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

Chapter XXXV

Cover illustration for Nancy: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/89 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The cloth is therefore laid, with the dead heather-flowers beneath it, and the low leaden sky above.
As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.
It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.
And, when it begins, it begins to some purpose.
It deceives us with no false hopes--with no breakings in the serried clouds--with no flying glimpses of blue sky.
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.

Nancy: A Novel

Chapter XXXV

Reading 1/89 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The cloth is therefore laid, with the dead heather-flowers beneath it, and the low leaden sky above.
Line 2
As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.
Line 3
It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.
Line 4
And, when it begins, it begins to some purpose.
Line 5
It deceives us with no false hopes--with no breakings in the serried clouds--with no flying glimpses of blue sky.

Learner Dictionary

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

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “The cloth is therefore laid, with the dead heather-flowers beneath it, and the low leaden sky above.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.”

Beneath preposition US /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading “The cloth is therefore laid, with the dead heather-flowers beneath it, and the low leaden sky above.”

Dead noun US /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The cloth is therefore laid, with the dead heather-flowers beneath it, and the low leaden sky above.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.”

Leaden adjective US /ˈlɛdən/

heavy, dull, or grey in appearance or movement

From this reading “The cloth is therefore laid, with the dead heather-flowers beneath it, and the low leaden sky above.”

Therefore adverb US /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading “The cloth is therefore laid, with the dead heather-flowers beneath it, and the low leaden sky above.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.”

All words in this reading · 72

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading The cloth is therefore laid, with the dead heather-flowers beneath it, and the low leaden sky above.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The cloth is therefore laid, with the dead heather-flowers beneath it, and the low leaden sky above.

arranged

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

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

away

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

From this reading As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.

banquet

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

From this reading As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

begins

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

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading The cloth is therefore laid, with the dead heather-flowers beneath it, and the low leaden sky above.

blue

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

From this reading It deceives us with no false hopes--with no breakings in the serried clouds--with no flying glimpses of blue sky.

bodily

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

From this reading As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.

breakings

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

From this reading It deceives us with no false hopes--with no breakings in the serried clouds--with no flying glimpses of blue sky.

cakes

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

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.

chickens

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

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

cloth

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

From this reading The cloth is therefore laid, with the dead heather-flowers beneath it, and the low leaden sky above.

clouds

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

From this reading It deceives us with no false hopes--with no breakings in the serried clouds--with no flying glimpses of blue sky.

cold

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

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

deadnounUS /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The cloth is therefore laid, with the dead heather-flowers beneath it, and the low leaden sky above.

deceives

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

From this reading It deceives us with no false hopes--with no breakings in the serried clouds--with no flying glimpses of blue sky.

defenceless

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

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

eye

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

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

false

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

From this reading It deceives us with no false hopes--with no breakings in the serried clouds--with no flying glimpses of blue sky.

flying

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

From this reading As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.

glimpses

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

From this reading It deceives us with no false hopes--with no breakings in the serried clouds--with no flying glimpses of blue sky.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.

heather-flowers

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

From this reading The cloth is therefore laid, with the dead heather-flowers beneath it, and the low leaden sky above.

heaven

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

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

hinder

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

From this reading As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.

hopes

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

From this reading It deceives us with no false hopes--with no breakings in the serried clouds--with no flying glimpses of blue sky.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The cloth is therefore laid, with the dead heather-flowers beneath it, and the low leaden sky above.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The cloth is therefore laid, with the dead heather-flowers beneath it, and the low leaden sky above.

just

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

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

laid

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

From this reading The cloth is therefore laid, with the dead heather-flowers beneath it, and the low leaden sky above.

lamb

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

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

large

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

From this reading As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

leadenadjectiveUS /ˈlɛdən/

heavy, dull, or grey in appearance or movement

From this reading The cloth is therefore laid, with the dead heather-flowers beneath it, and the low leaden sky above.

low

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

From this reading The cloth is therefore laid, with the dead heather-flowers beneath it, and the low leaden sky above.

mayonnaise

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

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

moorland

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

From this reading As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.

nakedness

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

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading It deceives us with no false hopes--with no breakings in the serried clouds--with no flying glimpses of blue sky.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.

partridges

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

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

pastry

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

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

purpose

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

From this reading And, when it begins, it begins to some purpose.

rain

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

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

road

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

From this reading As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.

serried

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

From this reading It deceives us with no false hopes--with no breakings in the serried clouds--with no flying glimpses of blue sky.

sky

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

From this reading The cloth is therefore laid, with the dead heather-flowers beneath it, and the low leaden sky above.

some

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

From this reading And, when it begins, it begins to some purpose.

sought

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

From this reading As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.

spread

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

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

stones

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

From this reading As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The cloth is therefore laid, with the dead heather-flowers beneath it, and the low leaden sky above.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading The cloth is therefore laid, with the dead heather-flowers beneath it, and the low leaden sky above.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading It deceives us with no false hopes--with no breakings in the serried clouds--with no flying glimpses of blue sky.

weight

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

From this reading As large stones as can be found have to be sought on the moorland road to weight it, and hinder our banquet from flying bodily away.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading It is at last spread--cold lamb, cold partridges, chickens, _mayonnaise_, cakes, pastry--they have just been arranged in their defenceless nakedness under the eye of heaven, when the rain begins.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The cloth is therefore laid, with the dead heather-flowers beneath it, and the low leaden sky above.