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Stella Maris
Stella Maris

Chapter VII

Cover illustration for Stella Maris
Context Illustration Reading 1/40 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.
Walter Herold's eyes, however, twinkled maliciously when he heard John's account at once rueful and pig-headed.
Then he grew serious.
“It will be comic opera all the time.
It can't be done.”
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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.

Stella Maris

Chapter VII

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

Line 1
IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.
Line 2
Walter Herold's eyes, however, twinkled maliciously when he heard John's account at once rueful and pig-headed.
Line 3
Then he grew serious.
Line 4
“It will be comic opera all the time.
Line 5
It can't be done.”

Learner Dictionary

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

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It can't be done.””

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “Walter Herold's eyes, however, twinkled maliciously when he heard John's account at once rueful and pig-headed.”

John noun US /john/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Walter Herold's eyes, however, twinkled maliciously when he heard John's account at once rueful and pig-headed.”

Rueful adjective US /ˈruːfəl/

showing regret or mild sorrow

From this reading “Walter Herold's eyes, however, twinkled maliciously when he heard John's account at once rueful and pig-headed.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““It will be comic opera all the time.”

All words in this reading · 54

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 IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

account

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

From this reading Walter Herold's eyes, however, twinkled maliciously when he heard John's account at once rueful and pig-headed.

all

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

From this reading “It will be comic opera all the time.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Walter Herold's eyes, however, twinkled maliciously when he heard John's account at once rueful and pig-headed.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading “It will be comic opera all the time.

can't

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

From this reading It can't be done.”

comic

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

From this reading “It will be comic opera all the time.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It can't be done.”

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

eyes

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

From this reading Walter Herold's eyes, however, twinkled maliciously when he heard John's account at once rueful and pig-headed.

gleam

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

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

grew

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

From this reading Then he grew serious.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Walter Herold's eyes, however, twinkled maliciously when he heard John's account at once rueful and pig-headed.

heard

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

From this reading Walter Herold's eyes, however, twinkled maliciously when he heard John's account at once rueful and pig-headed.

Herold's

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

From this reading Walter Herold's eyes, however, twinkled maliciously when he heard John's account at once rueful and pig-headed.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Walter Herold's eyes, however, twinkled maliciously when he heard John's account at once rueful and pig-headed.

humour

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

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

interview

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

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

ITpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

John

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

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

John's

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

From this reading Walter Herold's eyes, however, twinkled maliciously when he heard John's account at once rueful and pig-headed.

lady

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

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

lost

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

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

maliciously

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

From this reading Walter Herold's eyes, however, twinkled maliciously when he heard John's account at once rueful and pig-headed.

maze

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

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

much

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

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

once

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

From this reading Walter Herold's eyes, however, twinkled maliciously when he heard John's account at once rueful and pig-headed.

opera

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

From this reading “It will be comic opera all the time.

palpitating

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

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

pig-headed

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

From this reading Walter Herold's eyes, however, twinkled maliciously when he heard John's account at once rueful and pig-headed.

puzzle

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

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

puzzledom

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

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

ruefuladjectiveUS /ˈruːfəl/

showing regret or mild sorrow

From this reading Walter Herold's eyes, however, twinkled maliciously when he heard John's account at once rueful and pig-headed.

serious

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

From this reading Then he grew serious.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

Then

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

From this reading Then he grew serious.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It will be comic opera all the time.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

twinkled

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

From this reading Walter Herold's eyes, however, twinkled maliciously when he heard John's account at once rueful and pig-headed.

visited

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

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

Walter

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

From this reading Walter Herold's eyes, however, twinkled maliciously when he heard John's account at once rueful and pig-headed.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

way

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

From this reading IT was a puzzle to John as much as to the palpitating lady, and in the maze of his puzzledom the gleam of humour that visited him during their interview lost its way.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Walter Herold's eyes, however, twinkled maliciously when he heard John's account at once rueful and pig-headed.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading “It will be comic opera all the time.