Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Tales of Space and Time
Tales of Space and Time

Chapter IX

Cover illustration for Tales of Space and Time
Context Illustration Reading 1/87 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.
Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.
His face and head had been depilated, according to the cleanly and hygienic fashion of the time, so that the colour and contour of his hair varied with his costume.
This he was constantly changing.
At times he would distend himself with pneumatic vestments in the rococo vein.
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.

Tales of Space and Time

Chapter IX

Reading 1/87 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.
Line 2
Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.
Line 3
His face and head had been depilated, according to the cleanly and hygienic fashion of the time, so that the colour and contour of his hair varied with his costume.
Line 4
This he was constantly changing.
Line 5
At times he would distend himself with pneumatic vestments in the rococo vein.

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 “His face and head had been depilated, according to the cleanly and hygienic fashion of the time, so that the colour and contour of his hair varied with his costume.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “At times he would distend himself with pneumatic vestments in the rococo vein.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.”

Short adjective US /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading “Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “At times he would distend himself with pneumatic vestments in the rococo vein.”

All words in this reading · 67

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 But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.

according

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

From this reading His face and head had been depilated, according to the cleanly and hygienic fashion of the time, so that the colour and contour of his hair varied with his costume.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.

assisted

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

From this reading Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At times he would distend himself with pneumatic vestments in the rococo vein.

basis

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

From this reading Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading His face and head had been depilated, according to the cleanly and hygienic fashion of the time, so that the colour and contour of his hair varied with his costume.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.

changing

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

From this reading This he was constantly changing.

cleanly

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

From this reading His face and head had been depilated, according to the cleanly and hygienic fashion of the time, so that the colour and contour of his hair varied with his costume.

colour

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

From this reading His face and head had been depilated, according to the cleanly and hygienic fashion of the time, so that the colour and contour of his hair varied with his costume.

constantly

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

From this reading This he was constantly changing.

contour

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

From this reading His face and head had been depilated, according to the cleanly and hygienic fashion of the time, so that the colour and contour of his hair varied with his costume.

costume

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

From this reading His face and head had been depilated, according to the cleanly and hygienic fashion of the time, so that the colour and contour of his hair varied with his costume.

dark

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

From this reading Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.

depilated

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

From this reading His face and head had been depilated, according to the cleanly and hygienic fashion of the time, so that the colour and contour of his hair varied with his costume.

depths

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

From this reading But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.

devote

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

From this reading But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.

distend

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

From this reading At times he would distend himself with pneumatic vestments in the rococo vein.

exterior

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

From this reading But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.

face

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

From this reading Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.

fashion

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

From this reading His face and head had been depilated, according to the cleanly and hygienic fashion of the time, so that the colour and contour of his hair varied with his costume.

fine-featured

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

From this reading Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading His face and head had been depilated, according to the cleanly and hygienic fashion of the time, so that the colour and contour of his hair varied with his costume.

hair

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

From this reading His face and head had been depilated, according to the cleanly and hygienic fashion of the time, so that the colour and contour of his hair varied with his costume.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading This he was constantly changing.

head

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

From this reading His face and head had been depilated, according to the cleanly and hygienic fashion of the time, so that the colour and contour of his hair varied with his costume.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading At times he would distend himself with pneumatic vestments in the rococo vein.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading His face and head had been depilated, according to the cleanly and hygienic fashion of the time, so that the colour and contour of his hair varied with his costume.

hygienic

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

From this reading His face and head had been depilated, according to the cleanly and hygienic fashion of the time, so that the colour and contour of his hair varied with his costume.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading At times he would distend himself with pneumatic vestments in the rococo vein.

insecure

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

From this reading Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.

intelligent

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

From this reading Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.

ItsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.

person

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

From this reading But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.

physical

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

From this reading Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.

pigments

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

From this reading Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.

pneumatic

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

From this reading At times he would distend himself with pneumatic vestments in the rococo vein.

proceeding

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

From this reading But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.

rococo

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

From this reading At times he would distend himself with pneumatic vestments in the rococo vein.

self-complacency

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

From this reading Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.

slender

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

From this reading Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading His face and head had been depilated, according to the cleanly and hygienic fashion of the time, so that the colour and contour of his hair varied with his costume.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading His face and head had been depilated, according to the cleanly and hygienic fashion of the time, so that the colour and contour of his hair varied with his costume.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.

times

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

From this reading At times he would distend himself with pneumatic vestments in the rococo vein.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading But before proceeding to such depths, one must devote a little time to the exterior of this person.

uneasiness

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

From this reading Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.

varied

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

From this reading Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.

vein

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

From this reading At times he would distend himself with pneumatic vestments in the rococo vein.

vestments

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

From this reading At times he would distend himself with pneumatic vestments in the rococo vein.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Its physical basis was slender, and short, and dark; and the face, which was fine-featured and assisted by pigments, varied from an insecure self-complacency to an intelligent uneasiness.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading His face and head had been depilated, according to the cleanly and hygienic fashion of the time, so that the colour and contour of his hair varied with his costume.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading At times he would distend himself with pneumatic vestments in the rococo vein.