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The House of the White Shadows
The House of the White Shadows

Chapter XI

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Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.
He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.
He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.
A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
"Free, am I?" he asked.
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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 House of the White Shadows

Chapter XI

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.
Line 2
He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.
Line 3
He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.
Line 4
A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
Line 5
"Free, am I?" he asked.
/friː æm aɪ hiː asked/

Learner Dictionary

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

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Free, am I?" he asked.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.”

Free adjective US /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading “"Free, am I?" he asked.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.”

JOHN noun US /john/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.”

Liberty noun US /ˈlɪb.ər.ti/

The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.

From this reading “A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.”

Repeated noun US /repeated/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.”

All words in this reading · 76

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 A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading "Free, am I?" he asked.

amazed

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

From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.

announcement

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

From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.

arrived

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

From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Free, am I?" he asked.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.

attitude

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

From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.

changed

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

From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.

completely

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

From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.

comprehended

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

From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.

face

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

From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.

fear

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

From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.

followed

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

From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.

forth

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

From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.

FreeadjectiveUS /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading "Free, am I?" he asked.

FROMprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.

Gautran

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

From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.

gazed

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

From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.

given

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

From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Free, am I?" he asked.

immediately

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

From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.

indeed

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

From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.

JOHN

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

From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.

joy

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

From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.

known

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

From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.

LETTER

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

From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.

libertynounUS /ˈlɪb.ər.ti/

The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.

From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.

lost

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

From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.

observed

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

From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.

passing

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

From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.

purport

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

From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.

repeatednounUS /repeated/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.

restored

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

From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.

scarcely

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

From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.

spasm

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

From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.

stupefied

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

From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.

then

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

From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.

twice

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

From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.

understanding

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

From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.

up

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

From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.

vacantly

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

From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.

VANBRUGH

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

From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.

wander

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

From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.