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Eve: A Novel
Eve: A Novel

Chapter XXII

Cover illustration for Eve: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WANDERING LIGHTS.
NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.
Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.
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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.

Eve: A Novel

Chapter XXII

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

Line 1
WANDERING LIGHTS.
Line 2
NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
Line 3
He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
Line 4
He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.
Line 5
Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.

Learner Dictionary

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

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.”

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.”

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.”

Forward noun US /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.”

Issued noun US /issued/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.”

Thin adjective US /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading “He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.”

Uttered noun US /ˈuttered/

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

From this reading “He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.”

All words in this reading · 80

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

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

armchair

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

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

assistance

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

From this reading Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.

became

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

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

clasped

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

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

cry

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

From this reading He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.

elbows

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

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

eyes

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

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

face

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

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

fell

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

From this reading He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.

fixed

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

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

floor

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

From this reading He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.

forwardnounUS /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

ghastly

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

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

hand

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

From this reading Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

head

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

From this reading He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.

heaven

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

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

hollow

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

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

horror

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

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

infinite

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

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

issuednounUS /issued/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

Jordan

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

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

knees

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

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

lifted

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

From this reading He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.

LIGHTS

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

From this reading WANDERING LIGHTS.

lips

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

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

moved

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

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

Mr

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

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

Near

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

From this reading Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.

needed

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

From this reading Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.

NOdeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

oak

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

From this reading He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.

object

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

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.

prayers

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

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

put

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

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

quivering

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

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

raised

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

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

rapped

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

From this reading Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.

saw

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

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

slide

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

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

some

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

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

sooner

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

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

stick

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

From this reading Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.

terror

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

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

then

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

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.

utterednounUS /ˈuttered/

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

From this reading He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.

vocal

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

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.

wall

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

From this reading Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.

WANDERING

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

From this reading WANDERING LIGHTS.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.

wrung

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

From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.