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The Pocket Bible
The Pocket Bible

Chapter XIII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/60 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HERVE'S DEMENTIA.
No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:
"It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.
They shall be turned to profit."
Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.
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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 Pocket Bible

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/60 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HERVE'S DEMENTIA.
Line 2
No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:
Line 3
"It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.
Line 4
They shall be turned to profit."
Line 5
Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.

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 “Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.”

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “"It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “"It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.”

Shall modal verb US /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading “They shall be turned to profit."”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “"It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:”

All words in this reading · 75

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 Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.

absolution

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

From this reading Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

Catelle's

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

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

chamber

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

From this reading No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:

closed

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

From this reading No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:

containing

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

From this reading Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.

convulsive

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

From this reading Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.

DEMENTIA

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

From this reading HERVE'S DEMENTIA.

door

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

From this reading No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:

entered

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

From this reading Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.

father

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

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

full

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

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:

hand

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

From this reading Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:

heart

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

From this reading Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.

Hena

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

From this reading Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.

Herve

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

From this reading No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:

HERVE'S

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

From this reading HERVE'S DEMENTIA.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:

home

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

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

hour

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

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

hours

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

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

house

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

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

La

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

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.

letter

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

From this reading Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

midnight

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

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

mother

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

From this reading No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.

Pressing

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

From this reading Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.

profit

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

From this reading They shall be turned to profit."

re-ascended

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

From this reading No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:

reach

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

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

return

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

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

room

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

From this reading Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.

saying

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

From this reading No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:

scapulary

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

From this reading Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading They shall be turned to profit."

slowly

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

From this reading No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:

sooner

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

From this reading No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:

stairs

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

From this reading No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:

street

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

From this reading No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

Tezel's

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

From this reading Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They shall be turned to profit."

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:

turned

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

From this reading They shall be turned to profit."

two

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

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:

upper

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

From this reading No sooner had Herve closed the street door upon his mother than he slowly re-ascended the stairs to the upper chamber, saying to himself:

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "It will take my mother an hour to reach La Catelle's house; at least as long to return; father will not be home until midnight; I have two full hours to myself.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Pressing with a convulsive hand against his heart the scapulary containing Tezel's letter of absolution, Herve entered the room in which Hena was left alone.