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The Altar of the Dead
The Altar of the Dead

Chapter I

Cover illustration for The Altar of the Dead
Context Illustration Reading 1/9 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.
Celebrations and suppressions were equally painful to him, and but one of the former found a place in his life.
He had kept each year in his own fashion the date of Mary Antrim’s death.
It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.
It took hold of him again and again with a hand of which time had softened but never loosened the touch.
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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.

The Altar of the Dead

Chapter I

Reading 1/9 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.
Line 2
Celebrations and suppressions were equally painful to him, and but one of the former found a place in his life.
Line 3
He had kept each year in his own fashion the date of Mary Antrim’s death.
Line 4
It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.
Line 5
It took hold of him again and again with a hand of which time had softened but never loosened the touch.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It took hold of him again and again with a hand of which time had softened but never loosened the touch.”

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.”

Equally noun US /ˈequally/

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

From this reading “Celebrations and suppressions were equally painful to him, and but one of the former found a place in his life.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Celebrations and suppressions were equally painful to him, and but one of the former found a place in his life.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It took hold of him again and again with a hand of which time had softened but never loosened the touch.”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Celebrations and suppressions were equally painful to him, and but one of the former found a place in his life.”

Mortal adjective US /ˈmɔːrtəl/

causing or relating to death

From this reading “He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It took hold of him again and again with a hand of which time had softened but never loosened the touch.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Celebrations and suppressions were equally painful to him, and but one of the former found a place in his life.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.”

Point noun US /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading “It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.”

Poor noun US /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It took hold of him again and again with a hand of which time had softened but never loosened the touch.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It took hold of him again and again with a hand of which time had softened but never loosened the touch.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.”

All words in this reading · 73

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 He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It took hold of him again and again with a hand of which time had softened but never loosened the touch.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.

anniversaries

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

From this reading He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.

Antrim's

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

From this reading He had kept each year in his own fashion the date of Mary Antrim’s death.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Celebrations and suppressions were equally painful to him, and but one of the former found a place in his life.

Celebrations

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

From this reading Celebrations and suppressions were equally painful to him, and but one of the former found a place in his life.

date

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

From this reading He had kept each year in his own fashion the date of Mary Antrim’s death.

death

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

From this reading He had kept each year in his own fashion the date of Mary Antrim’s death.

dislike

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

From this reading He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.

doing

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

From this reading It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading He had kept each year in his own fashion the date of Mary Antrim’s death.

effectually

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

From this reading It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.

else

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

From this reading It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.

equallynounUS /ˈequally/

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

From this reading Celebrations and suppressions were equally painful to him, and but one of the former found a place in his life.

fashion

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

From this reading He had kept each year in his own fashion the date of Mary Antrim’s death.

figure

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

From this reading He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.

former

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

From this reading Celebrations and suppressions were equally painful to him, and but one of the former found a place in his life.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Celebrations and suppressions were equally painful to him, and but one of the former found a place in his life.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.

hand

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

From this reading It took hold of him again and again with a hand of which time had softened but never loosened the touch.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Celebrations and suppressions were equally painful to him, and but one of the former found a place in his life.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Celebrations and suppressions were equally painful to him, and but one of the former found a place in his life.

hold

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

From this reading It took hold of him again and again with a hand of which time had softened but never loosened the touch.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Celebrations and suppressions were equally painful to him, and but one of the former found a place in his life.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.

kept

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

From this reading He had kept each year in his own fashion the date of Mary Antrim’s death.

lean

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

From this reading He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.

less

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

From this reading He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Celebrations and suppressions were equally painful to him, and but one of the former found a place in his life.

loosened

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

From this reading It took hold of him again and again with a hand of which time had softened but never loosened the touch.

loved

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

From this reading He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.

made

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

From this reading He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.

Mary

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

From this reading He had kept each year in his own fashion the date of Mary Antrim’s death.

more

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

From this reading It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.

mortaladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrtəl/

causing or relating to death

From this reading He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It took hold of him again and again with a hand of which time had softened but never loosened the touch.

occasion

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

From this reading It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Celebrations and suppressions were equally painful to him, and but one of the former found a place in his life.

own

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

From this reading He had kept each year in his own fashion the date of Mary Antrim’s death.

painful

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

From this reading Celebrations and suppressions were equally painful to him, and but one of the former found a place in his life.

perhaps

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

From this reading It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.

place

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

From this reading Celebrations and suppressions were equally painful to him, and but one of the former found a place in his life.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.

poornounUS /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.

pretence

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

From this reading He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.

say

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

From this reading It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.

softened

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

From this reading It took hold of him again and again with a hand of which time had softened but never loosened the touch.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.

Stransom

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

From this reading He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.

suppressions

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

From this reading Celebrations and suppressions were equally painful to him, and but one of the former found a place in his life.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Celebrations and suppressions were equally painful to him, and but one of the former found a place in his life.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It took hold of him again and again with a hand of which time had softened but never loosened the touch.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It took hold of him again and again with a hand of which time had softened but never loosened the touch.

touch

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

From this reading It took hold of him again and again with a hand of which time had softened but never loosened the touch.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Celebrations and suppressions were equally painful to him, and but one of the former found a place in his life.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It took hold of him again and again with a hand of which time had softened but never loosened the touch.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It took hold of him again and again with a hand of which time had softened but never loosened the touch.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else.

year

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

From this reading He had kept each year in his own fashion the date of Mary Antrim’s death.