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Cover illustration for The Great Keinplatz Experiment and Other Tales of Twilight and the Unseen
Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The light of a candle shone through the door of the museum, and the shuffling steps came nearer.
Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.
He had to throw his head back to see through the glasses, and that great nose thrust out in front of him like the beak of some sort of fowl.
He was a big man, very tall and burly, so that in his loose dressing-gown his figure seemed to fill up the whole doorway.
He had a pile of grey, curling hair all round his head, but his face was clean-shaven.
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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 Great Keinplatz Experiment and Other Tales of Twilight and the Unseen

Chapter III

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The light of a candle shone through the door of the museum, and the shuffling steps came nearer.
Line 2
Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.
Line 3
He had to throw his head back to see through the glasses, and that great nose thrust out in front of him like the beak of some sort of fowl.
Line 4
He was a big man, very tall and burly, so that in his loose dressing-gown his figure seemed to fill up the whole doorway.
Line 5
He had a pile of grey, curling hair all round his head, but his face was clean-shaven.

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was a big man, very tall and burly, so that in his loose dressing-gown his figure seemed to fill up the whole doorway.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “The light of a candle shone through the door of the museum, and the shuffling steps came nearer.”

All words in this reading · 74

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 light of a candle shone through the door of the museum, and the shuffling steps came nearer.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.

all

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

From this reading Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The light of a candle shone through the door of the museum, and the shuffling steps came nearer.

back

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

From this reading He had to throw his head back to see through the glasses, and that great nose thrust out in front of him like the beak of some sort of fowl.

beak

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

From this reading He had to throw his head back to see through the glasses, and that great nose thrust out in front of him like the beak of some sort of fowl.

big

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

From this reading He was a big man, very tall and burly, so that in his loose dressing-gown his figure seemed to fill up the whole doorway.

burly

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

From this reading He was a big man, very tall and burly, so that in his loose dressing-gown his figure seemed to fill up the whole doorway.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He had a pile of grey, curling hair all round his head, but his face was clean-shaven.

came

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

From this reading The light of a candle shone through the door of the museum, and the shuffling steps came nearer.

candle

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

From this reading The light of a candle shone through the door of the museum, and the shuffling steps came nearer.

clean-shaven

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

From this reading He had a pile of grey, curling hair all round his head, but his face was clean-shaven.

creases

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

From this reading Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.

curling

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

From this reading He had a pile of grey, curling hair all round his head, but his face was clean-shaven.

curving

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

From this reading Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.

door

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

From this reading The light of a candle shone through the door of the museum, and the shuffling steps came nearer.

doorway

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

From this reading Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.

dressing-gown

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

From this reading He was a big man, very tall and burly, so that in his loose dressing-gown his figure seemed to fill up the whole doorway.

face

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

From this reading Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.

figure

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

From this reading He was a big man, very tall and burly, so that in his loose dressing-gown his figure seemed to fill up the whole doorway.

fill

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

From this reading He was a big man, very tall and burly, so that in his loose dressing-gown his figure seemed to fill up the whole doorway.

fixed

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

From this reading Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.

fowl

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

From this reading He had to throw his head back to see through the glasses, and that great nose thrust out in front of him like the beak of some sort of fowl.

front

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

From this reading He had to throw his head back to see through the glasses, and that great nose thrust out in front of him like the beak of some sort of fowl.

glasses

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

From this reading Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.

gold

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

From this reading Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.

grey

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

From this reading He had a pile of grey, curling hair all round his head, but his face was clean-shaven.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He had to throw his head back to see through the glasses, and that great nose thrust out in front of him like the beak of some sort of fowl.

hair

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

From this reading He had a pile of grey, curling hair all round his head, but his face was clean-shaven.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He had to throw his head back to see through the glasses, and that great nose thrust out in front of him like the beak of some sort of fowl.

head

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

From this reading He had to throw his head back to see through the glasses, and that great nose thrust out in front of him like the beak of some sort of fowl.

