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The Sleeper Awakes
The Sleeper Awakes

Chapter VII

Cover illustration for The Sleeper Awakes
Context Illustration Reading 1/66 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE ROOF SPACES As the fans in the circular aperture of the inner room rotated and permitted glimpses of the night, dim sounds drifted in thereby.
And Graham, standing underneath, was startled by the sound of a voice.
He peered up and saw in the intervals of the rotation, dark and dim, the face and shoulders of a man regarding him.
Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.
Graham looked down, and there were spots of blood at his feet.
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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 Sleeper Awakes

Chapter VII

Reading 1/66 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE ROOF SPACES As the fans in the circular aperture of the inner room rotated and permitted glimpses of the night, dim sounds drifted in thereby.
Line 2
And Graham, standing underneath, was startled by the sound of a voice.
Line 3
He peered up and saw in the intervals of the rotation, dark and dim, the face and shoulders of a man regarding him.
Line 4
Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.
Line 5
Graham looked down, and there were spots of blood at his feet.

Learner Dictionary

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

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.”

Blood noun US /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Graham looked down, and there were spots of blood at his feet.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Graham looked down, and there were spots of blood at his feet.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.”

Standing noun US /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading “And Graham, standing underneath, was startled by the sound of a voice.”

Struck noun US /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.”

Thin adjective US /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading “Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.”

Underneath preposition US /ˌʌndərˈniːθ/

directly under, often hidden by what is above

From this reading “And Graham, standing underneath, was startled by the sound of a voice.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.”

All words in this reading · 78

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 And Graham, standing underneath, was startled by the sound of a voice.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE ROOF SPACES As the fans in the circular aperture of the inner room rotated and permitted glimpses of the night, dim sounds drifted in thereby.

aperture

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

From this reading THE ROOF SPACES As the fans in the circular aperture of the inner room rotated and permitted glimpses of the night, dim sounds drifted in thereby.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading THE ROOF SPACES As the fans in the circular aperture of the inner room rotated and permitted glimpses of the night, dim sounds drifted in thereby.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Graham looked down, and there were spots of blood at his feet.

beat

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

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

blade

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

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

bloodnounUS /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Graham looked down, and there were spots of blood at his feet.

brownish

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

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading And Graham, standing underneath, was startled by the sound of a voice.

circular

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

From this reading THE ROOF SPACES As the fans in the circular aperture of the inner room rotated and permitted glimpses of the night, dim sounds drifted in thereby.

dark

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

From this reading He peered up and saw in the intervals of the rotation, dark and dim, the face and shoulders of a man regarding him.

dim

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

From this reading THE ROOF SPACES As the fans in the circular aperture of the inner room rotated and permitted glimpses of the night, dim sounds drifted in thereby.

down

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

From this reading Graham looked down, and there were spots of blood at his feet.

drifted

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

From this reading THE ROOF SPACES As the fans in the circular aperture of the inner room rotated and permitted glimpses of the night, dim sounds drifted in thereby.

dripping

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

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

edge

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

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

extended

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

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

face

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

From this reading He peered up and saw in the intervals of the rotation, dark and dim, the face and shoulders of a man regarding him.

fall

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

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

fans

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

From this reading THE ROOF SPACES As the fans in the circular aperture of the inner room rotated and permitted glimpses of the night, dim sounds drifted in thereby.

feet

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

From this reading Graham looked down, and there were spots of blood at his feet.

floor

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

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

glimpses

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

From this reading THE ROOF SPACES As the fans in the circular aperture of the inner room rotated and permitted glimpses of the night, dim sounds drifted in thereby.

