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Idolatry: A Romance
Idolatry: A Romance

Chapter VI

Cover illustration for Idolatry: A Romance
Context Illustration Reading 1/78 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!
The wondrous lines of her face curved and softened; all that was grave vanished.
A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.
The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.
On encountering solid substance, she drew startled back, half in alarm and wholly in surprise.
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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.

Idolatry: A Romance

Chapter VI

Reading 1/78 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!
Line 2
The wondrous lines of her face curved and softened; all that was grave vanished.
Line 3
A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.
Line 4
The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.
Line 5
On encountering solid substance, she drew startled back, half in alarm and wholly in surprise.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!”

Drew noun US /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On encountering solid substance, she drew startled back, half in alarm and wholly in surprise.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On encountering solid substance, she drew startled back, half in alarm and wholly in surprise.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!”

Readily noun US /readily/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.”

Shadow noun US /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading “A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.”

Sober adjective US /ˈsoʊbər/

not affected by alcohol

From this reading “A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.”

Standing noun US /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading “A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.”

Substance noun US /ˈsʌbstəns/

wealth or financial means

From this reading “On encountering solid substance, she drew startled back, half in alarm and wholly in surprise.”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading “A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.”

Whence adverb US /wens/

an old word meaning “from where”

From this reading “He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!”

Wondrous adjective US /ˈwʌndrəs/

strange, beautiful, and impressive

From this reading “The wondrous lines of her face curved and softened; all that was grave vanished.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.”

All words in this reading · 85

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 A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

air

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

From this reading The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.

alarm

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

From this reading On encountering solid substance, she drew startled back, half in alarm and wholly in surprise.

all

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

From this reading The wondrous lines of her face curved and softened; all that was grave vanished.

almost

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

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

apparently

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

From this reading The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.

arm

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

From this reading The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

back

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

From this reading On encountering solid substance, she drew startled back, half in alarm and wholly in surprise.

Balder

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

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

beauty

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

From this reading A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.

came

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

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

changed

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

From this reading A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.

changes

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

From this reading A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.

courage

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

From this reading The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.

curved

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

From this reading The wondrous lines of her face curved and softened; all that was grave vanished.

drewnounUS /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On encountering solid substance, she drew startled back, half in alarm and wholly in surprise.

encountering

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

From this reading On encountering solid substance, she drew startled back, half in alarm and wholly in surprise.

expectation

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

From this reading The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.

expression

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

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

face

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

From this reading The wondrous lines of her face curved and softened; all that was grave vanished.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.

grave

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

From this reading The wondrous lines of her face curved and softened; all that was grave vanished.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On encountering solid substance, she drew startled back, half in alarm and wholly in surprise.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.

laughter

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

From this reading A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.

light

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

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

lines

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

From this reading The wondrous lines of her face curved and softened; all that was grave vanished.

lit

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

From this reading A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

made

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

From this reading The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.

man

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

From this reading The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.

movement

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

From this reading The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.

nearer

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

From this reading The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The wondrous lines of her face curved and softened; all that was grave vanished.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On encountering solid substance, she drew startled back, half in alarm and wholly in surprise.

pass

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

From this reading The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.

radiantly

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

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

readilynounUS /readily/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.

refreshed

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

From this reading The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.

relented

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

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

see

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

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

shifted

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

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

sideways

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

From this reading The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.

smile

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

From this reading The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.

smiled

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

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/

not affected by alcohol

From this reading A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.

softened

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

From this reading The wondrous lines of her face curved and softened; all that was grave vanished.

solid

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

From this reading On encountering solid substance, she drew startled back, half in alarm and wholly in surprise.

stalwart

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

From this reading The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.

standingnounUS /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.

startled

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

From this reading On encountering solid substance, she drew startled back, half in alarm and wholly in surprise.

straightway

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

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

substancenounUS /ˈsʌbstəns/

wealth or financial means

From this reading On encountering solid substance, she drew startled back, half in alarm and wholly in surprise.

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.

sun

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

From this reading A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.

sunshine

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

From this reading A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.

surprise

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

From this reading On encountering solid substance, she drew startled back, half in alarm and wholly in surprise.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

tree

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

From this reading A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.

vanished

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

From this reading The wondrous lines of her face curved and softened; all that was grave vanished.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The wondrous lines of her face curved and softened; all that was grave vanished.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.

whenceadverbUS /wens/

an old word meaning “from where”

From this reading He relented at this, and straightway her expression again shifted, and she smiled so radiantly that Balder almost looked to see whence came the light!

wholly

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

From this reading On encountering solid substance, she drew startled back, half in alarm and wholly in surprise.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.

wondrousadjectiveUS /ˈwʌndrəs/

strange, beautiful, and impressive

From this reading The wondrous lines of her face curved and softened; all that was grave vanished.

world

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

From this reading A tree standing in the sober beauty of shadow, when suddenly lit by the sun, changes as she changed; for sunshine is the laughter of the world.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.

young

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

From this reading The smile refreshed her courage, for she came nearer and made a sideways movement with her arm, apparently with the expectation that it would pass through the stalwart young man as readily as through the air.