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A Son at the Front
A Son at the Front

Chapter II

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Context Illustration Reading 1/385 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
X The war was three months old—three centuries.
By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.
The war went on; life went on; Paris went on.
She had had her great hour of resistance, when, alone, exposed and defenceless, she had held back the enemy and broken his strength.
She had had, afterward, her hour of triumph, the hour of the Marne; then her hour of passionate and prayerful hope, when it seemed to the watching nations that the enemy was not only held back but thrust back, and victory finally in reach.
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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 Son at the Front

Chapter II

Reading 1/385 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
X The war was three months old—three centuries.
Line 2
By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.
Line 3
The war went on; life went on; Paris went on.
Line 4
She had had her great hour of resistance, when, alone, exposed and defenceless, she had held back the enemy and broken his strength.
Line 5
She had had, afterward, her hour of triumph, the hour of the Marne; then her hour of passionate and prayerful hope, when it seemed to the watching nations that the enemy was not only held back but thrust back, and victory finally in reach.

Learner Dictionary

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

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She had had her great hour of resistance, when, alone, exposed and defenceless, she had held back the enemy and broken his strength.”

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.”

Beginning noun US /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading “By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.”

Broken noun US /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She had had her great hour of resistance, when, alone, exposed and defenceless, she had held back the enemy and broken his strength.”

Exposed adjective US /ɪkˈspəʊzd/

left open to danger or view left open to danger or public view

From this reading “She had had her great hour of resistance, when, alone, exposed and defenceless, she had held back the enemy and broken his strength.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She had had her great hour of resistance, when, alone, exposed and defenceless, she had held back the enemy and broken his strength.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The war went on; life went on; Paris went on.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.”

Speak noun US /speak/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.”

Strength noun US /ˈstrength/

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

From this reading “She had had her great hour of resistance, when, alone, exposed and defenceless, she had held back the enemy and broken his strength.”

Virtue noun US /ˈvɝː.tʃuː/

Moral excellence and goodness of character; the highest human attainment in Stoic philosophy.

From this reading “By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The war went on; life went on; Paris went on.”

All words in this reading · 88

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 By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

acquire

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

adaptation

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

afterward

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

From this reading She had had, afterward, her hour of triumph, the hour of the Marne; then her hour of passionate and prayerful hope, when it seemed to the watching nations that the enemy was not only held back but thrust back, and victory finally in reach.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She had had her great hour of resistance, when, alone, exposed and defenceless, she had held back the enemy and broken his strength.

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

arrangeable

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

back

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

From this reading She had had her great hour of resistance, when, alone, exposed and defenceless, she had held back the enemy and broken his strength.

beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

brokennounUS /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She had had her great hour of resistance, when, alone, exposed and defenceless, she had held back the enemy and broken his strength.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She had had, afterward, her hour of triumph, the hour of the Marne; then her hour of passionate and prayerful hope, when it seemed to the watching nations that the enemy was not only held back but thrust back, and victory finally in reach.

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

centuries

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

From this reading X The war was three months old—three centuries.

day

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

defenceless

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

From this reading She had had her great hour of resistance, when, alone, exposed and defenceless, she had held back the enemy and broken his strength.

discredit

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

eat

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

endurable

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

enemy

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

From this reading She had had her great hour of resistance, when, alone, exposed and defenceless, she had held back the enemy and broken his strength.

exposedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspəʊzd/

left open to danger or view left open to danger or public view

From this reading She had had her great hour of resistance, when, alone, exposed and defenceless, she had held back the enemy and broken his strength.

fact

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

finally

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

From this reading She had had, afterward, her hour of triumph, the hour of the Marne; then her hour of passionate and prayerful hope, when it seemed to the watching nations that the enemy was not only held back but thrust back, and victory finally in reach.

forever

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

gift

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She had had her great hour of resistance, when, alone, exposed and defenceless, she had held back the enemy and broken his strength.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading She had had her great hour of resistance, when, alone, exposed and defenceless, she had held back the enemy and broken his strength.

held

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

From this reading She had had her great hour of resistance, when, alone, exposed and defenceless, she had held back the enemy and broken his strength.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading She had had her great hour of resistance, when, alone, exposed and defenceless, she had held back the enemy and broken his strength.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading She had had her great hour of resistance, when, alone, exposed and defenceless, she had held back the enemy and broken his strength.

hope

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

From this reading She had had, afterward, her hour of triumph, the hour of the Marne; then her hour of passionate and prayerful hope, when it seemed to the watching nations that the enemy was not only held back but thrust back, and victory finally in reach.

hour

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

From this reading She had had her great hour of resistance, when, alone, exposed and defenceless, she had held back the enemy and broken his strength.

