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The Pit
The Pit

Chapter XIX

Cover illustration for The Pit
Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.
"Why, I didn't know you were here, Mr. Cressler," she said, as she came up to him.
She laid her hand upon his arm.
But Cressler was dead; and as Laura touched him the head dropped upon the shoulder and showed the bullet hole in the temple, just in front of the ear.
X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.
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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 Pit

Chapter XIX

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

Line 1
As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.
Line 2
"Why, I didn't know you were here, Mr. Cressler," she said, as she came up to him.
Line 3
She laid her hand upon his arm.
Line 4
But Cressler was dead; and as Laura touched him the head dropped upon the shoulder and showed the bullet hole in the temple, just in front of the ear.
Line 5
X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

Learner Dictionary

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

Dead noun US /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But Cressler was dead; and as Laura touched him the head dropped upon the shoulder and showed the bullet hole in the temple, just in front of the ear.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She laid her hand upon his arm.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Why, I didn't know you were here, Mr. Cressler," she said, as she came up to him.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Why, I didn't know you were here, Mr. Cressler," she said, as she came up to him.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.”

Surprised noun US /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.”

Toward preposition US /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading “As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “She laid her hand upon his arm.”

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 X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading But Cressler was dead; and as Laura touched him the head dropped upon the shoulder and showed the bullet hole in the temple, just in front of the ear.

arm

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

From this reading She laid her hand upon his arm.

armchair

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

From this reading As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.

back

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

From this reading As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.

bullet

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

From this reading But Cressler was dead; and as Laura touched him the head dropped upon the shoulder and showed the bullet hole in the temple, just in front of the ear.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But Cressler was dead; and as Laura touched him the head dropped upon the shoulder and showed the bullet hole in the temple, just in front of the ear.

came

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

From this reading "Why, I didn't know you were here, Mr. Cressler," she said, as she came up to him.

Charles

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

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

Cressler

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

From this reading As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.

Curtis

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

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

deadnounUS /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But Cressler was dead; and as Laura touched him the head dropped upon the shoulder and showed the bullet hole in the temple, just in front of the ear.

didn't

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

From this reading "Why, I didn't know you were here, Mr. Cressler," she said, as she came up to him.

dropped

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

From this reading But Cressler was dead; and as Laura touched him the head dropped upon the shoulder and showed the bullet hole in the temple, just in front of the ear.

ear

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

From this reading But Cressler was dead; and as Laura touched him the head dropped upon the shoulder and showed the bullet hole in the temple, just in front of the ear.

early

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

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

eleventh

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

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

entered

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

From this reading As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.

final

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

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

friend's

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

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

front

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

From this reading But Cressler was dead; and as Laura touched him the head dropped upon the shoulder and showed the bullet hole in the temple, just in front of the ear.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

hand

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

From this reading She laid her hand upon his arm.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

head

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

From this reading But Cressler was dead; and as Laura touched him the head dropped upon the shoulder and showed the bullet hole in the temple, just in front of the ear.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Why, I didn't know you were here, Mr. Cressler," she said, as she came up to him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading "Why, I didn't know you were here, Mr. Cressler," she said, as she came up to him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.

hole

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

From this reading But Cressler was dead; and as Laura touched him the head dropped upon the shoulder and showed the bullet hole in the temple, just in front of the ear.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Why, I didn't know you were here, Mr. Cressler," she said, as she came up to him.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

Jadwin

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

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

June

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

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

just

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

From this reading But Cressler was dead; and as Laura touched him the head dropped upon the shoulder and showed the bullet hole in the temple, just in front of the ear.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Why, I didn't know you were here, Mr. Cressler," she said, as she came up to him.

laid

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

From this reading She laid her hand upon his arm.

Laura

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

From this reading As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

Mr

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

From this reading As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

occurred

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

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But Cressler was dead; and as Laura touched him the head dropped upon the shoulder and showed the bullet hole in the temple, just in front of the ear.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

outlived

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

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

reached

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

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

report

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

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

room

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

From this reading As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.

said

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

From this reading "Why, I didn't know you were here, Mr. Cressler," she said, as she came up to him.

seated

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

From this reading As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.

see

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

From this reading As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.

shoulder

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

From this reading But Cressler was dead; and as Laura touched him the head dropped upon the shoulder and showed the bullet hole in the temple, just in front of the ear.

showed

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

From this reading But Cressler was dead; and as Laura touched him the head dropped upon the shoulder and showed the bullet hole in the temple, just in front of the ear.

story

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

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

suicide

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

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

surprisednounUS /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.

surrender

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

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

temple

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

From this reading But Cressler was dead; and as Laura touched him the head dropped upon the shoulder and showed the bullet hole in the temple, just in front of the ear.

temptation

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

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

tenth

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

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.

there

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

From this reading As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.

together

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

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

touched

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

From this reading But Cressler was dead; and as Laura touched him the head dropped upon the shoulder and showed the bullet hole in the temple, just in front of the ear.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.

turned

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

From this reading As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.

up

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

From this reading "Why, I didn't know you were here, Mr. Cressler," she said, as she came up to him.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading She laid her hand upon his arm.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading As Laura entered the room she was surprised to see Mr. Cressler there, seated in his armchair, his back turned toward her.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading "Why, I didn't know you were here, Mr. Cressler," she said, as she came up to him.

Why

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

From this reading "Why, I didn't know you were here, Mr. Cressler," she said, as she came up to him.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

wretched

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

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

X

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

From this reading X The suicide of Charles Cressler had occurred on the tenth of June, and the report of it, together with the wretched story of his friend's final surrender to a temptation he had never outlived, reached Curtis Jadwin early on the morning of the eleventh.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Why, I didn't know you were here, Mr. Cressler," she said, as she came up to him.