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The Phantom Lover
The Phantom Lover

Chapter XXXV

Cover illustration for The Phantom Lover
Context Illustration Reading 1/62 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It was late that night when Micky turned up at the Delands'.
He had taken extravagant pains with his toilet, lingering over it as long as possible.
Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.
He was miserably sure that she would accept him, miserably sure that he was already forgiven for the past.
He kept on persuading himself that it was the one and only thing left to him to do.
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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 Phantom Lover

Chapter XXXV

Reading 1/62 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It was late that night when Micky turned up at the Delands'.
Line 2
He had taken extravagant pains with his toilet, lingering over it as long as possible.
Line 3
Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.
Line 4
He was miserably sure that she would accept him, miserably sure that he was already forgiven for the past.
Line 5
He kept on persuading himself that it was the one and only thing left to him to do.

Learner Dictionary

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

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was miserably sure that she would accept him, miserably sure that he was already forgiven for the past.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “He kept on persuading himself that it was the one and only thing left to him to do.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He kept on persuading himself that it was the one and only thing left to him to do.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had taken extravagant pains with his toilet, lingering over it as long as possible.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “He kept on persuading himself that it was the one and only thing left to him to do.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “He had taken extravagant pains with his toilet, lingering over it as long as possible.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.”

Step noun US /step/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.”

Sure noun US /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was miserably sure that she would accept him, miserably sure that he was already forgiven for the past.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He kept on persuading himself that it was the one and only thing left to him to do.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “He was miserably sure that she would accept him, miserably sure that he was already forgiven for the past.”

All words in this reading · 65

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

accept

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

From this reading He was miserably sure that she would accept him, miserably sure that he was already forgiven for the past.

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was miserably sure that she would accept him, miserably sure that he was already forgiven for the past.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.

arrival

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

From this reading Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He had taken extravagant pains with his toilet, lingering over it as long as possible.

ask

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

From this reading Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was late that night when Micky turned up at the Delands'.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.

Deland

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

From this reading Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.

Delands

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

From this reading It was late that night when Micky turned up at the Delands'.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading He kept on persuading himself that it was the one and only thing left to him to do.

Esther

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

From this reading Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.

EvernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.

extravagant

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

From this reading He had taken extravagant pains with his toilet, lingering over it as long as possible.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He was miserably sure that she would accept him, miserably sure that he was already forgiven for the past.

forgiven

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

From this reading He was miserably sure that she would accept him, miserably sure that he was already forgiven for the past.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He had taken extravagant pains with his toilet, lingering over it as long as possible.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He had taken extravagant pains with his toilet, lingering over it as long as possible.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading He was miserably sure that she would accept him, miserably sure that he was already forgiven for the past.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading He kept on persuading himself that it was the one and only thing left to him to do.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He had taken extravagant pains with his toilet, lingering over it as long as possible.

irrevocable

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

From this reading Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was late that night when Micky turned up at the Delands'.

kept

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

From this reading He kept on persuading himself that it was the one and only thing left to him to do.

late

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

From this reading It was late that night when Micky turned up at the Delands'.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He kept on persuading himself that it was the one and only thing left to him to do.

lingering

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

From this reading He had taken extravagant pains with his toilet, lingering over it as long as possible.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had taken extravagant pains with his toilet, lingering over it as long as possible.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.

Marie

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

From this reading Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.

Micky

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

From this reading It was late that night when Micky turned up at the Delands'.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.

miserably

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

From this reading He was miserably sure that she would accept him, miserably sure that he was already forgiven for the past.

night

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

From this reading It was late that night when Micky turned up at the Delands'.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He kept on persuading himself that it was the one and only thing left to him to do.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He kept on persuading himself that it was the one and only thing left to him to do.

only

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

From this reading He kept on persuading himself that it was the one and only thing left to him to do.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading He had taken extravagant pains with his toilet, lingering over it as long as possible.

pains

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

From this reading He had taken extravagant pains with his toilet, lingering over it as long as possible.

parcel

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

From this reading Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.

past

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

From this reading He was miserably sure that she would accept him, miserably sure that he was already forgiven for the past.

persuading

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

From this reading He kept on persuading himself that it was the one and only thing left to him to do.

possible

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

From this reading He had taken extravagant pains with his toilet, lingering over it as long as possible.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading He was miserably sure that she would accept him, miserably sure that he was already forgiven for the past.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.

stepnounUS /step/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.

surenounUS /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was miserably sure that she would accept him, miserably sure that he was already forgiven for the past.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.

taken

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

From this reading He had taken extravagant pains with his toilet, lingering over it as long as possible.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was late that night when Micky turned up at the Delands'.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It was late that night when Micky turned up at the Delands'.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He kept on persuading himself that it was the one and only thing left to him to do.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.

toilet

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

From this reading He had taken extravagant pains with his toilet, lingering over it as long as possible.

trying

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

From this reading Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.

turned

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

From this reading It was late that night when Micky turned up at the Delands'.

up

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

From this reading It was late that night when Micky turned up at the Delands'.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was late that night when Micky turned up at the Delands'.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading It was late that night when Micky turned up at the Delands'.

wife

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

From this reading Ever since the arrival of that parcel from Esther, he had been trying to make up his mind to take the irrevocable step, and ask Marie Deland to be his wife.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He had taken extravagant pains with his toilet, lingering over it as long as possible.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading He was miserably sure that she would accept him, miserably sure that he was already forgiven for the past.