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Halcyone
Halcyone

Chapter XXX

Cover illustration for Halcyone
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
A helpless sense of bitterness mastered him, and destroyed the loveliness and peace of the view.
Everything fine and great in his thoughts and aims seemed tarnished.
To what stage of degradation would his utter disillusion finally bring him!
Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
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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.

Halcyone

Chapter XXX

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
Line 2
A helpless sense of bitterness mastered him, and destroyed the loveliness and peace of the view.
Line 3
Everything fine and great in his thoughts and aims seemed tarnished.
Line 4
To what stage of degradation would his utter disillusion finally bring him!
Line 5
Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

Learner Dictionary

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

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.”

Course noun US /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.”

Everything pronoun US /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading “Everything fine and great in his thoughts and aims seemed tarnished.”

Fine noun US /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Everything fine and great in his thoughts and aims seemed tarnished.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Everything fine and great in his thoughts and aims seemed tarnished.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.”

Insisted verb US /ɪnˈsɪstɪd/

demanded something firmly

From this reading “Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.”

John noun US /john/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Everything fine and great in his thoughts and aims seemed tarnished.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “To what stage of degradation would his utter disillusion finally bring him!”

All words in this reading · 89

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 An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

abroad

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

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

aims

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

From this reading Everything fine and great in his thoughts and aims seemed tarnished.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

AndeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A helpless sense of bitterness mastered him, and destroyed the loveliness and peace of the view.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

beautiful

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

bitterness

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

From this reading A helpless sense of bitterness mastered him, and destroyed the loveliness and peace of the view.

bring

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

From this reading To what stage of degradation would his utter disillusion finally bring him!

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

Cecilia

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

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

city

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

climbing

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

continuous

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

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

coursenounUS /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

Cricklander

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

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

day

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

degradation

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

From this reading To what stage of degradation would his utter disillusion finally bring him!

Derringham

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

destroyed

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

From this reading A helpless sense of bitterness mastered him, and destroyed the loveliness and peace of the view.

disillusion

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

From this reading To what stage of degradation would his utter disillusion finally bring him!

EverythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading Everything fine and great in his thoughts and aims seemed tarnished.

finally

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

From this reading To what stage of degradation would his utter disillusion finally bring him!

finenounUS /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Everything fine and great in his thoughts and aims seemed tarnished.

Gimignano

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Everything fine and great in his thoughts and aims seemed tarnished.

hand

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

helpless

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

From this reading A helpless sense of bitterness mastered him, and destroyed the loveliness and peace of the view.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading A helpless sense of bitterness mastered him, and destroyed the loveliness and peace of the view.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

hour

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

indulge

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

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

insistedverbUS /ɪnˈsɪstɪd/

demanded something firmly

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

John

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

lead

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

loveliness

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

From this reading A helpless sense of bitterness mastered him, and destroyed the loveliness and peace of the view.

mastered

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

From this reading A helpless sense of bitterness mastered him, and destroyed the loveliness and peace of the view.

mediæval

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

men

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

modernizing

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

motor

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

once

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

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

only

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

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

peace

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

From this reading A helpless sense of bitterness mastered him, and destroyed the loveliness and peace of the view.

permit

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

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

racket

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

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

record

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

roads

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

San

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Everything fine and great in his thoughts and aims seemed tarnished.

sense

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

From this reading A helpless sense of bitterness mastered him, and destroyed the loveliness and peace of the view.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

stage

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

From this reading To what stage of degradation would his utter disillusion finally bring him!

stands

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

steep

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

sunset

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

tarnished

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

From this reading Everything fine and great in his thoughts and aims seemed tarnished.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

things

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

thoughts

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

From this reading Everything fine and great in his thoughts and aims seemed tarnished.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

towers

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

untouched

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

utter

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

From this reading To what stage of degradation would his utter disillusion finally bring him!

view

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

From this reading A helpless sense of bitterness mastered him, and destroyed the loveliness and peace of the view.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading To what stage of degradation would his utter disillusion finally bring him!

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.

wife

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

From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading To what stage of degradation would his utter disillusion finally bring him!