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Over the Border: A Romance
Over the Border: A Romance

Chapter XX · Affection

Cover illustration for Over the Border: A Romance
Context Illustration Reading 1/40 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
There was no further conversation between Frances and the young man.
He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.
She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.
The universal silence made the situation the more impressive.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Over the Border: A Romance

Chapter XX · Affection

Reading 1/40 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.
Line 2
There was no further conversation between Frances and the young man.
Line 3
He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.
Line 4
She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.
Line 5
The universal silence made the situation the more impressive.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.”

Beyond preposition US /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading “He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.”

Forward noun US /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.”

Neither determiner US /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading “The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.”

Party noun US /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.”

Relieved noun US /ˈrelieved/

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

From this reading “She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

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

From this reading “The universal silence made the situation the more impressive.”

Themselves pronoun US /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading “The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.”

All words in this reading · 68

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

allowed

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

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.

closed

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

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

conversation

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

From this reading There was no further conversation between Frances and the young man.

darkness

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

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

dejection

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

From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.

diminish

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

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

distance

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

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

disturbed

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

From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.

erect

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

From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.

exclamation

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

From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.

fall

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

From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.

forwardnounUS /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

four

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

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

Frances

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

From this reading There was no further conversation between Frances and the young man.

further

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

From this reading There was no further conversation between Frances and the young man.

gathering

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

From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.

gave

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

From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.

gloom

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

From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.

held

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

From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.

impressive

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

From this reading The universal silence made the situation the more impressive.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

increase

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

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

intimation

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

From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.

made

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

From this reading The universal silence made the situation the more impressive.

man

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

From this reading There was no further conversation between Frances and the young man.

more

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

From this reading The universal silence made the situation the more impressive.

most

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

From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading There was no further conversation between Frances and the young man.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

partynounUS /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

pent-up

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

From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.

profound

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

From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.

prospect

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

From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.

relievednounUS /ˈrelieved/

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

From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.

said

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

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

set

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

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

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

From this reading The universal silence made the situation the more impressive.

situation

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

From this reading The universal silence made the situation the more impressive.

tears

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

From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He held himself erect, and beyond the first exclamation gave no intimation that he was disturbed by the prospect before him.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

There

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

From this reading There was no further conversation between Frances and the young man.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

troopers

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

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

universal

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

From this reading The universal silence made the situation the more impressive.

unseen

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

From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

up

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

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

victim

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

From this reading She was victim to the most profound dejection, and was relieved when the gathering gloom allowed her pent-up tears to fall unseen.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was no further conversation between Frances and the young man.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The four troopers allowed the distance between themselves and the forward party neither to increase nor diminish until darkness set in, when they closed up, but said nothing.

young

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

From this reading There was no further conversation between Frances and the young man.