Chapter XIII
“Did you see him or his shadow pass down the hall at any time that night?” “No.” “Why these stories then? Why these lies?” She was silent.
The step on the stair
Chapter XIII
English subtitles · tap any word to listen
1 / 5
“Did
you
see
him
or
his
shadow
pass
down
the
hall
at
any
time
that
night?”
“No.”
“Why
these
stories
then?
Why
these
lies?”
She
was
silent.
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Line 1
“Did
you
see
him
or
his
shadow
pass
down
the
hall
at
any
time
that
night?”
Line 2
“No.”
/noʊ/
Line 3
“Why
these
stories
then?
Line 4
Why
these
lies?”
Line 5
She
was
silent.
Learner Dictionary
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
Shadow
noun
US /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading ““Did you see him or his shadow pass down the hall at any time that night?””
These
determiner
US /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading ““Why these stories then?”
Time
noun
US /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ““Did you see him or his shadow pass down the hall at any time that night?””
All words in this reading · 25
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Did you see him or his shadow pass down the hall at any time that night?”
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Did you see him or his shadow pass down the hall at any time that night?”
Didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “Did you see him or his shadow pass down the hall at any time that night?”
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Did you see him or his shadow pass down the hall at any time that night?”
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Did you see him or his shadow pass down the hall at any time that night?”
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Did you see him or his shadow pass down the hall at any time that night?”
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Did you see him or his shadow pass down the hall at any time that night?”
lies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why these lies?”
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Did you see him or his shadow pass down the hall at any time that night?”
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading “No.”
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “Did you see him or his shadow pass down the hall at any time that night?”
pass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Did you see him or his shadow pass down the hall at any time that night?”
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Did you see him or his shadow pass down the hall at any time that night?”
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading “Did you see him or his shadow pass down the hall at any time that night?”
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was silent.
silent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was silent.
stories
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why these stories then?
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Did you see him or his shadow pass down the hall at any time that night?”
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Did you see him or his shadow pass down the hall at any time that night?”
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why these stories then?
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “Why these stories then?
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Did you see him or his shadow pass down the hall at any time that night?”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was silent.
Why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why these stories then?
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Did you see him or his shadow pass down the hall at any time that night?”