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The Wonderful Visit
The Wonderful Visit

Chapter IV

Cover illustration for The Wonderful Visit
Context Illustration Reading 1/84 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
There was something ominous in the feeling.
Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.
But on the whole the more tangible trouble was the Mendham avalanche.
Her tongue seemed to be hanging above him like the sword of Damocles.
What might she not say of this business, before her indignant imagination came to rest?
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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 Wonderful Visit

Chapter IV

Reading 1/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
There was something ominous in the feeling.
Line 2
Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.
Line 3
But on the whole the more tangible trouble was the Mendham avalanche.
Line 4
Her tongue seemed to be hanging above him like the sword of Damocles.
Line 5
What might she not say of this business, before her indignant imagination came to rest?

Learner Dictionary

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

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.”

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “What might she not say of this business, before her indignant imagination came to rest?”

Feeling noun US /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading “There was something ominous in the feeling.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “What might she not say of this business, before her indignant imagination came to rest?”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.”

Rest noun US /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “What might she not say of this business, before her indignant imagination came to rest?”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Her tongue seemed to be hanging above him like the sword of Damocles.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “There was something ominous in the feeling.”

Tongue noun US /tongue/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Her tongue seemed to be hanging above him like the sword of Damocles.”

All words in this reading · 72

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 Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

all

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

assure

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

avalanche

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

From this reading But on the whole the more tangible trouble was the Mendham avalanche.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Her tongue seemed to be hanging above him like the sword of Damocles.

bed

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading What might she not say of this business, before her indignant imagination came to rest?

blundered

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

bruised

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

business

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

From this reading What might she not say of this business, before her indignant imagination came to rest?

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But on the whole the more tangible trouble was the Mendham avalanche.

came

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

From this reading What might she not say of this business, before her indignant imagination came to rest?

candle

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

considerations

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

convincingly

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

customary

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

Damocles

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

From this reading Her tongue seemed to be hanging above him like the sword of Damocles.

feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading There was something ominous in the feeling.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

hanging

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

From this reading Her tongue seemed to be hanging above him like the sword of Damocles.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Her tongue seemed to be hanging above him like the sword of Damocles.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Her tongue seemed to be hanging above him like the sword of Damocles.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

imagination

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

From this reading What might she not say of this business, before her indignant imagination came to rest?

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading There was something ominous in the feeling.

indeed

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

indignant

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

From this reading What might she not say of this business, before her indignant imagination came to rest?

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

kind

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

like

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

From this reading Her tongue seemed to be hanging above him like the sword of Damocles.

lit

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

matches

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

Mendham

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

From this reading But on the whole the more tangible trouble was the Mendham avalanche.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading What might she not say of this business, before her indignant imagination came to rest?

more

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

From this reading But on the whole the more tangible trouble was the Mendham avalanche.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading What might she not say of this business, before her indignant imagination came to rest?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

ominous

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

From this reading There was something ominous in the feeling.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But on the whole the more tangible trouble was the Mendham avalanche.

Once

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

other

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

out

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

own

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

reality

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

restnounUS /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading What might she not say of this business, before her indignant imagination came to rest?

rose

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

say

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

From this reading What might she not say of this business, before her indignant imagination came to rest?

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Her tongue seemed to be hanging above him like the sword of Damocles.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading What might she not say of this business, before her indignant imagination came to rest?

shins

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading There was something ominous in the feeling.

sword

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

From this reading Her tongue seemed to be hanging above him like the sword of Damocles.

tangible

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

From this reading But on the whole the more tangible trouble was the Mendham avalanche.

terror

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading There was something ominous in the feeling.

There

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

From this reading There was something ominous in the feeling.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading What might she not say of this business, before her indignant imagination came to rest?

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

tonguenounUS /tongue/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Her tongue seemed to be hanging above him like the sword of Damocles.

trouble

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

From this reading But on the whole the more tangible trouble was the Mendham avalanche.

very

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was something ominous in the feeling.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What might she not say of this business, before her indignant imagination came to rest?

whole

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

From this reading But on the whole the more tangible trouble was the Mendham avalanche.

world

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

From this reading Once, indeed, it rose above all other considerations, and in a kind of terror he blundered out of bed, bruised his shins very convincingly, found the matches at last, and lit a candle to assure himself of the reality of his own customary world again.