Graham

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

From this reading And Graham, standing underneath, was startled by the sound of a voice.

hand

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

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He peered up and saw in the intervals of the rotation, dark and dim, the face and shoulders of a man regarding him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading He peered up and saw in the intervals of the rotation, dark and dim, the face and shoulders of a man regarding him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Graham looked down, and there were spots of blood at his feet.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE ROOF SPACES As the fans in the circular aperture of the inner room rotated and permitted glimpses of the night, dim sounds drifted in thereby.

inner

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

From this reading THE ROOF SPACES As the fans in the circular aperture of the inner room rotated and permitted glimpses of the night, dim sounds drifted in thereby.

intervals

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

From this reading He peered up and saw in the intervals of the rotation, dark and dim, the face and shoulders of a man regarding him.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Graham looked down, and there were spots of blood at his feet.

man

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

From this reading He peered up and saw in the intervals of the rotation, dark and dim, the face and shoulders of a man regarding him.

night

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

From this reading THE ROOF SPACES As the fans in the circular aperture of the inner room rotated and permitted glimpses of the night, dim sounds drifted in thereby.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE ROOF SPACES As the fans in the circular aperture of the inner room rotated and permitted glimpses of the night, dim sounds drifted in thereby.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

patch

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

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

peered

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

From this reading He peered up and saw in the intervals of the rotation, dark and dim, the face and shoulders of a man regarding him.

permitted

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

From this reading THE ROOF SPACES As the fans in the circular aperture of the inner room rotated and permitted glimpses of the night, dim sounds drifted in thereby.

regarding

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

From this reading He peered up and saw in the intervals of the rotation, dark and dim, the face and shoulders of a man regarding him.

ROOF

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

From this reading THE ROOF SPACES As the fans in the circular aperture of the inner room rotated and permitted glimpses of the night, dim sounds drifted in thereby.

room

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

From this reading THE ROOF SPACES As the fans in the circular aperture of the inner room rotated and permitted glimpses of the night, dim sounds drifted in thereby.

rotated

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

From this reading THE ROOF SPACES As the fans in the circular aperture of the inner room rotated and permitted glimpses of the night, dim sounds drifted in thereby.

rotation

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

From this reading He peered up and saw in the intervals of the rotation, dark and dim, the face and shoulders of a man regarding him.

round

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

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

saw

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

From this reading He peered up and saw in the intervals of the rotation, dark and dim, the face and shoulders of a man regarding him.

shoulders

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

From this reading He peered up and saw in the intervals of the rotation, dark and dim, the face and shoulders of a man regarding him.

silently

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

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

sound

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

From this reading And Graham, standing underneath, was startled by the sound of a voice.

sounds

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

From this reading THE ROOF SPACES As the fans in the circular aperture of the inner room rotated and permitted glimpses of the night, dim sounds drifted in thereby.

SPACES

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

From this reading THE ROOF SPACES As the fans in the circular aperture of the inner room rotated and permitted glimpses of the night, dim sounds drifted in thereby.

spots

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

From this reading Graham looked down, and there were spots of blood at his feet.

standingnounUS /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading And Graham, standing underneath, was startled by the sound of a voice.

startled

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

From this reading And Graham, standing underneath, was startled by the sound of a voice.

strucknounUS /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

swift

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

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

swung

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

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE ROOF SPACES As the fans in the circular aperture of the inner room rotated and permitted glimpses of the night, dim sounds drifted in thereby.

Then

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

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

there

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

From this reading Graham looked down, and there were spots of blood at his feet.

thereby

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

From this reading THE ROOF SPACES As the fans in the circular aperture of the inner room rotated and permitted glimpses of the night, dim sounds drifted in thereby.

therefrom

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

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

underneathprepositionUS /ˌʌndərˈniːθ/

directly under, often hidden by what is above

From this reading And Graham, standing underneath, was startled by the sound of a voice.

up

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

From this reading He peered up and saw in the intervals of the rotation, dark and dim, the face and shoulders of a man regarding him.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

vane

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

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.

voice

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

From this reading And Graham, standing underneath, was startled by the sound of a voice.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading And Graham, standing underneath, was startled by the sound of a voice.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Graham looked down, and there were spots of blood at his feet.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Then a dark hand was extended, the swift vane struck it, swung round and beat on with a little brownish patch on the edge of its thin blade, and something began to fall therefrom upon the floor, dripping silently.