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Shadow Mountain
Shadow Mountain

Chapter II

Cover illustration for Shadow Mountain
Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.
The disrespectful epithet which he had applied to her had been lost in the clatter of plates, but the moment the Widow came into the room she sensed the hair-trigger atmosphere.
"Here!" she ordered, taking command on the instant.
"Come back here, young man, and pay me for this dinner!
And Virginia Huff, you go out into the kitchen--how many times do I have to speak to you?"
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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.

Shadow Mountain

Chapter II

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.
Line 2
The disrespectful epithet which he had applied to her had been lost in the clatter of plates, but the moment the Widow came into the room she sensed the hair-trigger atmosphere.
Line 3
"Here!" she ordered, taking command on the instant.
Line 4
"Come back here, young man, and pay me for this dinner!
Line 5
And Virginia Huff, you go out into the kitchen--how many times do I have to speak to you?"

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 “The disrespectful epithet which he had applied to her had been lost in the clatter of plates, but the moment the Widow came into the room she sensed the hair-trigger atmosphere.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Come back here, young man, and pay me for this dinner!”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “And Virginia Huff, you go out into the kitchen--how many times do I have to speak to you?"”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Here!" she ordered, taking command on the instant.”

Speak noun US /speak/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And Virginia Huff, you go out into the kitchen--how many times do I have to speak to you?"”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.”

All words in this reading · 74

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 THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

applied

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

From this reading The disrespectful epithet which he had applied to her had been lost in the clatter of plates, but the moment the Widow came into the room she sensed the hair-trigger atmosphere.

atmosphere

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

From this reading The disrespectful epithet which he had applied to her had been lost in the clatter of plates, but the moment the Widow came into the room she sensed the hair-trigger atmosphere.

back

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

From this reading "Come back here, young man, and pay me for this dinner!

bang

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The disrespectful epithet which he had applied to her had been lost in the clatter of plates, but the moment the Widow came into the room she sensed the hair-trigger atmosphere.

burdened

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

came

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

From this reading The disrespectful epithet which he had applied to her had been lost in the clatter of plates, but the moment the Widow came into the room she sensed the hair-trigger atmosphere.

clatter

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

From this reading The disrespectful epithet which he had applied to her had been lost in the clatter of plates, but the moment the Widow came into the room she sensed the hair-trigger atmosphere.

ComenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Come back here, young man, and pay me for this dinner!

command

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

From this reading "Here!" she ordered, taking command on the instant.

dinner

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

disrespectful

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

From this reading The disrespectful epithet which he had applied to her had been lost in the clatter of plates, but the moment the Widow came into the room she sensed the hair-trigger atmosphere.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading And Virginia Huff, you go out into the kitchen--how many times do I have to speak to you?"

door

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

down

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

epithet

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

From this reading The disrespectful epithet which he had applied to her had been lost in the clatter of plates, but the moment the Widow came into the room she sensed the hair-trigger atmosphere.

eye

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

glimpsed

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

go

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

From this reading And Virginia Huff, you go out into the kitchen--how many times do I have to speak to you?"

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The disrespectful epithet which he had applied to her had been lost in the clatter of plates, but the moment the Widow came into the room she sensed the hair-trigger atmosphere.

hair-trigger

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

From this reading The disrespectful epithet which he had applied to her had been lost in the clatter of plates, but the moment the Widow came into the room she sensed the hair-trigger atmosphere.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading And Virginia Huff, you go out into the kitchen--how many times do I have to speak to you?"

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The disrespectful epithet which he had applied to her had been lost in the clatter of plates, but the moment the Widow came into the room she sensed the hair-trigger atmosphere.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

HerenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Here!" she ordered, taking command on the instant.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

how

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

From this reading And Virginia Huff, you go out into the kitchen--how many times do I have to speak to you?"

Huff

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading And Virginia Huff, you go out into the kitchen--how many times do I have to speak to you?"

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The disrespectful epithet which he had applied to her had been lost in the clatter of plates, but the moment the Widow came into the room she sensed the hair-trigger atmosphere.

instant

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

From this reading "Here!" she ordered, taking command on the instant.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The disrespectful epithet which he had applied to her had been lost in the clatter of plates, but the moment the Widow came into the room she sensed the hair-trigger atmosphere.

kitchen

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

From this reading And Virginia Huff, you go out into the kitchen--how many times do I have to speak to you?"

lost

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

From this reading The disrespectful epithet which he had applied to her had been lost in the clatter of plates, but the moment the Widow came into the room she sensed the hair-trigger atmosphere.

man

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

From this reading "Come back here, young man, and pay me for this dinner!

many

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

From this reading And Virginia Huff, you go out into the kitchen--how many times do I have to speak to you?"

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Come back here, young man, and pay me for this dinner!

moment

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

From this reading The disrespectful epithet which he had applied to her had been lost in the clatter of plates, but the moment the Widow came into the room she sensed the hair-trigger atmosphere.

moving

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The disrespectful epithet which he had applied to her had been lost in the clatter of plates, but the moment the Widow came into the room she sensed the hair-trigger atmosphere.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Here!" she ordered, taking command on the instant.

ordered

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

From this reading "Here!" she ordered, taking command on the instant.

out

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

From this reading And Virginia Huff, you go out into the kitchen--how many times do I have to speak to you?"

pay

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

From this reading "Come back here, young man, and pay me for this dinner!

plates

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

From this reading The disrespectful epithet which he had applied to her had been lost in the clatter of plates, but the moment the Widow came into the room she sensed the hair-trigger atmosphere.

room

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

From this reading The disrespectful epithet which he had applied to her had been lost in the clatter of plates, but the moment the Widow came into the room she sensed the hair-trigger atmosphere.

sensed

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

From this reading The disrespectful epithet which he had applied to her had been lost in the clatter of plates, but the moment the Widow came into the room she sensed the hair-trigger atmosphere.

set

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

SHOTGUN

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

sought

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

speak

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

From this reading And Virginia Huff, you go out into the kitchen--how many times do I have to speak to you?"

swiftly

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

taking

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

From this reading "Here!" she ordered, taking command on the instant.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading "Come back here, young man, and pay me for this dinner!

times

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

From this reading And Virginia Huff, you go out into the kitchen--how many times do I have to speak to you?"

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The disrespectful epithet which he had applied to her had been lost in the clatter of plates, but the moment the Widow came into the room she sensed the hair-trigger atmosphere.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

tray

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

Virginia

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The disrespectful epithet which he had applied to her had been lost in the clatter of plates, but the moment the Widow came into the room she sensed the hair-trigger atmosphere.

WIDOW

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

wildly

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

Wiley

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

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE SHOTGUN WIDOW The Widow Huff was burdened with a tray and her eye sought wildly for Virginia but when she glimpsed Wiley moving swiftly towards the door she set down his dinner with a bang.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading And Virginia Huff, you go out into the kitchen--how many times do I have to speak to you?"

young

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

From this reading "Come back here, young man, and pay me for this dinner!