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A Strange Story — Volume 08
A Strange Story — Volume 08

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of A Strange Story — Volume 08 is here in full — 60 sentences across 12 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for A Strange Story — Volume 08
Context Illustration Reading 1/12 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.
Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.
But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.
Gathering myself up, I turned my eyes from the terrible pomp of the lurid forest, and looked fearfully down on the hoof-trampled sward for my two companions.
I saw the dark image of Ayesha still seated, still bending, as I had seen it last.
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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 — Volume 08

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of A Strange Story — Volume 08 is here in full — 60 sentences across 12 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/12 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.
Line 2
Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.
Line 3
But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.
Line 4
Gathering myself up, I turned my eyes from the terrible pomp of the lurid forest, and looked fearfully down on the hoof-trampled sward for my two companions.
Line 5
I saw the dark image of Ayesha still seated, still bending, as I had seen it last.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

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

coiled adjective US /kɔɪld/

curled or wound (especially in concentric rings or spirals)

From this reading “When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.”

fiends noun US /fiːndz/

plural of “fiend” — a cruel wicked and inhuman person

From this reading “But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.”

grasses noun US /ˈɡræsəz/

plural of “grass” — narrow-leaved green herbage: grown as lawns; used as pasture for grazing animals; cut and dried as hay

From this reading “Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.”

lurid adjective US /ˈlʊrəd/

horrible in fierceness or savagery

From this reading “Gathering myself up, I turned my eyes from the terrible pomp of the lurid forest, and looked fearfully down on the hoof-trampled sward for my two companions.”

Poet's noun US /ˈpoʊəts/

possessive form of “poet” — a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)

From this reading “Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.”

soaring adjective US /ˈsɔːrɪŋ/

ascending to a level markedly higher than the usual

From this reading “But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.”

sward noun US /swɔːrd/

surface layer of ground containing a mat of grass and grass roots

From this reading “Gathering myself up, I turned my eyes from the terrible pomp of the lurid forest, and looked fearfully down on the hoof-trampled sward for my two companions.”

tallest adjective US /ˈtɔːlɪst/

superlative of “tall” — great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading “But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.”

All words in this reading · 107

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

arrestedverbUS /ərˈestɪd/

past form of “arrest” — take into custody

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

Ayesha

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

From this reading I saw the dark image of Ayesha still seated, still bending, as I had seen it last.

beastsnounUS /biːsts/

plural of “beast” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

bendingnounUS /ˈbendɪŋ/

movement that causes the formation of a curve

From this reading I saw the dark image of Ayesha still seated, still bending, as I had seen it last.

BesideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

blackadjectiveUS /blæk/

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

brownnounUS /braʊn/

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

chargeverbUS /tʃɑːrdʒ/

to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

circlenounUS /ˈsɜːrkəl/

ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

CitynounUS /ˈsɪti/

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

coiledadjectiveUS /kɔɪld/

curled or wound (especially in concentric rings or spirals)

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

companionsnounUS /kəmˈpænjənz/

plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading Gathering myself up, I turned my eyes from the terrible pomp of the lurid forest, and looked fearfully down on the hoof-trampled sward for my two companions.

confusedlyadverb

in a confused manner

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

consumedverbUS /kənˈsuːmd/

past form of “consume” — eat up completely, as with great appetite

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

darknounUS /dɑːrk/

absence of light or illumination

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

Death-adder

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

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

desertverbUS /ˈdezərt/

leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

dizzilyadverb

in a giddy light-headed manner

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Gathering myself up, I turned my eyes from the terrible pomp of the lurid forest, and looked fearfully down on the hoof-trampled sward for my two companions.

extinguishedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/

of a conditioned response; caused to die out because of the absence or withdrawal of reinforcement

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

fearfullyadverb

in fear

From this reading Gathering myself up, I turned my eyes from the terrible pomp of the lurid forest, and looked fearfully down on the hoof-trampled sward for my two companions.

fednounUS /fed/

any federal law-enforcement officer

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

FieldnounUS /fiːld/

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

fiendsnounUS /fiːndz/

plural of “fiend” — a cruel wicked and inhuman person

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/

start firing a weapon

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

flamesnounUS /fleɪmz/

plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Gathering myself up, I turned my eyes from the terrible pomp of the lurid forest, and looked fearfully down on the hoof-trampled sward for my two companions.

forestnounUS /ˈfɔːrəst/

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

formingverbUS /ˈfɔːrmɪŋ/

-ing form of “form” — create (as an entity)

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

GatheringnounUS /ˈɡæðərɪŋ/

a group of persons together in one place

From this reading Gathering myself up, I turned my eyes from the terrible pomp of the lurid forest, and looked fearfully down on the hoof-trampled sward for my two companions.

grassesnounUS /ˈɡræsəz/

plural of “grass” — narrow-leaved green herbage: grown as lawns; used as pasture for grazing animals; cut and dried as hay

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

hallsnounUS /hɔːlz/

plural of “hall” — an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

HellnounUS /hel/

any place of pain and turmoil

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

hoof-trampled

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

From this reading Gathering myself up, I turned my eyes from the terrible pomp of the lurid forest, and looked fearfully down on the hoof-trampled sward for my two companions.

hoofsnounUS /hʊfs/

plural of “hoof” — the foot of an ungulate mammal

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Gathering myself up, I turned my eyes from the terrible pomp of the lurid forest, and looked fearfully down on the hoof-trampled sward for my two companions.

imagenounUS /ˈɪmədʒ/

an iconic mental representation

From this reading I saw the dark image of Ayesha still seated, still bending, as I had seen it last.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

innumerableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnuːmərəbəl/

too numerous to be counted

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

invadedverbUS /ˌɪnˈveɪdəd/

past form of “invade” — march aggressively into another's territory by military force for the purposes of conquest and occupation

