Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
A Dreadful Temptation
A Dreadful Temptation

Chapter XIII

Cover illustration for A Dreadful Temptation
Context Illustration Reading 1/21 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.
Everything was very still.
No sound came to her ears save the restless beat of the waves upon the shore.
She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.
She was tired and depressed.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Dreadful Temptation

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.
Line 2
Everything was very still.
Line 3
No sound came to her ears save the restless beat of the waves upon the shore.
Line 4
She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.
Line 5
She was tired and depressed.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.”

Directly noun US /ˈdirectly/

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

From this reading “She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.”

Everything pronoun US /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading “Everything was very still.”

Forward noun US /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.”

Save preposition US /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading “No sound came to her ears save the restless beat of the waves upon the shore.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Everything was very still.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “No sound came to her ears save the restless beat of the waves upon the shore.”

All words in this reading · 61

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

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

arms

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

From this reading She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

beat

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

From this reading No sound came to her ears save the restless beat of the waves upon the shore.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

bosom

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

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

came

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

From this reading No sound came to her ears save the restless beat of the waves upon the shore.

chin

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

From this reading She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.

dark

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

From this reading She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.

depressed

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

From this reading She was tired and depressed.

directlynounUS /ˈdirectly/

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

From this reading She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.

down

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

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

ears

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

From this reading No sound came to her ears save the restless beat of the waves upon the shore.

easy-chair

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

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

EverythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading Everything was very still.

eyes

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

From this reading She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.

folded

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

From this reading She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.

forwardnounUS /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.

full

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

From this reading She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.

gaze

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

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

gazing

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

From this reading She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.

heavy

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

From this reading She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

hollow

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

From this reading She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

leaned

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

From this reading She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

mirrored

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

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

moon

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

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

mystical

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

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No sound came to her ears save the restless beat of the waves upon the shore.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading No sound came to her ears save the restless beat of the waves upon the shore.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.

out

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

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

pain

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

From this reading She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.

palm

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

From this reading She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.

pink

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

From this reading She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.

rail

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

From this reading She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.

restless

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

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

sadness

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

From this reading She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.

sat

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

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

saveprepositionUS /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading No sound came to her ears save the restless beat of the waves upon the shore.

sea

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

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She leaned forward with her arms folded on the veranda rail, and her chin in the hollow of one pink palm, gazing directly forward with dark eyes full of heavy sadness and pain.

shore

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

From this reading No sound came to her ears save the restless beat of the waves upon the shore.

sound

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

From this reading No sound came to her ears save the restless beat of the waves upon the shore.

spread

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

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

stars

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

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Everything was very still.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

tired

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

From this reading She was tired and depressed.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading No sound came to her ears save the restless beat of the waves upon the shore.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading No sound came to her ears save the restless beat of the waves upon the shore.

veranda

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

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

very

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

From this reading Everything was very still.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Everything was very still.

waves

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

From this reading No sound came to her ears save the restless beat of the waves upon the shore.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.

Xenie

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

From this reading Xenie sat down in the easy-chair on the veranda and looked out at the mystical sea spread out before her gaze, with the moon and stars mirrored in its restless bosom.