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The Little Hunchback Zia
The Little Hunchback Zia

Chapter I

Cover illustration for The Little Hunchback Zia
Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.
Sometimes he staggered with weariness or struck his foot against a stone and smothered his involuntary cry of pain.
He was so full of terror that he was afraid to utter a sound which might cause any traveler to glance toward him.
This he feared more than any other thing--that some man or woman might look at him too closely.
If such a one knew much and had keen eyes, he or she might in some way guess even at what they might not yet see.
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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 Little Hunchback Zia

Chapter I

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

Line 1
And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.
Line 2
Sometimes he staggered with weariness or struck his foot against a stone and smothered his involuntary cry of pain.
Line 3
He was so full of terror that he was afraid to utter a sound which might cause any traveler to glance toward him.
Line 4
This he feared more than any other thing--that some man or woman might look at him too closely.
Line 5
If such a one knew much and had keen eyes, he or she might in some way guess even at what they might not yet see.

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 “Sometimes he staggered with weariness or struck his foot against a stone and smothered his involuntary cry of pain.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.”

Foot noun US /foot/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sometimes he staggered with weariness or struck his foot against a stone and smothered his involuntary cry of pain.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This he feared more than any other thing--that some man or woman might look at him too closely.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “He was so full of terror that he was afraid to utter a sound which might cause any traveler to glance toward him.”

Nineteen noun US /ˈnineteen/

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

From this reading “And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “If such a one knew much and had keen eyes, he or she might in some way guess even at what they might not yet see.”

Sometimes noun US /sometimes/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sometimes he staggered with weariness or struck his foot against a stone and smothered his involuntary cry of pain.”

Struck noun US /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sometimes he staggered with weariness or struck his foot against a stone and smothered his involuntary cry of pain.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This he feared more than any other thing--that some man or woman might look at him too closely.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.”

Toward preposition US /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading “He was so full of terror that he was afraid to utter a sound which might cause any traveler to glance toward him.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “If such a one knew much and had keen eyes, he or she might in some way guess even at what they might not yet see.”

All words in this reading · 92

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 Sometimes he staggered with weariness or struck his foot against a stone and smothered his involuntary cry of pain.

afraid

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

From this reading He was so full of terror that he was afraid to utter a sound which might cause any traveler to glance toward him.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Sometimes he staggered with weariness or struck his foot against a stone and smothered his involuntary cry of pain.

ago

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

any

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

From this reading He was so full of terror that he was afraid to utter a sound which might cause any traveler to glance toward him.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading This he feared more than any other thing--that some man or woman might look at him too closely.

came

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

cause

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

From this reading He was so full of terror that he was afraid to utter a sound which might cause any traveler to glance toward him.

closely

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

From this reading This he feared more than any other thing--that some man or woman might look at him too closely.

cry

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

From this reading Sometimes he staggered with weariness or struck his foot against a stone and smothered his involuntary cry of pain.

deepest

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

eyes

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

From this reading If such a one knew much and had keen eyes, he or she might in some way guess even at what they might not yet see.

fallen

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

feared

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

From this reading This he feared more than any other thing--that some man or woman might look at him too closely.

footnounUS /foot/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Sometimes he staggered with weariness or struck his foot against a stone and smothered his involuntary cry of pain.

full

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

From this reading He was so full of terror that he was afraid to utter a sound which might cause any traveler to glance toward him.

glance

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

From this reading He was so full of terror that he was afraid to utter a sound which might cause any traveler to glance toward him.

guess

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

From this reading If such a one knew much and had keen eyes, he or she might in some way guess even at what they might not yet see.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Sometimes he staggered with weariness or struck his foot against a stone and smothered his involuntary cry of pain.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading He was so full of terror that he was afraid to utter a sound which might cause any traveler to glance toward him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Sometimes he staggered with weariness or struck his foot against a stone and smothered his involuntary cry of pain.

hunchback

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

hundred

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If such a one knew much and had keen eyes, he or she might in some way guess even at what they might not yet see.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

involuntary

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

From this reading Sometimes he staggered with weariness or struck his foot against a stone and smothered his involuntary cry of pain.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

keen

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

From this reading If such a one knew much and had keen eyes, he or she might in some way guess even at what they might not yet see.

