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A Strange Story — Complete
A Strange Story — Complete

Chapter XXIX

Cover illustration for A Strange Story — Complete
Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
And the cause of this direful shock?
Not this time could it be traced to some evil spell, some phantasmal influence.
The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.
The letter found in her hand was without name; it was dated from L----, and bore the postmark of that town.
It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.
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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 Strange Story — Complete

Chapter XXIX

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
And the cause of this direful shock?
Line 2
Not this time could it be traced to some evil spell, some phantasmal influence.
Line 3
The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.
Line 4
The letter found in her hand was without name; it was dated from L----, and bore the postmark of that town.
Line 5
It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.

Learner Dictionary

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

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “Not this time could it be traced to some evil spell, some phantasmal influence.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The letter found in her hand was without name; it was dated from L----, and bore the postmark of that town.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The letter found in her hand was without name; it was dated from L----, and bore the postmark of that town.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.”

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The letter found in her hand was without name; it was dated from L----, and bore the postmark of that town.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Not this time could it be traced to some evil spell, some phantasmal influence.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “The letter found in her hand was without name; it was dated from L----, and bore the postmark of that town.”

All words in this reading · 79

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

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.

accompanied

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

From this reading The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And the cause of this direful shock?

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Not this time could it be traced to some evil spell, some phantasmal influence.

biting

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

From this reading It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.

bore

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

From this reading The letter found in her hand was without name; it was dated from L----, and bore the postmark of that town.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.

cause

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

From this reading And the cause of this direful shock?

clear

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

From this reading The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.

construction

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

From this reading It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.

conveyed

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

From this reading It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Not this time could it be traced to some evil spell, some phantasmal influence.

dated

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

From this reading The letter found in her hand was without name; it was dated from L----, and bore the postmark of that town.

delicately

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

From this reading The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.

direful

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

From this reading And the cause of this direful shock?

ear

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

From this reading It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.

effects

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

From this reading The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.

evil

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

From this reading Not this time could it be traced to some evil spell, some phantasmal influence.

exquisitely

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

From this reading The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.

female

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

From this reading It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.

fibre

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

From this reading The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.

flight

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

From this reading It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The letter found in her hand was without name; it was dated from L----, and bore the postmark of that town.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The letter found in her hand was without name; it was dated from L----, and bore the postmark of that town.

guard

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

From this reading It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.

hand

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

From this reading The letter found in her hand was without name; it was dated from L----, and bore the postmark of that town.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.

heart

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

From this reading The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading The letter found in her hand was without name; it was dated from L----, and bore the postmark of that town.

honour

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

From this reading The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The letter found in her hand was without name; it was dated from L----, and bore the postmark of that town.

influence

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

From this reading Not this time could it be traced to some evil spell, some phantasmal influence.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Not this time could it be traced to some evil spell, some phantasmal influence.

L

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

From this reading The letter found in her hand was without name; it was dated from L----, and bore the postmark of that town.

letter

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

From this reading The letter found in her hand was without name; it was dated from L----, and bore the postmark of that town.

Lilian

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

From this reading It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.

malice

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

From this reading It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The letter found in her hand was without name; it was dated from L----, and bore the postmark of that town.

nerves

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

From this reading The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.

NotadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Not this time could it be traced to some evil spell, some phantasmal influence.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading And the cause of this direful shock?

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.

phantasmal

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

From this reading Not this time could it be traced to some evil spell, some phantasmal influence.

postmark

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

From this reading The letter found in her hand was without name; it was dated from L----, and bore the postmark of that town.

produced

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

From this reading The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.

pure

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

From this reading The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.

put

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

From this reading It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.

scandal

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

From this reading It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.

sedulously

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

From this reading It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.

sensitive

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

From this reading The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.

sharp

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

From this reading It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.

shock

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

From this reading And the cause of this direful shock?

sinister

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

From this reading The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.

some

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

From this reading Not this time could it be traced to some evil spell, some phantasmal influence.

sought

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

From this reading It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.

spell

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

From this reading Not this time could it be traced to some evil spell, some phantasmal influence.

stronger

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

From this reading The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.

tale

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

From this reading It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The letter found in her hand was without name; it was dated from L----, and bore the postmark of that town.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading And the cause of this direful shock?

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading And the cause of this direful shock?

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Not this time could it be traced to some evil spell, some phantasmal influence.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Not this time could it be traced to some evil spell, some phantasmal influence.

town

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

From this reading The letter found in her hand was without name; it was dated from L----, and bore the postmark of that town.

traced

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

From this reading Not this time could it be traced to some evil spell, some phantasmal influence.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The cause was clear, and might have produced effects as sinister on nerves of stronger fibre if accompanied by a heart as delicately sensitive, an honour as exquisitely pure.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading The letter found in her hand was without name; it was dated from L----, and bore the postmark of that town.

words

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

From this reading It conveyed to Lilian, in the biting words which female malice can make so sharp, the tale we had sought sedulously to guard from her ear,--her flight, the construction that scandal put upon it.