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The Way Out
The Way Out

Chapter XX

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Context Illustration Reading 1/14 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE COMING OF JAMES HADDON THE sun was gone, and the shadows were black in the defile.
The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.
The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.
“It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.
“I’ve sat there myself more than one night—I studied there, Ma’am, read my lessons, getting ready to teach.
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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 Way Out

Chapter XX

Reading 1/14 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE COMING OF JAMES HADDON THE sun was gone, and the shadows were black in the defile.
Line 2
The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.
Line 3
The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.
Line 4
“It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.
Line 5
“I’ve sat there myself more than one night—I studied there, Ma’am, read my lessons, getting ready to teach.

Learner Dictionary

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

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.”

Ancient adjective US /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading “The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.”

Books noun US /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading ““It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading ““I’ve sat there myself more than one night—I studied there, Ma’am, read my lessons, getting ready to teach.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading ““I’ve sat there myself more than one night—I studied there, Ma’am, read my lessons, getting ready to teach.”

Save preposition US /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading ““It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.”

Wilderness noun US /ˈwɪldərnəs/

a wild area where few people live

From this reading “The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.”

All words in this reading · 91

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

air

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

From this reading The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.

all

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

From this reading The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.

altered

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

From this reading The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.

ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE COMING OF JAMES HADDON THE sun was gone, and the shadows were black in the defile.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading “It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.

black

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

From this reading THE COMING OF JAMES HADDON THE sun was gone, and the shadows were black in the defile.

booksnounUS /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading “It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.

built

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

From this reading “It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.

COMING

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

From this reading THE COMING OF JAMES HADDON THE sun was gone, and the shadows were black in the defile.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.

currents

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

From this reading The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.

cynically

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

From this reading The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.

defile

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

From this reading THE COMING OF JAMES HADDON THE sun was gone, and the shadows were black in the defile.

endeavoring

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

From this reading “It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.

explain

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

From this reading “It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.

explained

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

From this reading “It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.

fires

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

From this reading “It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.

flowing

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

From this reading The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.

getting

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

From this reading “I’ve sat there myself more than one night—I studied there, Ma’am, read my lessons, getting ready to teach.

go

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

From this reading The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.

gods

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

From this reading “It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.

gone

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

From this reading THE COMING OF JAMES HADDON THE sun was gone, and the shadows were black in the defile.

HADDON

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

From this reading THE COMING OF JAMES HADDON THE sun was gone, and the shadows were black in the defile.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading “It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.

hoarse

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

From this reading The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “I’ve sat there myself more than one night—I studied there, Ma’am, read my lessons, getting ready to teach.

I've

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

From this reading “I’ve sat there myself more than one night—I studied there, Ma’am, read my lessons, getting ready to teach.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE COMING OF JAMES HADDON THE sun was gone, and the shadows were black in the defile.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.

JAMES

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

From this reading THE COMING OF JAMES HADDON THE sun was gone, and the shadows were black in the defile.

Joslin

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

From this reading The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.

lessons

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

From this reading “I’ve sat there myself more than one night—I studied there, Ma’am, read my lessons, getting ready to teach.

low

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

From this reading The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.

Ma'am

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

From this reading “It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.

mocking

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

From this reading The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.

more

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

From this reading “I’ve sat there myself more than one night—I studied there, Ma’am, read my lessons, getting ready to teach.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “I’ve sat there myself more than one night—I studied there, Ma’am, read my lessons, getting ready to teach.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “I’ve sat there myself more than one night—I studied there, Ma’am, read my lessons, getting ready to teach.

night

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

From this reading “I’ve sat there myself more than one night—I studied there, Ma’am, read my lessons, getting ready to teach.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.

now

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

From this reading The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE COMING OF JAMES HADDON THE sun was gone, and the shadows were black in the defile.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “I’ve sat there myself more than one night—I studied there, Ma’am, read my lessons, getting ready to teach.

only

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

From this reading The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.

own

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

From this reading The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.

read

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

From this reading “I’ve sat there myself more than one night—I studied there, Ma’am, read my lessons, getting ready to teach.

ready

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

From this reading “I’ve sat there myself more than one night—I studied there, Ma’am, read my lessons, getting ready to teach.

river

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

From this reading The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.

said

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

From this reading “It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.

sat

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

From this reading “I’ve sat there myself more than one night—I studied there, Ma’am, read my lessons, getting ready to teach.

saveprepositionUS /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading “It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.

self-reproach

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

From this reading The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.

shadows

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

From this reading THE COMING OF JAMES HADDON THE sun was gone, and the shadows were black in the defile.

shrieking

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

From this reading The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.

some

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

From this reading The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.

spoke

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

From this reading The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.

studied

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

From this reading “I’ve sat there myself more than one night—I studied there, Ma’am, read my lessons, getting ready to teach.

sun

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

From this reading THE COMING OF JAMES HADDON THE sun was gone, and the shadows were black in the defile.

teach

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

From this reading “I’ve sat there myself more than one night—I studied there, Ma’am, read my lessons, getting ready to teach.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading “I’ve sat there myself more than one night—I studied there, Ma’am, read my lessons, getting ready to teach.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE COMING OF JAMES HADDON THE sun was gone, and the shadows were black in the defile.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.

then

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

From this reading The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.

there

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

From this reading “I’ve sat there myself more than one night—I studied there, Ma’am, read my lessons, getting ready to teach.

thus

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

From this reading The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.

two

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

From this reading The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.

vaguely

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

From this reading “It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.

voice

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

From this reading The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE COMING OF JAMES HADDON THE sun was gone, and the shadows were black in the defile.

water

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

From this reading The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading THE COMING OF JAMES HADDON THE sun was gone, and the shadows were black in the defile.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading “It was where we built the fires, Ma’am,” he said vaguely, still endeavoring to explain what could not be explained save in the books of the gods.

wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/

a wild area where few people live

From this reading The two thus alone in the wilderness spoke not at all for some time, and then Joslin could only go on in his own self-reproach.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The ancient river went on with its mocking of them, now low and hoarse, now cynically shrieking, as the voice of flowing water will come, altered by the currents of the air.