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A Face Illumined
A Face Illumined

Chapter XXIII · An Emblem

Cover illustration for A Face Illumined
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.
"He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.
As if by a sudden impulse she quietly unfastened the door that led to her father and mother's room.
Perceiving that her mother was not there, she stole noiselessly in, and turned up the lamp.
Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.
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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.

A Face Illumined

Chapter XXIII · An Emblem

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.
Line 2
"He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.
Line 3
As if by a sudden impulse she quietly unfastened the door that led to her father and mother's room.
Line 4
Perceiving that her mother was not there, she stole noiselessly in, and turned up the lamp.
Line 5
Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.”

Below preposition US /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading “For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.”

Impulse noun US /ˈɪmpʌls/

a sudden strong desire to act

From this reading “As if by a sudden impulse she quietly unfastened the door that led to her father and mother's room.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.”

Neither determiner US /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading “For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.”

Parlor noun US /ˈpɑːrlər/

an old-fashioned sitting room

From this reading “For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.”

Sudden noun US /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As if by a sudden impulse she quietly unfastened the door that led to her father and mother's room.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.”

All words in this reading · 101

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 For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.

agonized

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

From this reading "He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

any

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

From this reading "He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As if by a sudden impulse she quietly unfastened the door that led to her father and mother's room.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

attention

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.

belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

Berg's

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

Burton

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

From this reading "He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading As if by a sudden impulse she quietly unfastened the door that led to her father and mother's room.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.

caught

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

choral

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

clearer

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

dark

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

From this reading Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.

deep

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

From this reading Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.

door

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

From this reading As if by a sudden impulse she quietly unfastened the door that led to her father and mother's room.

face

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

From this reading Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.

falling

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

From this reading Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.

father

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

From this reading As if by a sudden impulse she quietly unfastened the door that led to her father and mother's room.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

ghastly

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

From this reading Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.

gray

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

From this reading Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.

hair

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

From this reading Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.

heard

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

Heaven

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

From this reading "He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.

heeded

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.

Ida

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading As if by a sudden impulse she quietly unfastened the door that led to her father and mother's room.

impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpʌls/

a sudden strong desire to act

From this reading As if by a sudden impulse she quietly unfastened the door that led to her father and mother's room.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

intoxication

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

From this reading Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.

Jennie

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

From this reading "He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.

lamp

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

From this reading Perceiving that her mother was not there, she stole noiselessly in, and turned up the lamp.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

led

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

From this reading As if by a sudden impulse she quietly unfastened the door that led to her father and mother's room.

listened

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

louder

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

lounge

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

From this reading Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.

low

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

From this reading "He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.

made

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

From this reading Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.

manner

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

From this reading Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.

Mayhew

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

mother

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

From this reading Perceiving that her mother was not there, she stole noiselessly in, and turned up the lamp.

mother's

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

From this reading As if by a sudden impulse she quietly unfastened the door that led to her father and mother's room.

Mr

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

From this reading Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.

music

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

noiselessly

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

From this reading Perceiving that her mother was not there, she stole noiselessly in, and turned up the lamp.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Perceiving that her mother was not there, she stole noiselessly in, and turned up the lamp.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.

parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/

an old-fashioned sitting room

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

peculiarly

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

From this reading Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.

Perceiving

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

From this reading Perceiving that her mother was not there, she stole noiselessly in, and turned up the lamp.

perdition

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

From this reading "He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.

pre-eminent

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

quietly

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

From this reading As if by a sudden impulse she quietly unfastened the door that led to her father and mother's room.

reclined

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

From this reading Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.

repulsive

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

From this reading Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.

room

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

From this reading As if by a sudden impulse she quietly unfastened the door that led to her father and mother's room.

said

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

From this reading "He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

singing

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

From this reading "He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.

some

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

songs

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

From this reading "He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.

started

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

stole

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

From this reading Perceiving that her mother was not there, she stole noiselessly in, and turned up the lamp.

strain

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

streaked

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

From this reading Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.

stupor

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

From this reading Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As if by a sudden impulse she quietly unfastened the door that led to her father and mother's room.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading "He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading As if by a sudden impulse she quietly unfastened the door that led to her father and mother's room.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

there

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

From this reading "He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading "He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading As if by a sudden impulse she quietly unfastened the door that led to her father and mother's room.

tone

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

From this reading "He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.

turned

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

From this reading Perceiving that her mother was not there, she stole noiselessly in, and turned up the lamp.

unfastened

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

From this reading As if by a sudden impulse she quietly unfastened the door that led to her father and mother's room.

up

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Mr. Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication, his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive.

Van

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

voice

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

window

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

From this reading For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music in the parlor below, but at last a clearer, louder strain, in which Van Berg's voice was pre-eminent, caught her attention and she started up and listened at the window.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.

worse

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

From this reading "He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton, and I--can there be any worse perdition than this?" she said in a low, agonized tone.