human

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

idea

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She had had, afterward, her hour of triumph, the hour of the Marne; then her hour of passionate and prayerful hope, when it seemed to the watching nations that the enemy was not only held back but thrust back, and victory finally in reach.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

language

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The war went on; life went on; Paris went on.

live

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

Marne

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

From this reading She had had, afterward, her hour of triumph, the hour of the Marne; then her hour of passionate and prayerful hope, when it seemed to the watching nations that the enemy was not only held back but thrust back, and victory finally in reach.

monstrous

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

months

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

From this reading X The war was three months old—three centuries.

nations

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

From this reading She had had, afterward, her hour of triumph, the hour of the Marne; then her hour of passionate and prayerful hope, when it seemed to the watching nations that the enemy was not only held back but thrust back, and victory finally in reach.

night

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She had had, afterward, her hour of triumph, the hour of the Marne; then her hour of passionate and prayerful hope, when it seemed to the watching nations that the enemy was not only held back but thrust back, and victory finally in reach.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

old

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

From this reading X The war was three months old—three centuries.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

only

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

From this reading She had had, afterward, her hour of triumph, the hour of the Marne; then her hour of passionate and prayerful hope, when it seemed to the watching nations that the enemy was not only held back but thrust back, and victory finally in reach.

Paris

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

From this reading The war went on; life went on; Paris went on.

passionate

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

From this reading She had had, afterward, her hour of triumph, the hour of the Marne; then her hour of passionate and prayerful hope, when it seemed to the watching nations that the enemy was not only held back but thrust back, and victory finally in reach.

people

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

prayerful

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

From this reading She had had, afterward, her hour of triumph, the hour of the Marne; then her hour of passionate and prayerful hope, when it seemed to the watching nations that the enemy was not only held back but thrust back, and victory finally in reach.

reach

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

From this reading She had had, afterward, her hour of triumph, the hour of the Marne; then her hour of passionate and prayerful hope, when it seemed to the watching nations that the enemy was not only held back but thrust back, and victory finally in reach.

regard

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

resistance

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

From this reading She had had her great hour of resistance, when, alone, exposed and defenceless, she had held back the enemy and broken his strength.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

sensibility

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She had had her great hour of resistance, when, alone, exposed and defenceless, she had held back the enemy and broken his strength.

sleep

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

some

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

soundly

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

speak

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/

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

From this reading She had had her great hour of resistance, when, alone, exposed and defenceless, she had held back the enemy and broken his strength.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She had had, afterward, her hour of triumph, the hour of the Marne; then her hour of passionate and prayerful hope, when it seemed to the watching nations that the enemy was not only held back but thrust back, and victory finally in reach.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading X The war was three months old—three centuries.

then

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

From this reading She had had, afterward, her hour of triumph, the hour of the Marne; then her hour of passionate and prayerful hope, when it seemed to the watching nations that the enemy was not only held back but thrust back, and victory finally in reach.

thinkable

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

three

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

From this reading X The war was three months old—three centuries.

thrust

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

From this reading She had had, afterward, her hour of triumph, the hour of the Marne; then her hour of passionate and prayerful hope, when it seemed to the watching nations that the enemy was not only held back but thrust back, and victory finally in reach.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

triumph

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

From this reading She had had, afterward, her hour of triumph, the hour of the Marne; then her hour of passionate and prayerful hope, when it seemed to the watching nations that the enemy was not only held back but thrust back, and victory finally in reach.

victory

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

From this reading She had had, afterward, her hour of triumph, the hour of the Marne; then her hour of passionate and prayerful hope, when it seemed to the watching nations that the enemy was not only held back but thrust back, and victory finally in reach.

virtuenounUS /ˈvɝː.tʃuː/

Moral excellence and goodness of character; the highest human attainment in Stoic philosophy.

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

war

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

From this reading X The war was three months old—three centuries.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading X The war was three months old—three centuries.

watching

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

From this reading She had had, afterward, her hour of triumph, the hour of the Marne; then her hour of passionate and prayerful hope, when it seemed to the watching nations that the enemy was not only held back but thrust back, and victory finally in reach.

ways

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The war went on; life went on; Paris went on.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading She had had her great hour of resistance, when, alone, exposed and defenceless, she had held back the enemy and broken his strength.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.

X

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

From this reading X The war was three months old—three centuries.

yes

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

From this reading By virtue of some gift of adaptation which seemed forever to discredit human sensibility, people were already beginning to live into the monstrous idea of it, acquire its ways, speak its language, regard it as a thinkable, endurable, arrangeable fact; to eat it by day, and sleep on it—yes, and soundly—at night.