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Cleo The Magnificent
Cleo The Magnificent

Chapter XXIX

Cover illustration for Cleo The Magnificent
Context Illustration Reading 1/9 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.
A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.
He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.
And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
In his first abstraction he had overlooked these.
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Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Cleo The Magnificent

Chapter XXIX

Reading 1/9 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.
Line 2
A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.
Line 3
He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.
Line 4
And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
Line 5
In his first abstraction he had overlooked these.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.”

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.”

Below preposition US /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading “He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.”

Descended noun US /ˈdescended/

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

From this reading “And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In his first abstraction he had overlooked these.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.”

Outside noun US /ˈoutside/

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

From this reading “And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.”

Standing noun US /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading “And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “In his first abstraction he had overlooked these.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.”

All words in this reading · 87

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 He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.

abstraction

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

From this reading In his first abstraction he had overlooked these.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.

alcoves

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

From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.

aware

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

From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.

back

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

From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.

became

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

From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.

belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.

cliff

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

From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.

couples

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

From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.

darkness

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

From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.

descend

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

From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.

descendednounUS /ˈdescended/

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

From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.

down

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

From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.

driving

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

From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.

eventually

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

From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In his first abstraction he had overlooked these.

flash

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

From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.

fly

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

From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.

former

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

From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.

gallery

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

From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.

girl

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

From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.

go

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

From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.

grassy

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

From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.

groped

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

From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading In his first abstraction he had overlooked these.

half-annoyed

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

From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.

half-startled

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

From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.

hand-rail

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

From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.

heard

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

From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.

holding

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

From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.

incline

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

From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.

intrusion

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

From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.

just

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

From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.

light

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

From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.

lighted

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

From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.

man

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

From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.

match

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

From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.

moment

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

From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.

mouth

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

From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.

other

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

From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.

out

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

From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.

outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/

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

From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.

overlooked

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

From this reading In his first abstraction he had overlooked these.

passages

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

From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.

reechoed

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

From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.

seated

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

From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.

shadows

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

From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.

shore

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

From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.

slope

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

From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.

standingnounUS /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.

strange

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

From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.

stumbling

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

From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.

then

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

From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading In his first abstraction he had overlooked these.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.

tunnel's

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

From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.

turned

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

From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.

waited

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

From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.

way

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

From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.

whispering

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

From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.

wooden

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

From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.

young

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

From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.