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Tales of Terror and Mystery
Tales of Terror and Mystery

Chapter VIII

Cover illustration for Tales of Terror and Mystery
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
And now comes the queer point about the whole business.
I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.
How shall I describe it?
First of all, it seemed to be a great distance away, far down in the bowels of the earth.
Secondly, in spite of this suggestion of distance, it was very loud.
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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.

Tales of Terror and Mystery

Chapter VIII

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
And now comes the queer point about the whole business.
Line 2
I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.
Line 3
How shall I describe it?
Line 4
First of all, it seemed to be a great distance away, far down in the bowels of the earth.
Line 5
Secondly, in spite of this suggestion of distance, it was very loud.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “And now comes the queer point about the whole business.”

Beside preposition US /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading “I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “First of all, it seemed to be a great distance away, far down in the bowels of the earth.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “First of all, it seemed to be a great distance away, far down in the bowels of the earth.”

Issued noun US /issued/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.”

Point noun US /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading “And now comes the queer point about the whole business.”

Readily noun US /readily/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “First of all, it seemed to be a great distance away, far down in the bowels of the earth.”

Shall modal verb US /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading “How shall I describe it?”

Standing noun US /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading “I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading “I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.”

All words in this reading · 65

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 I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading And now comes the queer point about the whole business.

all

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

From this reading First of all, it seemed to be a great distance away, far down in the bowels of the earth.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And now comes the queer point about the whole business.

Armitage

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

away

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

bowels

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

From this reading First of all, it seemed to be a great distance away, far down in the bowels of the earth.

business

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

From this reading And now comes the queer point about the whole business.

cave

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

comes

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

From this reading And now comes the queer point about the whole business.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

depth

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

describe

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

From this reading How shall I describe it?

distance

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

From this reading First of all, it seemed to be a great distance away, far down in the bowels of the earth.

down

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

From this reading First of all, it seemed to be a great distance away, far down in the bowels of the earth.

earth

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

From this reading First of all, it seemed to be a great distance away, far down in the bowels of the earth.

explained

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

extraordinary

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

far

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

From this reading First of all, it seemed to be a great distance away, far down in the bowels of the earth.

FirstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading First of all, it seemed to be a great distance away, far down in the bowels of the earth.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading First of all, it seemed to be a great distance away, far down in the bowels of the earth.

how

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

issuednounUS /issued/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading How shall I describe it?

loud

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

From this reading Secondly, in spite of this suggestion of distance, it was very loud.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

most

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

mouth

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

near

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

now

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

From this reading And now comes the queer point about the whole business.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading And now comes the queer point about the whole business.

queer

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

From this reading And now comes the queer point about the whole business.

readilynounUS /readily/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

reflecting

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

Secondly

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

From this reading Secondly, in spite of this suggestion of distance, it was very loud.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading First of all, it seemed to be a great distance away, far down in the bowels of the earth.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading How shall I describe it?

sound

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

spite

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

From this reading Secondly, in spite of this suggestion of distance, it was very loud.

standingnounUS /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

statements

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

suggestion

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

From this reading Secondly, in spite of this suggestion of distance, it was very loud.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading And now comes the queer point about the whole business.

there

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Secondly, in spite of this suggestion of distance, it was very loud.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading First of all, it seemed to be a great distance away, far down in the bowels of the earth.

tunnel

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

turning

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

various

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

very

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

From this reading Secondly, in spite of this suggestion of distance, it was very loud.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading I was still standing near the mouth of the cave turning over in my mind the various statements of Armitage, and reflecting how readily they could be explained away, when suddenly, from the depth of the tunnel beside me, there issued a most extraordinary sound.

whole

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

From this reading And now comes the queer point about the whole business.