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The Seven Secrets
The Seven Secrets

Chapter IX

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Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SHADOWS.
The revelation held me utterly dumfounded.
Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.
Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.
By some means the shawl in question had accidentally become entangled--or perhaps been strained by the sudden uplifting of the arm of the wearer.
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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 Seven Secrets

Chapter IX

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SHADOWS.
Line 2
The revelation held me utterly dumfounded.
Line 3
Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.
Line 4
Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.
Line 5
By some means the shawl in question had accidentally become entangled--or perhaps been strained by the sudden uplifting of the arm of the wearer.

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 “Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “By some means the shawl in question had accidentally become entangled--or perhaps been strained by the sudden uplifting of the arm of the wearer.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.”

Exact adjective US /ɪɡˈzækt/

Strictly particular and correct.

From this reading “Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.”

Fragment noun US /ˈfræɡ.mənt/

A small part broken or separated off something larger.

From this reading “Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “By some means the shawl in question had accidentally become entangled--or perhaps been strained by the sudden uplifting of the arm of the wearer.”

Question noun US /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading “By some means the shawl in question had accidentally become entangled--or perhaps been strained by the sudden uplifting of the arm of the wearer.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.”

Sudden noun US /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “By some means the shawl in question had accidentally become entangled--or perhaps been strained by the sudden uplifting of the arm of the wearer.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.”

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 Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

accidentally

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

From this reading By some means the shawl in question had accidentally become entangled--or perhaps been strained by the sudden uplifting of the arm of the wearer.

AlreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

arm

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

From this reading By some means the shawl in question had accidentally become entangled--or perhaps been strained by the sudden uplifting of the arm of the wearer.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

ascertained

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

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

asunder

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

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

become

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

From this reading By some means the shawl in question had accidentally become entangled--or perhaps been strained by the sudden uplifting of the arm of the wearer.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading By some means the shawl in question had accidentally become entangled--or perhaps been strained by the sudden uplifting of the arm of the wearer.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

break

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

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

carefully

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

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

Chenille

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

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

contact

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

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

cord

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

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

dumfounded

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

From this reading The revelation held me utterly dumfounded.

entangled

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

From this reading By some means the shawl in question had accidentally become entangled--or perhaps been strained by the sudden uplifting of the arm of the wearer.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/

Strictly particular and correct.

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

fabric

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

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

floss

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

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

fragmentnounUS /ˈfræɡ.mənt/

A small part broken or separated off something larger.

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

fringe

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

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

generally

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

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

hand

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

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

handled

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

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

held

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

From this reading The revelation held me utterly dumfounded.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

kind

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

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

knotted

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

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

knows

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

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

lightly-made

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

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

made

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

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading The revelation held me utterly dumfounded.

means

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

From this reading By some means the shawl in question had accidentally become entangled--or perhaps been strained by the sudden uplifting of the arm of the wearer.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

perhaps

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

From this reading By some means the shawl in question had accidentally become entangled--or perhaps been strained by the sudden uplifting of the arm of the wearer.

placing

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

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

questionnounUS /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading By some means the shawl in question had accidentally become entangled--or perhaps been strained by the sudden uplifting of the arm of the wearer.

revelation

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

From this reading The revelation held me utterly dumfounded.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

saw

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

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

SHADOWS

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

From this reading SHADOWS.

shawl

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

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

shawls

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

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

silk

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

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

single

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

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

slightest

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

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

some

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

From this reading By some means the shawl in question had accidentally become entangled--or perhaps been strained by the sudden uplifting of the arm of the wearer.

strain

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

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

strained

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

From this reading By some means the shawl in question had accidentally become entangled--or perhaps been strained by the sudden uplifting of the arm of the wearer.

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading By some means the shawl in question had accidentally become entangled--or perhaps been strained by the sudden uplifting of the arm of the wearer.

texture

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

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The revelation held me utterly dumfounded.

thread

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

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

tint

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

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

unquestionably

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

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

uplifting

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

From this reading By some means the shawl in question had accidentally become entangled--or perhaps been strained by the sudden uplifting of the arm of the wearer.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

utterly

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

From this reading The revelation held me utterly dumfounded.

wearer

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

From this reading By some means the shawl in question had accidentally become entangled--or perhaps been strained by the sudden uplifting of the arm of the wearer.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Already I had, by placing my hand in contact with the shawl, ascertained its exact texture, and saw that both its tint and its fabric were unquestionably the same as the knotted fragment I held in my hand.

woman

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

From this reading Chenille shawls, as every woman knows, must be handled carefully or the lightly-made fringe will come asunder; for the kind of cord of floss silk is generally made upon a single thread, which will break with the slightest strain.