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The White Flag
The White Flag

Chapter XXII

Cover illustration for The White Flag
Context Illustration Reading 1/65 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.
She sought it instinctively as a shelter.
It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.
As a haven she plunged into it and closed the door behind her to shut out the horrors she had witnessed.
Predominant in her mind at that minute was the thought that there was nothing in the whole world so dreadful as the power of riches wrongly used.
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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 White Flag

Chapter XXII

Reading 1/65 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.
Line 2
She sought it instinctively as a shelter.
Line 3
It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.
Line 4
As a haven she plunged into it and closed the door behind her to shut out the horrors she had witnessed.
Line 5
Predominant in her mind at that minute was the thought that there was nothing in the whole world so dreadful as the power of riches wrongly used.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.”

Because conjunction US /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading “It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.”

BEHIND preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading ““BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.”

Dreadful adjective US /ˈdrɛdfəl/

extremely frightening or unpleasant

From this reading “Predominant in her mind at that minute was the thought that there was nothing in the whole world so dreadful as the power of riches wrongly used.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Predominant in her mind at that minute was the thought that there was nothing in the whole world so dreadful as the power of riches wrongly used.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “Predominant in her mind at that minute was the thought that there was nothing in the whole world so dreadful as the power of riches wrongly used.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.”

Surprised noun US /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Predominant in her mind at that minute was the thought that there was nothing in the whole world so dreadful as the power of riches wrongly used.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.”

All words in this reading · 73

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 She sought it instinctively as a shelter.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

Ashwater

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

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.

back

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

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.

BEHINDprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

closed

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

From this reading As a haven she plunged into it and closed the door behind her to shut out the horrors she had witnessed.

door

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

From this reading As a haven she plunged into it and closed the door behind her to shut out the horrors she had witnessed.

dreadfuladjectiveUS /ˈdrɛdfəl/

extremely frightening or unpleasant

From this reading Predominant in her mind at that minute was the thought that there was nothing in the whole world so dreadful as the power of riches wrongly used.

driven

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

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

escape

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

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

find

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

From this reading It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading As a haven she plunged into it and closed the door behind her to shut out the horrors she had witnessed.

haven

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

From this reading As a haven she plunged into it and closed the door behind her to shut out the horrors she had witnessed.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

home

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

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

horrors

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

From this reading As a haven she plunged into it and closed the door behind her to shut out the horrors she had witnessed.

house

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

From this reading It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Predominant in her mind at that minute was the thought that there was nothing in the whole world so dreadful as the power of riches wrongly used.

instinctively

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

From this reading She sought it instinctively as a shelter.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading As a haven she plunged into it and closed the door behind her to shut out the horrors she had witnessed.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

light

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

From this reading It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.

LILAC

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

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

Mahala

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

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Predominant in her mind at that minute was the thought that there was nothing in the whole world so dreadful as the power of riches wrongly used.

minute

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

From this reading Predominant in her mind at that minute was the thought that there was nothing in the whole world so dreadful as the power of riches wrongly used.

Moreland

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

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Predominant in her mind at that minute was the thought that there was nothing in the whole world so dreadful as the power of riches wrongly used.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.

out

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

From this reading As a haven she plunged into it and closed the door behind her to shut out the horrors she had witnessed.

plunged

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

From this reading As a haven she plunged into it and closed the door behind her to shut out the horrors she had witnessed.

possible

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

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

power

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

From this reading Predominant in her mind at that minute was the thought that there was nothing in the whole world so dreadful as the power of riches wrongly used.

Predominant

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

From this reading Predominant in her mind at that minute was the thought that there was nothing in the whole world so dreadful as the power of riches wrongly used.

reached

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

From this reading It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.

residence

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

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

riches

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

From this reading Predominant in her mind at that minute was the thought that there was nothing in the whole world so dreadful as the power of riches wrongly used.

River

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

From this reading It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.

Road

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

From this reading It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.

see

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

From this reading It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

shelter

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

From this reading She sought it instinctively as a shelter.

shut

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

From this reading As a haven she plunged into it and closed the door behind her to shut out the horrors she had witnessed.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Predominant in her mind at that minute was the thought that there was nothing in the whole world so dreadful as the power of riches wrongly used.

soon

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

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

sought

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

From this reading She sought it instinctively as a shelter.

surprisednounUS /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

there

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

From this reading It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Predominant in her mind at that minute was the thought that there was nothing in the whole world so dreadful as the power of riches wrongly used.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

unending

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

From this reading It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.

used

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

From this reading Predominant in her mind at that minute was the thought that there was nothing in the whole world so dreadful as the power of riches wrongly used.

WALL

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

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading “BEHIND THE LILAC WALL” As soon as it was possible for Mahala to escape from the Moreland residence, she left Ashwater and was driven back to her home.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.

whole

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

From this reading Predominant in her mind at that minute was the thought that there was nothing in the whole world so dreadful as the power of riches wrongly used.

witnessed

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

From this reading As a haven she plunged into it and closed the door behind her to shut out the horrors she had witnessed.

world

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

From this reading Predominant in her mind at that minute was the thought that there was nothing in the whole world so dreadful as the power of riches wrongly used.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading It seemed to her that the River Road was unending, that she never again would see the light of her house; and because there was no light when she reached it, she was surprised at last to find that she was there.

wrongly

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

From this reading Predominant in her mind at that minute was the thought that there was nothing in the whole world so dreadful as the power of riches wrongly used.