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Dangerous Days
Dangerous Days

Chapter V

Cover illustration for Dangerous Days
Context Illustration Reading 1/61 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.
Yet he never quite understood what it was that had caused the change.
All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.
Everything pertaining to the dinner, save the food, stood out with odd distinctness.
Natalie's silence during the drive, broken only by his few questions and her brief replies.
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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.

Dangerous Days

Chapter V

Reading 1/61 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.
Line 2
Yet he never quite understood what it was that had caused the change.
Line 3
All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.
Line 4
Everything pertaining to the dinner, save the food, stood out with odd distinctness.
Line 5
Natalie's silence during the drive, broken only by his few questions and her brief replies.

Learner Dictionary

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

Beginning noun US /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading “Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.”

Broken noun US /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Natalie's silence during the drive, broken only by his few questions and her brief replies.”

Course noun US /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “Natalie's silence during the drive, broken only by his few questions and her brief replies.”

Everything pronoun US /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading “Everything pertaining to the dinner, save the food, stood out with odd distinctness.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Yet he never quite understood what it was that had caused the change.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Yet he never quite understood what it was that had caused the change.”

Save preposition US /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading “Everything pertaining to the dinner, save the food, stood out with odd distinctness.”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “Natalie's silence during the drive, broken only by his few questions and her brief replies.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Everything pertaining to the dinner, save the food, stood out with odd distinctness.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Yet he never quite understood what it was that had caused the change.”

All words in this reading · 78

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 Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.

afterward

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

From this reading Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.

All

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

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

always

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

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Natalie's silence during the drive, broken only by his few questions and her brief replies.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.

back

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

From this reading Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.

beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.

brief

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

From this reading Natalie's silence during the drive, broken only by his few questions and her brief replies.

brokennounUS /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Natalie's silence during the drive, broken only by his few questions and her brief replies.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Natalie's silence during the drive, broken only by his few questions and her brief replies.

caused

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

From this reading Yet he never quite understood what it was that had caused the change.

change

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

From this reading Yet he never quite understood what it was that had caused the change.

changes

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

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

Chris

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

From this reading Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.

Clayton

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

From this reading Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.

clear

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

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

commenced

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

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

coursenounUS /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

dinner

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

From this reading Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.

distinctness

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

From this reading Everything pertaining to the dinner, save the food, stood out with odd distinctness.

drive

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

From this reading Natalie's silence during the drive, broken only by his few questions and her brief replies.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading Natalie's silence during the drive, broken only by his few questions and her brief replies.

epoch

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

From this reading Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.

evening

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

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

EverythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading Everything pertaining to the dinner, save the food, stood out with odd distinctness.

few

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

From this reading Natalie's silence during the drive, broken only by his few questions and her brief replies.

followed

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

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

following

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

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

food

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

From this reading Everything pertaining to the dinner, save the food, stood out with odd distinctness.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Yet he never quite understood what it was that had caused the change.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Yet he never quite understood what it was that had caused the change.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Natalie's silence during the drive, broken only by his few questions and her brief replies.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Yet he never quite understood what it was that had caused the change.

looking

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

From this reading Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.

marked

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

From this reading Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.

momentous

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

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

Months

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

From this reading Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.

Natalie's

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

From this reading Natalie's silence during the drive, broken only by his few questions and her brief replies.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Yet he never quite understood what it was that had caused the change.

new

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

From this reading Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.

night

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

From this reading Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.

odd

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

From this reading Everything pertaining to the dinner, save the food, stood out with odd distinctness.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.

ones

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

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

only

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

From this reading Natalie's silence during the drive, broken only by his few questions and her brief replies.

out

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

From this reading Everything pertaining to the dinner, save the food, stood out with odd distinctness.

own

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

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

pertaining

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

From this reading Everything pertaining to the dinner, save the food, stood out with odd distinctness.

questions

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

From this reading Natalie's silence during the drive, broken only by his few questions and her brief replies.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Yet he never quite understood what it was that had caused the change.

realized

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

From this reading Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.

replies

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

From this reading Natalie's silence during the drive, broken only by his few questions and her brief replies.

retrospect

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

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

saveprepositionUS /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading Everything pertaining to the dinner, save the food, stood out with odd distinctness.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading Natalie's silence during the drive, broken only by his few questions and her brief replies.

Spencer

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

From this reading Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Everything pertaining to the dinner, save the food, stood out with odd distinctness.

Summer

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

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

trace

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

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

trying

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

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

understood

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

From this reading Yet he never quite understood what it was that had caused the change.

Valentines

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

From this reading Months afterward, Clayton Spencer, looking back, realized that the night of the dinner at the Chris Valentines marked the beginning of a new epoch for him.

various

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

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Yet he never quite understood what it was that had caused the change.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Yet he never quite understood what it was that had caused the change.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading All that was clear was that in retrospect he always commenced with that evening, when he was trying to trace his own course through the months that followed, with their various changes, to the momentous ones of the following Summer.

YetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet he never quite understood what it was that had caused the change.