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

Chapter XIV

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Context Illustration Reading 1/43 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.
I am sixty-eight years old, and I have never slept a night away from the villa; I hope to die here.
Until your arrival the house has not been inhabited for more than twenty years.
I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.
So it has been left to our care all these years.
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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 XIV

Reading 1/43 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.
Line 2
I am sixty-eight years old, and I have never slept a night away from the villa; I hope to die here.
Line 3
Until your arrival the house has not been inhabited for more than twenty years.
Line 4
I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.
Line 5
So it has been left to our care all these years.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Until your arrival the house has not been inhabited for more than twenty years.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.”

Born noun US /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.”

Christian noun US /ˈchristian/

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

From this reading “I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “Until your arrival the house has not been inhabited for more than twenty years.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “I am sixty-eight years old, and I have never slept a night away from the villa; I hope to die here.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So it has been left to our care all these years.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I am sixty-eight years old, and I have never slept a night away from the villa; I hope to die here.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “So it has been left to our care all these years.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “Until your arrival the house has not been inhabited for more than twenty years.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.”

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 A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.

ago

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

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

all

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

From this reading So it has been left to our care all these years.

Almer

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

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading I am sixty-eight years old, and I have never slept a night away from the villa; I hope to die here.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I am sixty-eight years old, and I have never slept a night away from the villa; I hope to die here.

arrival

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

From this reading Until your arrival the house has not been inhabited for more than twenty years.

away

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

From this reading I am sixty-eight years old, and I have never slept a night away from the villa; I hope to die here.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Until your arrival the house has not been inhabited for more than twenty years.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.

bornnounUS /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.

bound

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

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

care

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

From this reading So it has been left to our care all these years.

Christian

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

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

dare

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

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

die

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

From this reading I am sixty-eight years old, and I have never slept a night away from the villa; I hope to die here.

dispose

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

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

estate

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

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

father's

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

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Until your arrival the house has not been inhabited for more than twenty years.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I am sixty-eight years old, and I have never slept a night away from the villa; I hope to die here.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Until your arrival the house has not been inhabited for more than twenty years.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I am sixty-eight years old, and I have never slept a night away from the villa; I hope to die here.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

hope

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

From this reading I am sixty-eight years old, and I have never slept a night away from the villa; I hope to die here.

house

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

From this reading A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.

housekeeper

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

From this reading A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.

inhabited

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

From this reading Until your arrival the house has not been inhabited for more than twenty years.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

lady

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

From this reading A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So it has been left to our care all these years.

lives

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

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

LOVE

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

From this reading A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.

master

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

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.

more

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

From this reading Until your arrival the house has not been inhabited for more than twenty years.

mother

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

From this reading A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.

Mr

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

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I am sixty-eight years old, and I have never slept a night away from the villa; I hope to die here.

night

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

From this reading I am sixty-eight years old, and I have never slept a night away from the villa; I hope to die here.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Until your arrival the house has not been inhabited for more than twenty years.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.

old

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

From this reading I am sixty-eight years old, and I have never slept a night away from the villa; I hope to die here.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading So it has been left to our care all these years.

PAST

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

From this reading A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.

power

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

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

present

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

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

say

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

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

sell

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

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

sixty-eight

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

From this reading I am sixty-eight years old, and I have never slept a night away from the villa; I hope to die here.

slept

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

From this reading I am sixty-eight years old, and I have never slept a night away from the villa; I hope to die here.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

STORY

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

From this reading A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Until your arrival the house has not been inhabited for more than twenty years.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading So it has been left to our care all these years.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I am sixty-eight years old, and I have never slept a night away from the villa; I hope to die here.

twenty

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

From this reading Until your arrival the house has not been inhabited for more than twenty years.

UntilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Until your arrival the house has not been inhabited for more than twenty years.

villa

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

From this reading I am sixty-eight years old, and I have never slept a night away from the villa; I hope to die here.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A LOVE STORY OF THE PAST "I was born in this house, my lady; my mother was housekeeper here before me.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading I dare say if Mr. Christian Almer, the present master, had the power to sell the estate, he would have done so long ago, but he is bound by his father's will not to dispose of it while he lives.

years

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

From this reading I am sixty-eight years old, and I have never slept a night away from the villa; I hope to die here.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Until your arrival the house has not been inhabited for more than twenty years.