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Alone
Alone

Chapter X

Cover illustration for Alone
Context Illustration Reading 1/84 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The days are growing hot.
A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.
You can have it to yourself.
I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.
And it would be even worse in less civilised places, where one could count for certain on trouble with some conscientious official.
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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.

Alone

Chapter X

Reading 1/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The days are growing hot.
Line 2
A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.
Line 3
You can have it to yourself.
/juː kæn hæv ɪt tuː jərˈself/
Line 4
I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.
Line 5
And it would be even worse in less civilised places, where one could count for certain on trouble with some conscientious official.

Learner Dictionary

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

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading “A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “And it would be even worse in less civilised places, where one could count for certain on trouble with some conscientious official.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And it would be even worse in less civilised places, where one could count for certain on trouble with some conscientious official.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “You can have it to yourself.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.”

Pleasant noun US /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “And it would be even worse in less civilised places, where one could count for certain on trouble with some conscientious official.”

Yourself pronoun US /jərˈself/

used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action

From this reading “You can have it to yourself.”

All words in this reading · 71

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 A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.

affairs

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

From this reading I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.

Alatri

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

From this reading I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.

all

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

From this reading I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading The days are growing hot.

attached

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

From this reading A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.

away

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

From this reading A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading And it would be even worse in less civilised places, where one could count for certain on trouble with some conscientious official.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading You can have it to yourself.

certain

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

From this reading And it would be even worse in less civilised places, where one could count for certain on trouble with some conscientious official.

civilised

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

From this reading And it would be even worse in less civilised places, where one could count for certain on trouble with some conscientious official.

conscientious

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

From this reading And it would be even worse in less civilised places, where one could count for certain on trouble with some conscientious official.

convent

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

From this reading A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading And it would be even worse in less civilised places, where one could count for certain on trouble with some conscientious official.

count

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

From this reading And it would be even worse in less civilised places, where one could count for certain on trouble with some conscientious official.

days

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

From this reading The days are growing hot.

disadvantages

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

From this reading I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And it would be even worse in less civilised places, where one could count for certain on trouble with some conscientious official.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.

foreigner

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

From this reading I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.

growing

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

From this reading The days are growing hot.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading You can have it to yourself.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.

hill

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

From this reading A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.

hot

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

From this reading The days are growing hot.

hours

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

From this reading A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading And it would be even worse in less civilised places, where one could count for certain on trouble with some conscientious official.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading You can have it to yourself.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.

less

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

From this reading And it would be even worse in less civilised places, where one could count for certain on trouble with some conscientious official.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.

naturally

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

From this reading I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.

neighbouring

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

From this reading A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.

official

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

From this reading And it would be even worse in less civilised places, where one could count for certain on trouble with some conscientious official.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.

only

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

From this reading I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.

places

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

From this reading And it would be even worse in less civilised places, where one could count for certain on trouble with some conscientious official.

pleasantnounUS /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.

regarded

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

From this reading I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.

some

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

From this reading And it would be even worse in less civilised places, where one could count for certain on trouble with some conscientious official.

spot

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

From this reading A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.

state

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

From this reading I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.

surrounded

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

From this reading A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.

suspicion

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

From this reading I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The days are growing hot.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.

tract

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

From this reading A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.

trouble

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

From this reading And it would be even worse in less civilised places, where one could count for certain on trouble with some conscientious official.

walls

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

From this reading A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.

watched

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

From this reading I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading And it would be even worse in less civilised places, where one could count for certain on trouble with some conscientious official.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.

white

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

From this reading A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading I have all Alatri to myself; a state of affairs which is not without its disadvantages, for, being the only foreigner here, one is naturally watched and regarded with suspicion.

woodland

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

From this reading A little tract of woodland surrounded by white walls and attached to the convent on the neighbouring hill is a pleasant spot to while away the afternoon hours.

worse

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

From this reading And it would be even worse in less civilised places, where one could count for certain on trouble with some conscientious official.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading And it would be even worse in less civilised places, where one could count for certain on trouble with some conscientious official.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You can have it to yourself.

yourselfpronounUS /jərˈself/

used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action

From this reading You can have it to yourself.