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The Altar of the Dead
The Altar of the Dead

Chapter VI

Cover illustration for The Altar of the Dead
Context Illustration Reading 1/10 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.
They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.
She considered, then she said: “Go in now, but come and see me in an hour.”
He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.
Often, however, as he had gone to the beginning he had never gone beyond.
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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 VI

Reading 1/10 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.
Line 2
They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.
Line 3
She considered, then she said: “Go in now, but come and see me in an hour.”
Line 4
He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.
Line 5
Often, however, as he had gone to the beginning he had never gone beyond.

Learner Dictionary

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

Appearance noun US /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading “She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.”

Beginning noun US /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading “Often, however, as he had gone to the beginning he had never gone beyond.”

Beyond preposition US /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading “Often, however, as he had gone to the beginning he had never gone beyond.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She considered, then she said: “Go in now, but come and see me in an hour.””

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “Often, however, as he had gone to the beginning he had never gone beyond.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Often, however, as he had gone to the beginning he had never gone beyond.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.”

All words in this reading · 89

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 She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.

absence

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

From this reading She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.

always

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

From this reading She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading She considered, then she said: “Go in now, but come and see me in an hour.”

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.

appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

away

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

From this reading They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.

back

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

From this reading She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.

bad

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

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading Often, however, as he had gone to the beginning he had never gone beyond.

bereavement

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

From this reading She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading Often, however, as he had gone to the beginning he had never gone beyond.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She considered, then she said: “Go in now, but come and see me in an hour.”

came

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

From this reading She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.

church

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

From this reading They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.

closed

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

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She considered, then she said: “Go in now, but come and see me in an hour.”

considered

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

From this reading She considered, then she said: “Go in now, but come and see me in an hour.”

couples

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

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

day

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

From this reading She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.

dreary

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

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

empty

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

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

end

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

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

entrance

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

From this reading They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.

Go

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

From this reading She considered, then she said: “Go in now, but come and see me in an hour.”

gone

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

From this reading Often, however, as he had gone to the beginning he had never gone beyond.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.

hour

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

From this reading She considered, then she said: “Go in now, but come and see me in an hour.”

houses

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

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Often, however, as he had gone to the beginning he had never gone beyond.

immediately

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

From this reading She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.

indissolubly

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

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

instantly

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

From this reading They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.

knew

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

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

lately

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

From this reading She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.

leaving

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

From this reading They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.

like

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

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

longest

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

From this reading She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.

made

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

From this reading She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.

married

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

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading She considered, then she said: “Go in now, but come and see me in an hour.”

met

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

From this reading They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.

mourning

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

From this reading She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Often, however, as he had gone to the beginning he had never gone beyond.

now

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

From this reading She considered, then she said: “Go in now, but come and see me in an hour.”

occasion

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

From this reading They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

offered

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

From this reading They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.

Often

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

From this reading Often, however, as he had gone to the beginning he had never gone beyond.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.

own

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

From this reading They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.

pairs

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

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

pocket

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

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

postponing

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

From this reading They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.

round

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

From this reading They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.

said

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

From this reading She considered, then she said: “Go in now, but come and see me in an hour.”

see

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

From this reading She considered, then she said: “Go in now, but come and see me in an hour.”

semi-detached

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

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

shabby

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

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.

small

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

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.

street

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

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

terms

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

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.

then

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

From this reading She considered, then she said: “Go in now, but come and see me in an hour.”

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.

turn

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

From this reading They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.

united

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

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

vista

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

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

walk

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

From this reading They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading He knew the small vista of her street, closed at the end and as dreary as an empty pocket, where the pairs of shabby little houses, semi-detached but indissolubly united, were like married couples on bad terms.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading They met on this occasion as she was leaving the church, so that postponing his own entrance he instantly offered to turn round and walk away with her.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading She was always in mourning, yet the day he came back from the longest absence he had yet made her appearance immediately told him she had lately had a bereavement.