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The Childerbridge Mystery
The Childerbridge Mystery

Chapter IX

Cover illustration for The Childerbridge Mystery
Context Illustration Reading 1/51 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.
The corridor, however, leading to the oldest and western portion of the house, was quite empty.
Like the remainder of the building, it was panelled with dark oak, some portion of it being curiously, though richly carved.
He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.
At the end of the long corridor a flight of stone steps led to the domestic offices below.
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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 Childerbridge Mystery

Chapter IX

Reading 1/51 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.
Line 2
The corridor, however, leading to the oldest and western portion of the house, was quite empty.
Line 3
Like the remainder of the building, it was panelled with dark oak, some portion of it being curiously, though richly carved.
Line 4
He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.
Line 5
At the end of the long corridor a flight of stone steps led to the domestic offices below.

Learner Dictionary

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

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “Like the remainder of the building, it was panelled with dark oak, some portion of it being curiously, though richly carved.”

Below preposition US /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading “At the end of the long corridor a flight of stone steps led to the domestic offices below.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.”

Hear noun US /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “The corridor, however, leading to the oldest and western portion of the house, was quite empty.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At the end of the long corridor a flight of stone steps led to the domestic offices below.”

Mysterious adjective US /mɪˈstɪriəs/

difficult to explain or understand

From this reading “Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The corridor, however, leading to the oldest and western portion of the house, was quite empty.”

Save preposition US /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading “He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Like the remainder of the building, it was panelled with dark oak, some portion of it being curiously, though richly carved.”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.”

All words in this reading · 79

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 At the end of the long corridor a flight of stone steps led to the domestic offices below.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The corridor, however, leading to the oldest and western portion of the house, was quite empty.

ascending

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

From this reading He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the end of the long corridor a flight of stone steps led to the domestic offices below.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Like the remainder of the building, it was panelled with dark oak, some portion of it being curiously, though richly carved.

belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading At the end of the long corridor a flight of stone steps led to the domestic offices below.

building

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

From this reading Like the remainder of the building, it was panelled with dark oak, some portion of it being curiously, though richly carved.

burst

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

From this reading He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.

carved

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

From this reading Like the remainder of the building, it was panelled with dark oak, some portion of it being curiously, though richly carved.

corridor

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

From this reading The corridor, however, leading to the oldest and western portion of the house, was quite empty.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.

curiously

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

From this reading Like the remainder of the building, it was panelled with dark oak, some portion of it being curiously, though richly carved.

dark

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

From this reading Like the remainder of the building, it was panelled with dark oak, some portion of it being curiously, though richly carved.

discover

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

From this reading Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.

domestic

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

From this reading At the end of the long corridor a flight of stone steps led to the domestic offices below.

down

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

From this reading He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.

empty

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

From this reading The corridor, however, leading to the oldest and western portion of the house, was quite empty.

end

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

From this reading At the end of the long corridor a flight of stone steps led to the domestic offices below.

endeavoured

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

From this reading Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.

flight

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

From this reading At the end of the long corridor a flight of stone steps led to the domestic offices below.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.

gallery

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

From this reading Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.

hall

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

From this reading Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.

Hastening

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

From this reading Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.

hearnounUS /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.

house

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

From this reading The corridor, however, leading to the oldest and western portion of the house, was quite empty.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading The corridor, however, leading to the oldest and western portion of the house, was quite empty.

human

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

From this reading Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Like the remainder of the building, it was panelled with dark oak, some portion of it being curiously, though richly carved.

Jim

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

From this reading Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.

laughter

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

From this reading He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.

leading

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

From this reading The corridor, however, leading to the oldest and western portion of the house, was quite empty.

led

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

From this reading At the end of the long corridor a flight of stone steps led to the domestic offices below.

Like

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

From this reading Like the remainder of the building, it was panelled with dark oak, some portion of it being curiously, though richly carved.

listen

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

From this reading He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At the end of the long corridor a flight of stone steps led to the domestic offices below.

mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/

difficult to explain or understand

From this reading Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.

now

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

From this reading He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.

oak

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

From this reading Like the remainder of the building, it was panelled with dark oak, some portion of it being curiously, though richly carved.

occasional

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

From this reading He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.

offices

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

From this reading At the end of the long corridor a flight of stone steps led to the domestic offices below.

oldest

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

From this reading The corridor, however, leading to the oldest and western portion of the house, was quite empty.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.

panelled

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

From this reading Like the remainder of the building, it was panelled with dark oak, some portion of it being curiously, though richly carved.

portion

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

From this reading The corridor, however, leading to the oldest and western portion of the house, was quite empty.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The corridor, however, leading to the oldest and western portion of the house, was quite empty.

remainder

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

From this reading Like the remainder of the building, it was panelled with dark oak, some portion of it being curiously, though richly carved.

richly

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

From this reading Like the remainder of the building, it was panelled with dark oak, some portion of it being curiously, though richly carved.

round

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

From this reading Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.

saveprepositionUS /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.

searched

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

From this reading He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.

seen

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

From this reading Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.

servants

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

From this reading He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.

sighing

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

From this reading He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.

some

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

From this reading Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.

spectre

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

From this reading Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.

steps

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

From this reading At the end of the long corridor a flight of stone steps led to the domestic offices below.

stone

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

From this reading At the end of the long corridor a flight of stone steps led to the domestic offices below.

stopping

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

From this reading He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.

then

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

From this reading He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Like the remainder of the building, it was panelled with dark oak, some portion of it being curiously, though richly carved.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.

traces

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

From this reading Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.

up

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

From this reading He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.

visitor

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

From this reading Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The corridor, however, leading to the oldest and western portion of the house, was quite empty.

western

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

From this reading The corridor, however, leading to the oldest and western portion of the house, was quite empty.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had seen.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could hear nothing.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Like the remainder of the building, it was panelled with dark oak, some portion of it being curiously, though richly carved.