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Homo Sum — Complete
Homo Sum — Complete

Chapter XVII

Cover illustration for Homo Sum — Complete
Context Illustration Reading 1/19 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It was quite dark in Sirona's cavern, fearfully dark, and the blacker grew the night which shrouded her, the more her terror increased.
From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.
Dark forebodings of every kind oppressed her soul.
What if Paulus had abandoned her, and had left her to her fate?
Or if Polykarp should have been searching for her on the mountain in this storm, and in the darkness should have fallen into some abyss, or have been struck by the lightning?
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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.

Homo Sum — Complete

Chapter XVII

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

Line 1
It was quite dark in Sirona's cavern, fearfully dark, and the blacker grew the night which shrouded her, the more her terror increased.
Line 2
From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.
Line 3
Dark forebodings of every kind oppressed her soul.
Line 4
What if Paulus had abandoned her, and had left her to her fate?
Line 5
Or if Polykarp should have been searching for her on the mountain in this storm, and in the darkness should have fallen into some abyss, or have been struck by the lightning?

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Or if Polykarp should have been searching for her on the mountain in this storm, and in the darkness should have fallen into some abyss, or have been struck by the lightning?”

Cavern noun US /ˈkæv.ərn/

A large, vast underground cave, often filled with forgotten ancient treasures.

From this reading “It was quite dark in Sirona's cavern, fearfully dark, and the blacker grew the night which shrouded her, the more her terror increased.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “Dark forebodings of every kind oppressed her soul.”

Glare noun US /glare/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Or if Polykarp should have been searching for her on the mountain in this storm, and in the darkness should have fallen into some abyss, or have been struck by the lightning?”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “What if Paulus had abandoned her, and had left her to her fate?”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was quite dark in Sirona's cavern, fearfully dark, and the blacker grew the night which shrouded her, the more her terror increased.”

Struck noun US /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Or if Polykarp should have been searching for her on the mountain in this storm, and in the darkness should have fallen into some abyss, or have been struck by the lightning?”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.”

All words in this reading · 73

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 From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.

abandoned

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

From this reading What if Paulus had abandoned her, and had left her to her fate?

abyss

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

From this reading Or if Polykarp should have been searching for her on the mountain in this storm, and in the darkness should have fallen into some abyss, or have been struck by the lightning?

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was quite dark in Sirona's cavern, fearfully dark, and the blacker grew the night which shrouded her, the more her terror increased.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Or if Polykarp should have been searching for her on the mountain in this storm, and in the darkness should have fallen into some abyss, or have been struck by the lightning?

blacker

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

From this reading It was quite dark in Sirona's cavern, fearfully dark, and the blacker grew the night which shrouded her, the more her terror increased.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Or if Polykarp should have been searching for her on the mountain in this storm, and in the darkness should have fallen into some abyss, or have been struck by the lightning?

cavernnounUS /ˈkæv.ərn/

A large, vast underground cave, often filled with forgotten ancient treasures.

From this reading It was quite dark in Sirona's cavern, fearfully dark, and the blacker grew the night which shrouded her, the more her terror increased.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.

crimson

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

From this reading From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.

dark

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

From this reading It was quite dark in Sirona's cavern, fearfully dark, and the blacker grew the night which shrouded her, the more her terror increased.

darkness

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

From this reading Or if Polykarp should have been searching for her on the mountain in this storm, and in the darkness should have fallen into some abyss, or have been struck by the lightning?

drowning

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

From this reading From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Dark forebodings of every kind oppressed her soul.

eyes

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

From this reading From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.

fallen

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

From this reading Or if Polykarp should have been searching for her on the mountain in this storm, and in the darkness should have fallen into some abyss, or have been struck by the lightning?

fancied

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

From this reading From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.

fate

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

From this reading What if Paulus had abandoned her, and had left her to her fate?

fearfully

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

From this reading It was quite dark in Sirona's cavern, fearfully dark, and the blacker grew the night which shrouded her, the more her terror increased.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.

forebodings

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

From this reading Dark forebodings of every kind oppressed her soul.

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.

glarenounUS /glare/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.

grew

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

From this reading It was quite dark in Sirona's cavern, fearfully dark, and the blacker grew the night which shrouded her, the more her terror increased.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading What if Paulus had abandoned her, and had left her to her fate?

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Or if Polykarp should have been searching for her on the mountain in this storm, and in the darkness should have fallen into some abyss, or have been struck by the lightning?

