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That Lass O' Lowrie's: 1877
That Lass O' Lowrie's: 1877

Chapter XXX · Fate

Cover illustration for That Lass O' Lowrie's: 1877
Context Illustration Reading 1/16 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.
The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.
It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.
It had been moaning continuously, and suddenly the plaintive sound ceased.
Joan bent over it.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

That Lass O' Lowrie's: 1877

Chapter XXX · Fate

Reading 1/16 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.
Line 2
The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.
Line 3
It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.
Line 4
It had been moaning continuously, and suddenly the plaintive sound ceased.
Line 5
Joan bent over it.

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 “It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.”

Broken noun US /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.”

Clung noun US /clung/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.”

Grasp noun US /ɡræsp/

a firm hold in a specific situation in this story

From this reading “The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “Joan bent over it.”

Remained noun US /ˈremained/

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

From this reading “It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.”

Several noun US /ˈseveral/

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

From this reading “It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading “It had been moaning continuously, and suddenly the plaintive sound ceased.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.”

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 The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.

accustomed

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

From this reading It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.

bent

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

From this reading Joan bent over it.

bound

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

From this reading The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.

brokennounUS /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.

came

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

From this reading The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.

ceased

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

From this reading It had been moaning continuously, and suddenly the plaintive sound ceased.

change

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

From this reading It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.

clungnounUS /clung/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.

continuously

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

From this reading It had been moaning continuously, and suddenly the plaintive sound ceased.

days

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

From this reading The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.

existence

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

From this reading The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.

face

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

From this reading It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.

frail

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

From this reading The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.

graspnounUS /ɡræsp/

a firm hold in a specific situation in this story

From this reading The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.

hold

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

From this reading The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.

home

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

From this reading It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.

ill

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

From this reading It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.

Joan

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

From this reading The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.

knee

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

From this reading It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.

loosened

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

From this reading The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.

many

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

From this reading The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.

moaning

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

From this reading It had been moaning continuously, and suddenly the plaintive sound ceased.

night

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

From this reading It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.

nurse

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

From this reading It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Joan bent over it.

place

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

From this reading It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.

plaintive

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

From this reading It had been moaning continuously, and suddenly the plaintive sound ceased.

present

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

From this reading The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.

remainednounUS /ˈremained/

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

From this reading It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.

saw

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

From this reading It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.

several

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

From this reading It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.

sitting

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

From this reading It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.

small

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

From this reading It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.

sound

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

From this reading It had been moaning continuously, and suddenly the plaintive sound ceased.

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading It had been moaning continuously, and suddenly the plaintive sound ceased.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.

tie

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

From this reading The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading It had been ill for several days,--so ill that Joan had remained at home to nurse it,--and one night, sitting with it upon her knee in her accustomed place, she saw a change upon the small face.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.

weak

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

From this reading The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The time came, before many days, when the last tie that bound Joan to her present life was broken.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The little one, who from the first had clung to existence with a frail hold, at last loosened its weak grasp.