heavy

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

From this reading Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading He had to throw his head back to see through the glasses, and that great nose thrust out in front of him like the beak of some sort of fowl.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He had to throw his head back to see through the glasses, and that great nose thrust out in front of him like the beak of some sort of fowl.

huge

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

From this reading Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.

light

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

From this reading The light of a candle shone through the door of the museum, and the shuffling steps came nearer.

like

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

From this reading He had to throw his head back to see through the glasses, and that great nose thrust out in front of him like the beak of some sort of fowl.

lines

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

From this reading Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.

loose

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

From this reading He was a big man, very tall and burly, so that in his loose dressing-gown his figure seemed to fill up the whole doorway.

man

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

From this reading He was a big man, very tall and burly, so that in his loose dressing-gown his figure seemed to fill up the whole doorway.

museum

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

From this reading The light of a candle shone through the door of the museum, and the shuffling steps came nearer.

nearer

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

From this reading The light of a candle shone through the door of the museum, and the shuffling steps came nearer.

nose

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

From this reading Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The light of a candle shone through the door of the museum, and the shuffling steps came nearer.

out

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

From this reading He had to throw his head back to see through the glasses, and that great nose thrust out in front of him like the beak of some sort of fowl.

pair

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

From this reading Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.

pile

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

From this reading He had a pile of grey, curling hair all round his head, but his face was clean-shaven.

round

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

From this reading He had a pile of grey, curling hair all round his head, but his face was clean-shaven.

saw

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

From this reading Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.

see

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

From this reading He had to throw his head back to see through the glasses, and that great nose thrust out in front of him like the beak of some sort of fowl.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was a big man, very tall and burly, so that in his loose dressing-gown his figure seemed to fill up the whole doorway.

shone

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

From this reading The light of a candle shone through the door of the museum, and the shuffling steps came nearer.

shuffling

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

From this reading The light of a candle shone through the door of the museum, and the shuffling steps came nearer.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He was a big man, very tall and burly, so that in his loose dressing-gown his figure seemed to fill up the whole doorway.

some

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

From this reading He had to throw his head back to see through the glasses, and that great nose thrust out in front of him like the beak of some sort of fowl.

sort

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

From this reading He had to throw his head back to see through the glasses, and that great nose thrust out in front of him like the beak of some sort of fowl.

steps

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

From this reading The light of a candle shone through the door of the museum, and the shuffling steps came nearer.

tall

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

From this reading He was a big man, very tall and burly, so that in his loose dressing-gown his figure seemed to fill up the whole doorway.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He had to throw his head back to see through the glasses, and that great nose thrust out in front of him like the beak of some sort of fowl.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The light of a candle shone through the door of the museum, and the shuffling steps came nearer.

Then

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

From this reading Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading The light of a candle shone through the door of the museum, and the shuffling steps came nearer.

throw

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

From this reading He had to throw his head back to see through the glasses, and that great nose thrust out in front of him like the beak of some sort of fowl.

thrust

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

From this reading He had to throw his head back to see through the glasses, and that great nose thrust out in front of him like the beak of some sort of fowl.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He had to throw his head back to see through the glasses, and that great nose thrust out in front of him like the beak of some sort of fowl.

up

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

From this reading He was a big man, very tall and burly, so that in his loose dressing-gown his figure seemed to fill up the whole doorway.

very

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

From this reading He was a big man, very tall and burly, so that in his loose dressing-gown his figure seemed to fill up the whole doorway.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was a big man, very tall and burly, so that in his loose dressing-gown his figure seemed to fill up the whole doorway.

whole

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

From this reading He was a big man, very tall and burly, so that in his loose dressing-gown his figure seemed to fill up the whole doorway.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Then I saw a face in the doorway, a great, heavy face, all lines and creases, with a huge curving nose, and a pair of gold glasses fixed across it.