the way in which Barbara's hope dies!

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.

wordless

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

From this reading Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.

world

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

From this reading Sometimes they fall down dead suddenly, as one that in full health, with his bones full of marrow, and his eyes full of light, drops wordless into the next world unaware.