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading It was quite dark in Sirona's cavern, fearfully dark, and the blacker grew the night which shrouded her, the more her terror increased.

hour

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

From this reading From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading What if Paulus had abandoned her, and had left her to her fate?

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was quite dark in Sirona's cavern, fearfully dark, and the blacker grew the night which shrouded her, the more her terror increased.

increased

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

From this reading It was quite dark in Sirona's cavern, fearfully dark, and the blacker grew the night which shrouded her, the more her terror increased.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Or if Polykarp should have been searching for her on the mountain in this storm, and in the darkness should have fallen into some abyss, or have been struck by the lightning?

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was quite dark in Sirona's cavern, fearfully dark, and the blacker grew the night which shrouded her, the more her terror increased.

kind

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

From this reading Dark forebodings of every kind oppressed her soul.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading What if Paulus had abandoned her, and had left her to her fate?

light

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

From this reading From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.

lightning

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

From this reading Or if Polykarp should have been searching for her on the mountain in this storm, and in the darkness should have fallen into some abyss, or have been struck by the lightning?

longed

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

From this reading From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.

longs

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

From this reading From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.

man

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

From this reading From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.

more

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

From this reading It was quite dark in Sirona's cavern, fearfully dark, and the blacker grew the night which shrouded her, the more her terror increased.

mountain

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

From this reading Or if Polykarp should have been searching for her on the mountain in this storm, and in the darkness should have fallen into some abyss, or have been struck by the lightning?

night

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

From this reading It was quite dark in Sirona's cavern, fearfully dark, and the blacker grew the night which shrouded her, the more her terror increased.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Dark forebodings of every kind oppressed her soul.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Or if Polykarp should have been searching for her on the mountain in this storm, and in the darkness should have fallen into some abyss, or have been struck by the lightning?

oppressed

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

From this reading Dark forebodings of every kind oppressed her soul.

OrconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Or if Polykarp should have been searching for her on the mountain in this storm, and in the darkness should have fallen into some abyss, or have been struck by the lightning?

Paulus

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

From this reading What if Paulus had abandoned her, and had left her to her fate?

Polykarp

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

From this reading Or if Polykarp should have been searching for her on the mountain in this storm, and in the darkness should have fallen into some abyss, or have been struck by the lightning?

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was quite dark in Sirona's cavern, fearfully dark, and the blacker grew the night which shrouded her, the more her terror increased.

searching

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

From this reading Or if Polykarp should have been searching for her on the mountain in this storm, and in the darkness should have fallen into some abyss, or have been struck by the lightning?

see

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

From this reading From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.

shore

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

From this reading From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Or if Polykarp should have been searching for her on the mountain in this storm, and in the darkness should have fallen into some abyss, or have been struck by the lightning?

shrouded

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

From this reading It was quite dark in Sirona's cavern, fearfully dark, and the blacker grew the night which shrouded her, the more her terror increased.

shut

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

From this reading From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.

Sirona's

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

From this reading It was quite dark in Sirona's cavern, fearfully dark, and the blacker grew the night which shrouded her, the more her terror increased.

some

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

From this reading Or if Polykarp should have been searching for her on the mountain in this storm, and in the darkness should have fallen into some abyss, or have been struck by the lightning?

soul

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

From this reading Dark forebodings of every kind oppressed her soul.

storm

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

From this reading Or if Polykarp should have been searching for her on the mountain in this storm, and in the darkness should have fallen into some abyss, or have been struck by the lightning?

strucknounUS /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Or if Polykarp should have been searching for her on the mountain in this storm, and in the darkness should have fallen into some abyss, or have been struck by the lightning?

terror

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

From this reading It was quite dark in Sirona's cavern, fearfully dark, and the blacker grew the night which shrouded her, the more her terror increased.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It was quite dark in Sirona's cavern, fearfully dark, and the blacker grew the night which shrouded her, the more her terror increased.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Or if Polykarp should have been searching for her on the mountain in this storm, and in the darkness should have fallen into some abyss, or have been struck by the lightning?

tightly

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

From this reading From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading From time to time she shut her eyes as tightly as she could, for she fancied she could see a crimson glare, and she longed for light in that hour as a drowning man longs for the shore.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was quite dark in Sirona's cavern, fearfully dark, and the blacker grew the night which shrouded her, the more her terror increased.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What if Paulus had abandoned her, and had left her to her fate?

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It was quite dark in Sirona's cavern, fearfully dark, and the blacker grew the night which shrouded her, the more her terror increased.