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Cobwebs and Cables
Cobwebs and Cables

Chapter XXXII

Cover illustration for Cobwebs and Cables
Context Illustration Reading 1/19 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
AS A HIRED SERVANT.
From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.
The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.
In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.
His own children, too, had slept there; and it was here that he had last seen his little son and daughter before fleeing from his home a self-accused criminal.
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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.

Cobwebs and Cables

Chapter XXXII

Reading 1/19 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
AS A HIRED SERVANT.
Line 2
From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.
Line 3
The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.
Line 4
In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.
Line 5
His own children, too, had slept there; and it was here that he had last seen his little son and daughter before fleeing from his home a self-accused criminal.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “His own children, too, had slept there; and it was here that he had last seen his little son and daughter before fleeing from his home a self-accused criminal.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.”

Feeling noun US /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading “From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His own children, too, had slept there; and it was here that he had last seen his little son and daughter before fleeing from his home a self-accused criminal.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His own children, too, had slept there; and it was here that he had last seen his little son and daughter before fleeing from his home a self-accused criminal.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His own children, too, had slept there; and it was here that he had last seen his little son and daughter before fleeing from his home a self-accused criminal.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.”

Memories noun US /ˈmɛm.ə.riz/

Recollections of past events.

From this reading “The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

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

From this reading “The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.”

All words in this reading · 100

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 AS A HIRED SERVANT.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

all

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

ASconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading AS A HIRED SERVANT.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

awoke

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

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading His own children, too, had slept there; and it was here that he had last seen his little son and daughter before fleeing from his home a self-accused criminal.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

black

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

blessed

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

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

broad

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

ceiling

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

chamber

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

children

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

From this reading His own children, too, had slept there; and it was here that he had last seen his little son and daughter before fleeing from his home a self-accused criminal.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

communicating

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

corner

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

criminal

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

From this reading His own children, too, had slept there; and it was here that he had last seen his little son and daughter before fleeing from his home a self-accused criminal.

cross-beams

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

daughter

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

From this reading His own children, too, had slept there; and it was here that he had last seen his little son and daughter before fleeing from his home a self-accused criminal.

distinguished

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

dividing

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

door

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

dreamless

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

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

earliest

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

early

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

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

faded

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

familiar

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

father's

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

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

few

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

fleeing

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

From this reading His own children, too, had slept there; and it was here that he had last seen his little son and daughter before fleeing from his home a self-accused criminal.

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

glass

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

hardly

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

heavy

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His own children, too, had slept there; and it was here that he had last seen his little son and daughter before fleeing from his home a self-accused criminal.

high

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

HIRED

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

From this reading AS A HIRED SERVANT.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

home

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

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

house

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

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

how

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading His own children, too, had slept there; and it was here that he had last seen his little son and daughter before fleeing from his home a self-accused criminal.

Jean

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

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His own children, too, had slept there; and it was here that he had last seen his little son and daughter before fleeing from his home a self-accused criminal.

lattice

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His own children, too, had slept there; and it was here that he had last seen his little son and daughter before fleeing from his home a self-accused criminal.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

low

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

memoriesnounUS /ˈmɛm.ə.riz/

Recollections of past events.

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

Merle

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

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

mother's

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

narrow

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

oak

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

often

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

old

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

own

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

From this reading His own children, too, had slept there; and it was here that he had last seen his little son and daughter before fleeing from his home a self-accused criminal.

panels

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

panes

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

pictures

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

profound

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

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

room

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

seen

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

self-accused

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

From this reading His own children, too, had slept there; and it was here that he had last seen his little son and daughter before fleeing from his home a self-accused criminal.

SERVANT

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

From this reading AS A HIRED SERVANT.

sleep

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

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

slept

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

From this reading His own children, too, had slept there; and it was here that he had last seen his little son and daughter before fleeing from his home a self-accused criminal.

softly

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

son

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

From this reading His own children, too, had slept there; and it was here that he had last seen his little son and daughter before fleeing from his home a self-accused criminal.

stained

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading His own children, too, had slept there; and it was here that he had last seen his little son and daughter before fleeing from his home a self-accused criminal.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

there

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

From this reading His own children, too, had slept there; and it was here that he had last seen his little son and daughter before fleeing from his home a self-accused criminal.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

tiptoe

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

too

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

From this reading His own children, too, had slept there; and it was here that he had last seen his little son and daughter before fleeing from his home a self-accused criminal.

upper

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

wainscot

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

wall

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading In the corner of the room, hardly to be distinguished from the wainscot, was the high narrow door communicating with his mother's chamber, through which he had often, how often! seen her come in softly, on tiptoe, to take a look at him.

window

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading From a profound and dreamless sleep Jean Merle awoke early the next morning, with the blessed feeling of being at home again in his father's house.

years

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

From this reading The heavy cross-beams of black oak dividing the ceiling into panels; the low broad lattice window with a few upper panes of old stained glass; the faded familiar pictures on the wall; these all awoke in him memories of his earliest years.