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The Lighted Way
The Lighted Way

Chapter XXVIII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/51 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.
She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.
Already the color which the sunshine had brought seemed to have been drained from her cheeks.
Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.
The clouds, which hung low over the other side of the river, were tinged with an unusual coloring, smoke-stained as they hovered over the chimneys.
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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 Lighted Way

Chapter XXVIII

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

Line 1
TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.
Line 2
She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.
Line 3
Already the color which the sunshine had brought seemed to have been drained from her cheeks.
Line 4
Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.
Line 5
The clouds, which hung low over the other side of the river, were tinged with an unusual coloring, smoke-stained as they hovered over the chimneys.

Learner Dictionary

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

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.”

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Already the color which the sunshine had brought seemed to have been drained from her cheeks.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “Already the color which the sunshine had brought seemed to have been drained from her cheeks.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Already the color which the sunshine had brought seemed to have been drained from her cheeks.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “The clouds, which hung low over the other side of the river, were tinged with an unusual coloring, smoke-stained as they hovered over the chimneys.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Already the color which the sunshine had brought seemed to have been drained from her cheeks.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

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

From this reading “TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.”

Twilight noun US /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/

the dim light before night or sunrise

From this reading “TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.”

Waiting noun US /ˈwaiting/

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

From this reading “TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.”

All words in this reading · 94

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 Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

AlreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Already the color which the sunshine had brought seemed to have been drained from her cheeks.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The clouds, which hung low over the other side of the river, were tinged with an unusual coloring, smoke-stained as they hovered over the chimneys.

Arnold's

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

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.

bare

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

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

borrowed

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

From this reading Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.

bright

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

From this reading Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading Already the color which the sunshine had brought seemed to have been drained from her cheeks.

cheeks

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

From this reading Already the color which the sunshine had brought seemed to have been drained from her cheeks.

chimneys

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

From this reading The clouds, which hung low over the other side of the river, were tinged with an unusual coloring, smoke-stained as they hovered over the chimneys.

clouds

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

From this reading The clouds, which hung low over the other side of the river, were tinged with an unusual coloring, smoke-stained as they hovered over the chimneys.

color

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

From this reading Already the color which the sunshine had brought seemed to have been drained from her cheeks.

coloring

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

From this reading The clouds, which hung low over the other side of the river, were tinged with an unusual coloring, smoke-stained as they hovered over the chimneys.

couch

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

From this reading She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.

days

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

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

delicate

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

From this reading She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.

discover

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

From this reading Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.

drained

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

From this reading Already the color which the sunshine had brought seemed to have been drained from her cheeks.

drawn

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

From this reading She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

earlier

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

From this reading Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.

earnestness

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

From this reading Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.

elbows

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

From this reading She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.

evening

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

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

expression

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

From this reading Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.

eyes

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

From this reading Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.

face

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

From this reading She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Already the color which the sunshine had brought seemed to have been drained from her cheeks.

germs

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

From this reading Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.

habitation

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

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Already the color which the sunshine had brought seemed to have been drained from her cheeks.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

hovered

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

From this reading The clouds, which hung low over the other side of the river, were tinged with an unusual coloring, smoke-stained as they hovered over the chimneys.

hung

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

From this reading The clouds, which hung low over the other side of the river, were tinged with an unusual coloring, smoke-stained as they hovered over the chimneys.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

knees

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

From this reading She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

low

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

From this reading The clouds, which hung low over the other side of the river, were tinged with an unusual coloring, smoke-stained as they hovered over the chimneys.

Madonnas

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

From this reading Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.

other

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

From this reading The clouds, which hung low over the other side of the river, were tinged with an unusual coloring, smoke-stained as they hovered over the chimneys.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading The clouds, which hung low over the other side of the river, were tinged with an unusual coloring, smoke-stained as they hovered over the chimneys.

pathetic

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

From this reading Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.

poverty

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

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

river

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

From this reading The clouds, which hung low over the other side of the river, were tinged with an unusual coloring, smoke-stained as they hovered over the chimneys.

room

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

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

Ruth

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

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

sat

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

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

seeking

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

From this reading Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Already the color which the sunshine had brought seemed to have been drained from her cheeks.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.

SHIPS

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

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

side

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

From this reading The clouds, which hung low over the other side of the river, were tinged with an unusual coloring, smoke-stained as they hovered over the chimneys.

sitting

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

From this reading She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.

smoke-stained

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

From this reading The clouds, which hung low over the other side of the river, were tinged with an unusual coloring, smoke-stained as they hovered over the chimneys.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.

spring

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

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

strenuousness

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

From this reading Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.

struggle

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

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

sunshine

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

From this reading Already the color which the sunshine had brought seemed to have been drained from her cheeks.

supporting

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

From this reading She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.

TALK

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

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

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

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading The clouds, which hung low over the other side of the river, were tinged with an unusual coloring, smoke-stained as they hovered over the chimneys.

thoughtful

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

From this reading She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.

tinged

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

From this reading The clouds, which hung low over the other side of the river, were tinged with an unusual coloring, smoke-stained as they hovered over the chimneys.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.

TREASURE

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

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

truth

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

From this reading Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.

twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/

the dim light before night or sunrise

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

unborn

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

From this reading Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.

unnaturally

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

From this reading Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.

unusual

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

From this reading The clouds, which hung low over the other side of the river, were tinged with an unusual coloring, smoke-stained as they hovered over the chimneys.

up

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

From this reading She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.

usual

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

From this reading She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.

waiting

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

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading TALK OF TREASURE SHIPS In the twilight of the long spring evening, Ruth sat waiting in the bare room which had been Arnold's habitation during these days of his struggle against poverty.

window

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

From this reading She was sitting on the couch, drawn up as usual to the window, her elbows upon her knees, her hands supporting her delicate, thoughtful face.

wistful

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

From this reading Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Her eyes were unnaturally bright, her expression seemed to have borrowed something of that wistful earnestness of one of the earlier Madonnas, seeking with pathetic strenuousness to discover the germs of a truth which was as yet unborn.