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

lampsnounUS /læmps/

plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading I saw the dark image of Ayesha still seated, still bending, as I had seen it last.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

lingerernoun

someone who lingers aimlessly in or about a place

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

luridadjectiveUS /ˈlʊrəd/

horrible in fierceness or savagery

From this reading Gathering myself up, I turned my eyes from the terrible pomp of the lurid forest, and looked fearfully down on the hoof-trampled sward for my two companions.

magicaladjectiveUS /ˈmædʒɪkəl/

possessing or using or characteristic of or appropriate to supernatural powers

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading Gathering myself up, I turned my eyes from the terrible pomp of the lurid forest, and looked fearfully down on the hoof-trampled sward for my two companions.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Gathering myself up, I turned my eyes from the terrible pomp of the lurid forest, and looked fearfully down on the hoof-trampled sward for my two companions.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

Phlegroean

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

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

pillarsnounUS /ˈpɪlərz/

plural of “pillar” — a fundamental principle or practice

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

plainsnounUS /pleɪnz/

plural of “plain” — extensive tract of level open land

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

Poet'snounUS /ˈpoʊəts/

possessive form of “poet” — a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

pompnounUS /pɑːmp/

cheap or pretentious or vain display

From this reading Gathering myself up, I turned my eyes from the terrible pomp of the lurid forest, and looked fearfully down on the hoof-trampled sward for my two companions.

ragedverbUS /reɪdʒd/

past form of “rage” — behave violently, as if in state of a great anger

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

recoveredadjectiveUS /rəˈkʌvərd/

freed from illness or injury

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

restedadjectiveUS /ˈrestəd/

not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

roundnounUS /raʊnd/

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading I saw the dark image of Ayesha still seated, still bending, as I had seen it last.

scatteredadjectiveUS /ˈskætərd/

occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

seatedadjectiveUS /ˈsiːtɪd/

(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks

From this reading I saw the dark image of Ayesha still seated, still bending, as I had seen it last.

seenverbUS /siːn/

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading I saw the dark image of Ayesha still seated, still bending, as I had seen it last.

sensenounUS /sens/

a general conscious awareness

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

shocknounUS /ʃɑːk/

the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

smoke-reek

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

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

soaringadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːrɪŋ/

ascending to a level markedly higher than the usual

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

spotnounUS /spɑːt/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

stretchedadjectiveUS /stretʃt/

(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

sullenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌlən/

showing a brooding ill humor

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

swardnounUS /swɔːrd/

surface layer of ground containing a mat of grass and grass roots

From this reading Gathering myself up, I turned my eyes from the terrible pomp of the lurid forest, and looked fearfully down on the hoof-trampled sward for my two companions.

sweptadjectiveUS /swept/

possessing sweep

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

tallestadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːlɪst/

superlative of “tall” — great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

terribleadjectiveUS /ˈterəbəl/

causing fear or dread or terror

From this reading Gathering myself up, I turned my eyes from the terrible pomp of the lurid forest, and looked fearfully down on the hoof-trampled sward for my two companions.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

treesnounUS /triːz/

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

tribesnounUS /traɪbz/

plural of “tribe” — a social division of (usually preliterate) people

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

trunksnounUS /trʌŋks/

(used in the plural) trousers that end at or above the knee

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/

moved around an axis or center

From this reading Gathering myself up, I turned my eyes from the terrible pomp of the lurid forest, and looked fearfully down on the hoof-trampled sward for my two companions.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Gathering myself up, I turned my eyes from the terrible pomp of the lurid forest, and looked fearfully down on the hoof-trampled sward for my two companions.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

watercoursenoun

natural or artificial channel through which water flows

From this reading Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had confusedly scattered, the fire, arrested by the watercourse, had consumed the grasses that fed it, and there the plains stretched, black and desert as the Phlegroean Field of the Poet's Hell.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading But the fire still raged in the forest beyond,--white flames, soaring up from the trunks of the tallest trees, and forming, through the sullen dark of the smoke-reek, innumerable pillars of fire, like the halls in the City of fiends.

wildadjectiveUS /waɪld/

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading When my sense had recovered its shock, and my eyes looked dizzily round, the charge of the beasts had swept by; and of all the wild tribes which had invaded the magical circle, the only lingerer was the brown Death-adder, coiled close by the spot where my head had rested.

Chapter 14 of A Strange Story — Volume 08 by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton holds 60 sentences, grouped into 12 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 14 of A Strange Story — Volume 08 contain?

Chapter 14 holds 60 sentences of A Strange Story — Volume 08, unabridged, divided into 12 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 14 of A Strange Story — Volume 08 by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 60 sentences, grouped into 12 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 14 of A Strange Story — Volume 08?

Work through the 12 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 12 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 14 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 14 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading A Strange Story — Volume 08

Common questions about reading A Strange Story — Volume 08 by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Strange Story — Volume 08?

Yes. All 1344 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #7699 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Strange Story — Volume 08 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #7699, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Strange Story — Volume 08 take to read?

About 112 minutes of reading across 269 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Strange Story — Volume 08 section by section

How to work through A Strange Story — Volume 08 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 15 chapters of A Strange Story — Volume 08 to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in A Strange Story — Volume 08

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Strange Story — Volume 08, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Philosophical
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Strange Story — Volume 08; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Work-the
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Strange Story — Volume 08; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Ambitious
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Strange Story — Volume 08; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Intellectual
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Strange Story — Volume 08; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.