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And Even Now
And Even Now

Chapter XVIII

Cover illustration for And Even Now
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The ground floor had all been made one room, into which you stepped straight from the open air.
Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.
This was the dining-room, drawing-room, and general focus throughout the day, and was called simply the Room.
William had a ‘den’ on the ground floor of the left wing; and there, in the mornings, he used to write a great deal.
Mary had no special place of her own: her place was wherever her duties needed her.
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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.

And Even Now

Chapter XVIII

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The ground floor had all been made one room, into which you stepped straight from the open air.
Line 2
Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.
Line 3
This was the dining-room, drawing-room, and general focus throughout the day, and was called simply the Room.
Line 4
William had a ‘den’ on the ground floor of the left wing; and there, in the mornings, he used to write a great deal.
Line 5
Mary had no special place of her own: her place was wherever her duties needed her.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “The ground floor had all been made one room, into which you stepped straight from the open air.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “William had a ‘den’ on the ground floor of the left wing; and there, in the mornings, he used to write a great deal.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “William had a ‘den’ on the ground floor of the left wing; and there, in the mornings, he used to write a great deal.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The ground floor had all been made one room, into which you stepped straight from the open air.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “The ground floor had all been made one room, into which you stepped straight from the open air.”

Plaster noun US /ˈplæstər/

a soft material used to cover and protect a wound

From this reading “Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.”

Throughout preposition US /θruːˈaʊt/

in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period

From this reading “This was the dining-room, drawing-room, and general focus throughout the day, and was called simply the Room.”

Wherever conjunction US /weˈrevər/

in or to any place at all

From this reading “Mary had no special place of her own: her place was wherever her duties needed her.”

All words in this reading · 77

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 Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

air

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

From this reading The ground floor had all been made one room, into which you stepped straight from the open air.

all

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

From this reading The ground floor had all been made one room, into which you stepped straight from the open air.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

antiquity

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

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The ground floor had all been made one room, into which you stepped straight from the open air.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

big

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

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

called

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

From this reading This was the dining-room, drawing-room, and general focus throughout the day, and was called simply the Room.

ceiling

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

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

day

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

From this reading This was the dining-room, drawing-room, and general focus throughout the day, and was called simply the Room.

deal

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

From this reading William had a ‘den’ on the ground floor of the left wing; and there, in the mornings, he used to write a great deal.

den

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

From this reading William had a ‘den’ on the ground floor of the left wing; and there, in the mornings, he used to write a great deal.

dining-room

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

From this reading This was the dining-room, drawing-room, and general focus throughout the day, and was called simply the Room.

drawing-room

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

From this reading This was the dining-room, drawing-room, and general focus throughout the day, and was called simply the Room.

duties

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

From this reading Mary had no special place of her own: her place was wherever her duties needed her.

floor

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

From this reading The ground floor had all been made one room, into which you stepped straight from the open air.

focus

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

From this reading This was the dining-room, drawing-room, and general focus throughout the day, and was called simply the Room.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The ground floor had all been made one room, into which you stepped straight from the open air.

general

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

From this reading This was the dining-room, drawing-room, and general focus throughout the day, and was called simply the Room.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading William had a ‘den’ on the ground floor of the left wing; and there, in the mornings, he used to write a great deal.

ground

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

From this reading The ground floor had all been made one room, into which you stepped straight from the open air.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The ground floor had all been made one room, into which you stepped straight from the open air.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading William had a ‘den’ on the ground floor of the left wing; and there, in the mornings, he used to write a great deal.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Mary had no special place of her own: her place was wherever her duties needed her.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The ground floor had all been made one room, into which you stepped straight from the open air.

irregular

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

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading William had a ‘den’ on the ground floor of the left wing; and there, in the mornings, he used to write a great deal.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

lowness

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

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

made

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

From this reading The ground floor had all been made one room, into which you stepped straight from the open air.

Mary

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

From this reading Mary had no special place of her own: her place was wherever her duties needed her.

mornings

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

From this reading William had a ‘den’ on the ground floor of the left wing; and there, in the mornings, he used to write a great deal.

needed

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

From this reading Mary had no special place of her own: her place was wherever her duties needed her.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Mary had no special place of her own: her place was wherever her duties needed her.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The ground floor had all been made one room, into which you stepped straight from the open air.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading The ground floor had all been made one room, into which you stepped straight from the open air.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

own

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

From this reading Mary had no special place of her own: her place was wherever her duties needed her.

place

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

From this reading Mary had no special place of her own: her place was wherever her duties needed her.

plasternounUS /ˈplæstər/

a soft material used to cover and protect a wound

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

QuitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

rafters

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

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

red

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

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

room

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

From this reading The ground floor had all been made one room, into which you stepped straight from the open air.

rush-mats

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

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

simply

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

From this reading This was the dining-room, drawing-room, and general focus throughout the day, and was called simply the Room.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

special

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

From this reading Mary had no special place of her own: her place was wherever her duties needed her.

stepped

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

From this reading The ground floor had all been made one room, into which you stepped straight from the open air.

straight

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

From this reading The ground floor had all been made one room, into which you stepped straight from the open air.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The ground floor had all been made one room, into which you stepped straight from the open air.

there

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

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This was the dining-room, drawing-room, and general focus throughout the day, and was called simply the Room.

throughoutprepositionUS /θruːˈaʊt/

in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period

From this reading This was the dining-room, drawing-room, and general focus throughout the day, and was called simply the Room.

tiles

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

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading William had a ‘den’ on the ground floor of the left wing; and there, in the mornings, he used to write a great deal.

used

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

From this reading William had a ‘den’ on the ground floor of the left wing; and there, in the mornings, he used to write a great deal.

very

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

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading This was the dining-room, drawing-room, and general focus throughout the day, and was called simply the Room.

well-freshened

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

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

whereverconjunctionUS /weˈrevər/

in or to any place at all

From this reading Mary had no special place of her own: her place was wherever her duties needed her.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The ground floor had all been made one room, into which you stepped straight from the open air.

white

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

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

whitewash

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

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

William

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

From this reading William had a ‘den’ on the ground floor of the left wing; and there, in the mornings, he used to write a great deal.

wing

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

From this reading William had a ‘den’ on the ground floor of the left wing; and there, in the mornings, he used to write a great deal.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Quite a long big room (or so it seemed, from the lowness of the ceiling), and well-freshened in its antiquity, with rush-mats here and there on the irregular red tiles, and very white whitewash on the plaster between the rafters.

write

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

From this reading William had a ‘den’ on the ground floor of the left wing; and there, in the mornings, he used to write a great deal.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading The ground floor had all been made one room, into which you stepped straight from the open air.