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Chapter XXVIII
Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair. Before he reached the bottom he began to realize the futility of his efforts. He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions. MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement. There was nothing to go new but go home and tell Ruth.
Reading 1/40 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “Before he reached the bottom he began to realize the futility of his efforts.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Before he reached the bottom he began to realize the futility of his efforts.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.”
one or the other of two
From this reading “MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.”
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “There was nothing to go new but go home and tell Ruth.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.”
A large hole in the ground, or an abyss of darkness and peril.
From this reading “Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “There was nothing to go new but go home and tell Ruth.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before he reached the bottom he began to realize the futility of his efforts.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Before he reached the bottom he began to realize the futility of his efforts.
the two together, not just one
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he reached the bottom he began to realize the futility of his efforts.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was nothing to go new but go home and tell Ruth.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he reached the bottom he began to realize the futility of his efforts.
one or the other of two
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he reached the bottom he began to realize the futility of his efforts.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing to go new but go home and tell Ruth.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before he reached the bottom he began to realize the futility of his efforts.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Before he reached the bottom he began to realize the futility of his efforts.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing to go new but go home and tell Ruth.
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing to go new but go home and tell Ruth.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was nothing to go new but go home and tell Ruth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
A large hole in the ground, or an abyss of darkness and peril.
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he reached the bottom he began to realize the futility of his efforts.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he reached the bottom he began to realize the futility of his efforts.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was nothing to go new but go home and tell Ruth.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing to go new but go home and tell Ruth.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was nothing to go new but go home and tell Ruth.
