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The second shell
The second shell

Chapter IV

Cover illustration for The second shell
Context Illustration Reading 1/43 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.
Little did I realize how soon that dream was to become a reality!
The red-uniformed sentry came and brought me a little breakfast.
I tried to engage him in conversation as I ate, but all I could get out of him was "Aw, shut your trap, Pard!"
He ordered me out of the cell.
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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 second shell

Chapter IV

Reading 1/43 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.
Line 2
Little did I realize how soon that dream was to become a reality!
Line 3
The red-uniformed sentry came and brought me a little breakfast.
Line 4
I tried to engage him in conversation as I ate, but all I could get out of him was "Aw, shut your trap, Pard!"
Line 5
He ordered me out of the cell.

Learner Dictionary

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

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “The red-uniformed sentry came and brought me a little breakfast.”

Cell noun US /sel/

A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.

From this reading “He ordered me out of the cell.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “I tried to engage him in conversation as I ate, but all I could get out of him was "Aw, shut your trap, Pard!"”

Dream noun US /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading “The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Little did I realize how soon that dream was to become a reality!”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Little did I realize how soon that dream was to become a reality!”

Terrible noun US /ˈterrible/

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

From this reading “The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.”

All words in this reading · 64

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 The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

AboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

Air

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

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

all

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

From this reading I tried to engage him in conversation as I ate, but all I could get out of him was "Aw, shut your trap, Pard!"

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

aroused

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

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading I tried to engage him in conversation as I ate, but all I could get out of him was "Aw, shut your trap, Pard!"

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

ate

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

From this reading I tried to engage him in conversation as I ate, but all I could get out of him was "Aw, shut your trap, Pard!"

Aw

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

From this reading I tried to engage him in conversation as I ate, but all I could get out of him was "Aw, shut your trap, Pard!"

bars

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

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

become

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

From this reading Little did I realize how soon that dream was to become a reality!

breakfast

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

From this reading The red-uniformed sentry came and brought me a little breakfast.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading The red-uniformed sentry came and brought me a little breakfast.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I tried to engage him in conversation as I ate, but all I could get out of him was "Aw, shut your trap, Pard!"

came

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

From this reading The red-uniformed sentry came and brought me a little breakfast.

cellnounUS /sel/

A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.

From this reading He ordered me out of the cell.

City

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

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

coils

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

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

conversation

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

From this reading I tried to engage him in conversation as I ate, but all I could get out of him was "Aw, shut your trap, Pard!"

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading I tried to engage him in conversation as I ate, but all I could get out of him was "Aw, shut your trap, Pard!"

crushing

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

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

day

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

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Little did I realize how soon that dream was to become a reality!

dreamnounUS /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

engage

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

From this reading I tried to engage him in conversation as I ate, but all I could get out of him was "Aw, shut your trap, Pard!"

filtering

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

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

get

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

From this reading I tried to engage him in conversation as I ate, but all I could get out of him was "Aw, shut your trap, Pard!"

gleaming

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

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He ordered me out of the cell.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading I tried to engage him in conversation as I ate, but all I could get out of him was "Aw, shut your trap, Pard!"

how

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

From this reading Little did I realize how soon that dream was to become a reality!

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Little did I realize how soon that dream was to become a reality!

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

light

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

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

LittlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Little did I realize how soon that dream was to become a reality!

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

octopus

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

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

ordered

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

From this reading He ordered me out of the cell.

out

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

From this reading I tried to engage him in conversation as I ate, but all I could get out of him was "Aw, shut your trap, Pard!"

Pard

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

From this reading I tried to engage him in conversation as I ate, but all I could get out of him was "Aw, shut your trap, Pard!"

prison

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

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

purple

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

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

reality

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

From this reading Little did I realize how soon that dream was to become a reality!

realize

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

From this reading Little did I realize how soon that dream was to become a reality!

red-uniformed

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

From this reading The red-uniformed sentry came and brought me a little breakfast.

sentry

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

From this reading The red-uniformed sentry came and brought me a little breakfast.

shut

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

From this reading I tried to engage him in conversation as I ate, but all I could get out of him was "Aw, shut your trap, Pard!"

soon

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

From this reading Little did I realize how soon that dream was to become a reality!

strangling

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

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

terriblenounUS /ˈterrible/

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

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Little did I realize how soon that dream was to become a reality!

trap

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

From this reading I tried to engage him in conversation as I ate, but all I could get out of him was "Aw, shut your trap, Pard!"

tried

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

From this reading I tried to engage him in conversation as I ate, but all I could get out of him was "Aw, shut your trap, Pard!"

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The City Above the Air At last the light of day, filtering through my prison bars, aroused me from a terrible dream of a gleaming purple octopus that was crushing and strangling me in its coils.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading I tried to engage him in conversation as I ate, but all I could get out of him was "Aw, shut your trap, Pard!"