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The Time Traders
The Time Traders

Chapter XI

Cover illustration for The Time Traders
Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.
A black wire was hooked overhead and at regular intervals hung with lights which did nothing to break the sensation of glacial cold about them.
Ross shuddered.
Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.
He could only move on stiffly, pushed ahead by his guards when he faltered.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Time Traders

Chapter XI

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.
Line 2
A black wire was hooked overhead and at regular intervals hung with lights which did nothing to break the sensation of glacial cold about them.
Line 3
Ross shuddered.
Line 4
Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.
Line 5
He could only move on stiffly, pushed ahead by his guards when he faltered.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “A black wire was hooked overhead and at regular intervals hung with lights which did nothing to break the sensation of glacial cold about them.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “He could only move on stiffly, pushed ahead by his guards when he faltered.”

Drew noun US /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.”

Entirely noun US /ˈentirely/

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

From this reading “It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.”

Exposed adjective US /ɪkˈspəʊzd/

left open to danger or view left open to danger or public view

From this reading “Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “A black wire was hooked overhead and at regular intervals hung with lights which did nothing to break the sensation of glacial cold about them.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.”

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 It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading A black wire was hooked overhead and at regular intervals hung with lights which did nothing to break the sensation of glacial cold about them.

ahead

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

From this reading He could only move on stiffly, pushed ahead by his guards when he faltered.

almost

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

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

arms

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

From this reading Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A black wire was hooked overhead and at regular intervals hung with lights which did nothing to break the sensation of glacial cold about them.

bare

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

From this reading Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.

black

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

From this reading A black wire was hooked overhead and at regular intervals hung with lights which did nothing to break the sensation of glacial cold about them.

boot

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

From this reading Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.

break

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

From this reading A black wire was hooked overhead and at regular intervals hung with lights which did nothing to break the sensation of glacial cold about them.

breath

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

From this reading Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He could only move on stiffly, pushed ahead by his guards when he faltered.

cold

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

From this reading A black wire was hooked overhead and at regular intervals hung with lights which did nothing to break the sensation of glacial cold about them.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading He could only move on stiffly, pushed ahead by his guards when he faltered.

dark

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

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading A black wire was hooked overhead and at regular intervals hung with lights which did nothing to break the sensation of glacial cold about them.

dimly

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

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

dirty-white

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

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

drewnounUS /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.

entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/

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

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.

exposedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspəʊzd/

left open to danger or view left open to danger or public view

From this reading Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.

faltered

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

From this reading He could only move on stiffly, pushed ahead by his guards when he faltered.

glacial

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

From this reading A black wire was hooked overhead and at regular intervals hung with lights which did nothing to break the sensation of glacial cold about them.

guards

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

From this reading He could only move on stiffly, pushed ahead by his guards when he faltered.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.

hooked

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

From this reading A black wire was hooked overhead and at regular intervals hung with lights which did nothing to break the sensation of glacial cold about them.

hung

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

From this reading A black wire was hooked overhead and at regular intervals hung with lights which did nothing to break the sensation of glacial cold about them.

ice

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

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.

intervals

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

From this reading A black wire was hooked overhead and at regular intervals hung with lights which did nothing to break the sensation of glacial cold about them.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

kilt

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

From this reading Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.

learn

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

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

lights

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

From this reading A black wire was hooked overhead and at regular intervals hung with lights which did nothing to break the sensation of glacial cold about them.

lungs

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

From this reading Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.

move

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

From this reading He could only move on stiffly, pushed ahead by his guards when he faltered.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading A black wire was hooked overhead and at regular intervals hung with lights which did nothing to break the sensation of glacial cold about them.

numb

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

From this reading Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.

objects

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

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He could only move on stiffly, pushed ahead by his guards when he faltered.

only

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

From this reading He could only move on stiffly, pushed ahead by his guards when he faltered.

opaque

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

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

overhead

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

From this reading A black wire was hooked overhead and at regular intervals hung with lights which did nothing to break the sensation of glacial cold about them.

pushed

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

From this reading He could only move on stiffly, pushed ahead by his guards when he faltered.

regular

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

From this reading A black wire was hooked overhead and at regular intervals hung with lights which did nothing to break the sensation of glacial cold about them.

Ross

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

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

section

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

From this reading Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.

sensation

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

From this reading A black wire was hooked overhead and at regular intervals hung with lights which did nothing to break the sensation of glacial cold about them.

shoulders

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

From this reading Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.

showing

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

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

shuddered

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

From this reading Ross shuddered.

solid

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

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

stiffly

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

From this reading He could only move on stiffly, pushed ahead by his guards when he faltered.

stung

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

From this reading Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

there

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

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

thigh

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

From this reading Every breath he drew stung in his lungs; his bare shoulders and arms and the exposed section of thigh between kilt and boot were numb.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

tunnel

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

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

walls

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

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A black wire was hooked overhead and at regular intervals hung with lights which did nothing to break the sensation of glacial cold about them.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading He could only move on stiffly, pushed ahead by his guards when he faltered.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.

wire

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

From this reading A black wire was hooked overhead and at regular intervals hung with lights which did nothing to break the sensation of glacial cold about them.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It took Ross a while to learn that the dirty-white walls of this tunnel which were almost entirely opaque, with dark objects showing dimly through them here and there, were of solid ice.