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In a Glass Darkly, V. 1/3
In a Glass Darkly, V. 1/3

Chapter XXI

Cover illustration for In a Glass Darkly, V. 1/3
Context Illustration Reading 1/13 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE JUDGE’S HOUSE.
Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.
He was a dry, sad, quiet man, who had known better days, and had always maintained an unexceptionable character.
No better authority could be imagined for a ghost story.
He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.
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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.

In a Glass Darkly, V. 1/3

Chapter XXI

Reading 1/13 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE JUDGE’S HOUSE.
Line 2
Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.
Line 3
He was a dry, sad, quiet man, who had known better days, and had always maintained an unexceptionable character.
Line 4
No better authority could be imagined for a ghost story.
Line 5
He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “No better authority could be imagined for a ghost story.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.”

Mine pronoun US /maɪn/

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.”

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

ago

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.

allowed

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

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

always

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

From this reading He was a dry, sad, quiet man, who had known better days, and had always maintained an unexceptionable character.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He was a dry, sad, quiet man, who had known better days, and had always maintained an unexceptionable character.

annuity

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.

authority

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

From this reading No better authority could be imagined for a ghost story.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading No better authority could be imagined for a ghost story.

better

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

From this reading He was a dry, sad, quiet man, who had known better days, and had always maintained an unexceptionable character.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

called

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

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

came

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.

character

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

From this reading He was a dry, sad, quiet man, who had known better days, and had always maintained an unexceptionable character.

charged

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.

choosing

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

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading No better authority could be imagined for a ghost story.

day

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

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

days

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

From this reading He was a dry, sad, quiet man, who had known better days, and had always maintained an unexceptionable character.

drawn

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

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

dry

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

From this reading He was a dry, sad, quiet man, who had known better days, and had always maintained an unexceptionable character.

earlier

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

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

elapse

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

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

elderly

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.

explain

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

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading No better authority could be imagined for a ghost story.

ghost

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

From this reading No better authority could be imagined for a ghost story.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He was a dry, sad, quiet man, who had known better days, and had always maintained an unexceptionable character.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was a dry, sad, quiet man, who had known better days, and had always maintained an unexceptionable character.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

HOUSE

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

From this reading THE JUDGE’S HOUSE.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.

imagined

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

From this reading No better authority could be imagined for a ghost story.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.

JUDGE'S

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

From this reading THE JUDGE’S HOUSE.

known

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

From this reading He was a dry, sad, quiet man, who had known better days, and had always maintained an unexceptionable character.

maintained

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

From this reading He was a dry, sad, quiet man, who had known better days, and had always maintained an unexceptionable character.

man

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.

manifest

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

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

minepronounUS /maɪn/

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.

narration

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

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No better authority could be imagined for a ghost story.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

paid

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.

payment

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

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

property

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.

quarter-day

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.

quarterly

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.

quiet

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

From this reading He was a dry, sad, quiet man, who had known better days, and had always maintained an unexceptionable character.

receive

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.

reluctance

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

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

remarked

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

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

sad

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

From this reading He was a dry, sad, quiet man, who had known better days, and had always maintained an unexceptionable character.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

small

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.

some

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.

story

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

From this reading No better authority could be imagined for a ghost story.

strict

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

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE JUDGE’S HOUSE.

Thirty

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

two

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

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

unexceptionable

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

From this reading He was a dry, sad, quiet man, who had known better days, and had always maintained an unexceptionable character.

usually

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

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was a dry, sad, quiet man, who had known better days, and had always maintained an unexceptionable character.

week

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

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading He was a dry, sad, quiet man, who had known better days, and had always maintained an unexceptionable character.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He told me one, though with a manifest reluctance; he was drawn into the narration by his choosing to explain what I should not have remarked, that he had called two days earlier than that week after the strict day of payment, which he had usually allowed to elapse.

years

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, an elderly man, to whom I paid quarterly a small annuity charged on some property of mine, came on the quarter-day to receive it.