Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Cobwebs and Cables
Cobwebs and Cables

Chapter XIX

Cover illustration for Cobwebs and Cables
Context Illustration Reading 1/21 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
CANON PASCAL.
The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.
Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.
The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
0:00 / 0:00
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.

Cobwebs and Cables

Chapter XIX

Reading 1/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
CANON PASCAL.
Line 2
The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
Line 3
All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.
Line 4
Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.
Line 5
The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

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 “All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.”

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.”

Among preposition US /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading “The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.”

Fine noun US /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.”

Sometimes noun US /sometimes/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.”

Whilst conjunction US /waɪlst/

an old and formal word for “while”

From this reading “The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.”

All words in this reading · 98

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

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

Abbey

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

All

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

From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.

basement

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.

blue

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

From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.

bright

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

brown

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

busy

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

From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

CANON

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

From this reading CANON PASCAL.

cherub-heads

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

circle

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

From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.

clouds

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

From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.

clustered

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

countless

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

From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.

covered

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

From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.

dark

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

From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.

darkly

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

drifting

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

faintly

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

finenounUS /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

full

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

glimmer

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

glittered

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

golden

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

halo

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

host

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

From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.

Houses

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

inclosed

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

From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.

innumerable

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

interspaces

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

From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

lamps

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.

light

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.

lying

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

From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.

made

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

magic

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

From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.

many

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

massive

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

moon

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

more

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

now

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

often

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

old

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

outlined

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

Overhead

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

From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.

pale

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

Parliament

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

PASCAL

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

From this reading CANON PASCAL.

pile

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

rattle

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

From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.

roof

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

round

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

rush

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

From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.

session

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

shed

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

shining

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

silvery

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

From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.

sky

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

slowly

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

solitude

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

From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.

sometimes

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

stillness

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

From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.

there

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

From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.

threads

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

From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

vaguely

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

vapor

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

veiled

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.

way

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

From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.

whilstconjunctionUS /waɪlst/

an old and formal word for “while”

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

windows

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

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.