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A Mummer's Tale
A Mummer's Tale

Chapter XII

Cover illustration for A Mummer's Tale
Context Illustration Reading 1/14 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
In the centre of the square stood the basin of a fountain, supported by lusty nymphs.
The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.
The rehearsal had finished very late.
When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.
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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 Mummer's Tale

Chapter XII

Reading 1/14 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
Line 2
In the centre of the square stood the basin of a fountain, supported by lusty nymphs.
Line 3
The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.
Line 4
The rehearsal had finished very late.
Line 5
When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.

Learner Dictionary

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

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.”

Beginning noun US /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading “When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.”

Deserted verb US /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/

left a place or vessel without intending to return

From this reading “The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.”

Melting noun US /ˈmelting/

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

From this reading “When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the centre of the square stood the basin of a fountain, supported by lusty nymphs.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.”

All words in this reading · 74

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 On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.

arrive

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

From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.

basin

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

From this reading In the centre of the square stood the basin of a fountain, supported by lusty nymphs.

beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.

Bibliotheque

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

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

bordered

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

From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading In the centre of the square stood the basin of a fountain, supported by lusty nymphs.

cast

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

From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.

centre

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

From this reading In the centre of the square stood the basin of a fountain, supported by lusty nymphs.

cheerful

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

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

city

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

From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.

commonplace

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

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

day

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

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

desertedverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/

left a place or vessel without intending to return

From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.

entered

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

From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.

facing

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

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

finished

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

From this reading The rehearsal had finished very late.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

floor

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

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

following

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

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

fountain

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

From this reading In the centre of the square stood the basin of a fountain, supported by lusty nymphs.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.

furnished

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

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

gloom

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

From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

hangings

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

From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

heard

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

From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

house

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

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

hum

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

From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In the centre of the square stood the basin of a fountain, supported by lusty nymphs.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.

late

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

From this reading The rehearsal had finished very late.

laurel

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

From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.

little-frequented

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

From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.

lusty

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

From this reading In the centre of the square stood the basin of a fountain, supported by lusty nymphs.

meltingnounUS /ˈmelting/

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

From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.

Nationale

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

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

near

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

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

night

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

From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.

nymphs

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

From this reading In the centre of the square stood the basin of a fountain, supported by lusty nymphs.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.

paths

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

From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.

reassuring

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

From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.

rehearsal

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

From this reading The rehearsal had finished very late.

room

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

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

season

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

From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.

selected

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

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

slower

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

From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.

snow

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

From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.

spindlewood

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

From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.

spot

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

From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.

square

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

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the centre of the square stood the basin of a fountain, supported by lusty nymphs.

supported

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

From this reading In the centre of the square stood the basin of a fountain, supported by lusty nymphs.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

vast

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

From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.

very

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

From this reading The rehearsal had finished very late.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.