keeping

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

knew

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

From this reading If such a one knew much and had keen eyes, he or she might in some way guess even at what they might not yet see.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This he feared more than any other thing--that some man or woman might look at him too closely.

man

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

From this reading This he feared more than any other thing--that some man or woman might look at him too closely.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading He was so full of terror that he was afraid to utter a sound which might cause any traveler to glance toward him.

more

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

From this reading This he feared more than any other thing--that some man or woman might look at him too closely.

much

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

From this reading If such a one knew much and had keen eyes, he or she might in some way guess even at what they might not yet see.

nigh

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

night

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

nineteennounUS /ˈnineteen/

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading If such a one knew much and had keen eyes, he or she might in some way guess even at what they might not yet see.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Sometimes he staggered with weariness or struck his foot against a stone and smothered his involuntary cry of pain.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading If such a one knew much and had keen eyes, he or she might in some way guess even at what they might not yet see.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Sometimes he staggered with weariness or struck his foot against a stone and smothered his involuntary cry of pain.

other

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

From this reading This he feared more than any other thing--that some man or woman might look at him too closely.

pain

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

From this reading Sometimes he staggered with weariness or struck his foot against a stone and smothered his involuntary cry of pain.

pass

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

road

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

see

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

From this reading If such a one knew much and had keen eyes, he or she might in some way guess even at what they might not yet see.

shadows

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading If such a one knew much and had keen eyes, he or she might in some way guess even at what they might not yet see.

sixteen

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

slowly

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

smothered

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

From this reading Sometimes he staggered with weariness or struck his foot against a stone and smothered his involuntary cry of pain.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He was so full of terror that he was afraid to utter a sound which might cause any traveler to glance toward him.

some

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

From this reading This he feared more than any other thing--that some man or woman might look at him too closely.

Sometimes

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

From this reading Sometimes he staggered with weariness or struck his foot against a stone and smothered his involuntary cry of pain.

sound

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

From this reading He was so full of terror that he was afraid to utter a sound which might cause any traveler to glance toward him.

staggered

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

From this reading Sometimes he staggered with weariness or struck his foot against a stone and smothered his involuntary cry of pain.

steep

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

stone

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

From this reading Sometimes he staggered with weariness or struck his foot against a stone and smothered his involuntary cry of pain.

strucknounUS /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Sometimes he staggered with weariness or struck his foot against a stone and smothered his involuntary cry of pain.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading If such a one knew much and had keen eyes, he or she might in some way guess even at what they might not yet see.

terror

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

From this reading He was so full of terror that he was afraid to utter a sound which might cause any traveler to glance toward him.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading This he feared more than any other thing--that some man or woman might look at him too closely.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He was so full of terror that he was afraid to utter a sound which might cause any traveler to glance toward him.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading If such a one knew much and had keen eyes, he or she might in some way guess even at what they might not yet see.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This he feared more than any other thing--that some man or woman might look at him too closely.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This he feared more than any other thing--that some man or woman might look at him too closely.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

toiled

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

too

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

From this reading This he feared more than any other thing--that some man or woman might look at him too closely.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading He was so full of terror that he was afraid to utter a sound which might cause any traveler to glance toward him.

traveler

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

From this reading He was so full of terror that he was afraid to utter a sound which might cause any traveler to glance toward him.

up

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

utter

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

From this reading He was so full of terror that he was afraid to utter a sound which might cause any traveler to glance toward him.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was so full of terror that he was afraid to utter a sound which might cause any traveler to glance toward him.

way

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

From this reading If such a one knew much and had keen eyes, he or she might in some way guess even at what they might not yet see.

weariness

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

From this reading Sometimes he staggered with weariness or struck his foot against a stone and smothered his involuntary cry of pain.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading If such a one knew much and had keen eyes, he or she might in some way guess even at what they might not yet see.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading He was so full of terror that he was afraid to utter a sound which might cause any traveler to glance toward him.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Sometimes he staggered with weariness or struck his foot against a stone and smothered his involuntary cry of pain.

woman

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

From this reading This he feared more than any other thing--that some man or woman might look at him too closely.

years

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading If such a one knew much and had keen eyes, he or she might in some way guess even at what they might not yet see.

Zia

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

From this reading And it came to pass nigh upon nineteen hundred and sixteen years ago The little hunchback Zia toiled slowly up the steep road, keeping in the deepest shadows, even though the night had long fallen.