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Following heavenward
Following heavenward

Chapter XVI

Cover illustration for Following heavenward
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"HERE WAS HIS OPPORTUNITY."
BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?
There is no minister here 'trammelled by long years of narrowing education.'
How does he know but that these people are as advanced in their ideas as he is himself?"
I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.
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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.

Following heavenward

Chapter XVI

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"HERE WAS HIS OPPORTUNITY."
Line 2
BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?
Line 3
There is no minister here 'trammelled by long years of narrowing education.'
Line 4
How does he know but that these people are as advanced in their ideas as he is himself?"
Line 5
I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.

Learner Dictionary

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

Books noun US /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading “BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?”

HERE noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"HERE WAS HIS OPPORTUNITY."”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “How does he know but that these people are as advanced in their ideas as he is himself?"”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “How does he know but that these people are as advanced in their ideas as he is himself?"”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There is no minister here 'trammelled by long years of narrowing education.'”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.”

Question noun US /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading “BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

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

From this reading “How does he know but that these people are as advanced in their ideas as he is himself?"”

Thinking noun US /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?”

All words in this reading · 83

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

advanced

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

From this reading How does he know but that these people are as advanced in their ideas as he is himself?"

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading How does he know but that these people are as advanced in their ideas as he is himself?"

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.

beautiful

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

booksnounUS /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

BUTconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading There is no minister here 'trammelled by long years of narrowing education.'

conscious

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

From this reading I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.

Dennis

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading How does he know but that these people are as advanced in their ideas as he is himself?"

doesn't

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

ease

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

From this reading I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.

edge

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

From this reading I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.

education

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

From this reading There is no minister here 'trammelled by long years of narrowing education.'

enlighten

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

ennobling

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

feel

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

From this reading I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.

forcing

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

full

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

Gracie

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.

HEREnounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "HERE WAS HIS OPPORTUNITY."

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading How does he know but that these people are as advanced in their ideas as he is himself?"

HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading "HERE WAS HIS OPPORTUNITY."

hovered

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

From this reading I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.

How

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

From this reading How does he know but that these people are as advanced in their ideas as he is himself?"

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.

ideas

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

From this reading How does he know but that these people are as advanced in their ideas as he is himself?"

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

ill

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

From this reading I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading How does he know but that these people are as advanced in their ideas as he is himself?"

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading There is no minister here 'trammelled by long years of narrowing education.'

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

keep

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading How does he know but that these people are as advanced in their ideas as he is himself?"

knows

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There is no minister here 'trammelled by long years of narrowing education.'

making

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

From this reading I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

mean

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

From this reading I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.

mention

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.

minister

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

From this reading There is no minister here 'trammelled by long years of narrowing education.'

narrowing

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

From this reading There is no minister here 'trammelled by long years of narrowing education.'

nice

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading There is no minister here 'trammelled by long years of narrowing education.'

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.

now

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

often

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.

OPPORTUNITY

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

From this reading "HERE WAS HIS OPPORTUNITY."

people

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

From this reading How does he know but that these people are as advanced in their ideas as he is himself?"

questionnounUS /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

race

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

really

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.

some

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading How does he know but that these people are as advanced in their ideas as he is himself?"

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

There

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

From this reading There is no minister here 'trammelled by long years of narrowing education.'

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

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

From this reading How does he know but that these people are as advanced in their ideas as he is himself?"

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.

thinkingnounUS /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

thoughts

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

From this reading I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

trammelled

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

From this reading There is no minister here 'trammelled by long years of narrowing education.'

WASauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "HERE WAS HIS OPPORTUNITY."

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading I do not mean that she was conscious of thinking these thoughts, but that they hovered on the edge, as it were, of her mind, making her feel ill at ease.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

why

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

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading BUT the question which would keep forcing itself an Gracie Dennis was this: "If he really knows of nice books, full of 'the beautiful' and 'the ennobling,' that would enlighten the race, as he has often told me, why doesn't he mention some of them now?

years

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

From this reading There is no minister here 'trammelled by long years of narrowing education.'