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When the Sleeper Wakes
When the Sleeper Wakes

Chapter VII · In the Silent Rooms

Cover illustration for When the Sleeper Wakes
Context Illustration Reading 1/59 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Presently Graham resumed his examination of his apartments.
Curiosity kept him moving in spite of his fatigue.
The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.
The faint humming note of its easy motion was the only clear sound in that quiet place.
As these vans sprang up one after the other, Graham could get transient glimpses of the sky.
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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.

When the Sleeper Wakes

Chapter VII · In the Silent Rooms

Reading 1/59 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Presently Graham resumed his examination of his apartments.
Line 2
Curiosity kept him moving in spite of his fatigue.
Line 3
The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.
Line 4
The faint humming note of its easy motion was the only clear sound in that quiet place.
Line 5
As these vans sprang up one after the other, Graham could get transient glimpses of the sky.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “As these vans sprang up one after the other, Graham could get transient glimpses of the sky.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “As these vans sprang up one after the other, Graham could get transient glimpses of the sky.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “As these vans sprang up one after the other, Graham could get transient glimpses of the sky.”

Resumed noun US /ˈresumed/

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

From this reading “Presently Graham resumed his examination of his apartments.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “As these vans sprang up one after the other, Graham could get transient glimpses of the sky.”

All words in this reading · 71

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 The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading As these vans sprang up one after the other, Graham could get transient glimpses of the sky.

air

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

apartments

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

From this reading Presently Graham resumed his examination of his apartments.

aperture

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

apparently

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As these vans sprang up one after the other, Graham could get transient glimpses of the sky.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

broad

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

ceiling

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

centre

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

clear

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

From this reading The faint humming note of its easy motion was the only clear sound in that quiet place.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading As these vans sprang up one after the other, Graham could get transient glimpses of the sky.

Curiosity

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

From this reading Curiosity kept him moving in spite of his fatigue.

dome

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

driving

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

easy

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

From this reading The faint humming note of its easy motion was the only clear sound in that quiet place.

examination

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

From this reading Presently Graham resumed his examination of his apartments.

faint

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

From this reading The faint humming note of its easy motion was the only clear sound in that quiet place.

fans

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

fatigue

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

From this reading Curiosity kept him moving in spite of his fatigue.

funnel

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

get

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

From this reading As these vans sprang up one after the other, Graham could get transient glimpses of the sky.

glimpses

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

From this reading As these vans sprang up one after the other, Graham could get transient glimpses of the sky.

Graham

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

From this reading Presently Graham resumed his examination of his apartments.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

high

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Curiosity kept him moving in spite of his fatigue.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Presently Graham resumed his examination of his apartments.

humming

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

From this reading The faint humming note of its easy motion was the only clear sound in that quiet place.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Curiosity kept him moving in spite of his fatigue.

inner

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

kept

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

From this reading Curiosity kept him moving in spite of his fatigue.

motion

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

From this reading The faint humming note of its easy motion was the only clear sound in that quiet place.

moving

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

From this reading Curiosity kept him moving in spite of his fatigue.

note

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

From this reading The faint humming note of its easy motion was the only clear sound in that quiet place.

oblong

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Presently Graham resumed his examination of his apartments.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading As these vans sprang up one after the other, Graham could get transient glimpses of the sky.

only

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

From this reading The faint humming note of its easy motion was the only clear sound in that quiet place.

opening

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

other

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

From this reading As these vans sprang up one after the other, Graham could get transient glimpses of the sky.

perceived

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

place

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

From this reading The faint humming note of its easy motion was the only clear sound in that quiet place.

Presently

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

From this reading Presently Graham resumed his examination of his apartments.

quiet

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

From this reading The faint humming note of its easy motion was the only clear sound in that quiet place.

resumednounUS /ˈresumed/

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

From this reading Presently Graham resumed his examination of his apartments.

room

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

rotating

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

shaft

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

shaped

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

sky

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

From this reading As these vans sprang up one after the other, Graham could get transient glimpses of the sky.

sound

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

From this reading The faint humming note of its easy motion was the only clear sound in that quiet place.

spite

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

From this reading Curiosity kept him moving in spite of his fatigue.

sprang

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

From this reading As these vans sprang up one after the other, Graham could get transient glimpses of the sky.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The faint humming note of its easy motion was the only clear sound in that quiet place.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading As these vans sprang up one after the other, Graham could get transient glimpses of the sky.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

transient

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

From this reading As these vans sprang up one after the other, Graham could get transient glimpses of the sky.

up

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

vans

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

From this reading As these vans sprang up one after the other, Graham could get transient glimpses of the sky.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

wheel

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The inner room, he perceived, was high, and its ceiling dome shaped, with an oblong aperture in the centre, opening into a funnel in which a wheel of broad fans seemed to be rotating, apparently driving the air up the shaft.