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In Vain
In Vain

Chapter XIII

Cover illustration for In Vain
Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Sad, indeed, had been the previous life of the countess.
During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.
The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.
Nothing succeeded with him.
In his time he had been active and industrious; he had wished to give the aristocracy an example of how men with escutcheons should apply themselves to labor and industry, and as a result, he lost his property.
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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 Vain

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Sad, indeed, had been the previous life of the countess.
Line 2
During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.
Line 3
The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.
Line 4
Nothing succeeded with him.
Line 5
In his time he had been active and industrious; he had wished to give the aristocracy an example of how men with escutcheons should apply themselves to labor and industry, and as a result, he lost his property.

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 “Sad, indeed, had been the previous life of the countess.”

Broken noun US /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sad, indeed, had been the previous life of the countess.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “Nothing succeeded with him.”

Outside noun US /ˈoutside/

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

From this reading “During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.”

Poor noun US /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.”

Themselves pronoun US /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading “In his time he had been active and industrious; he had wished to give the aristocracy an example of how men with escutcheons should apply themselves to labor and industry, and as a result, he lost his property.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In his time he had been active and industrious; he had wished to give the aristocracy an example of how men with escutcheons should apply themselves to labor and industry, and as a result, he lost his property.”

All words in this reading · 77

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 During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

active

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

From this reading In his time he had been active and industrious; he had wished to give the aristocracy an example of how men with escutcheons should apply themselves to labor and industry, and as a result, he lost his property.

affairs

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

From this reading The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.

almost

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

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading In his time he had been active and industrious; he had wished to give the aristocracy an example of how men with escutcheons should apply themselves to labor and industry, and as a result, he lost his property.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

apply

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

From this reading In his time he had been active and industrious; he had wished to give the aristocracy an example of how men with escutcheons should apply themselves to labor and industry, and as a result, he lost his property.

aristocracy

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

From this reading In his time he had been active and industrious; he had wished to give the aristocracy an example of how men with escutcheons should apply themselves to labor and industry, and as a result, he lost his property.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Sad, indeed, had been the previous life of the countess.

brokennounUS /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.

called

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

From this reading The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.

came

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

From this reading The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.

ceaseless

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

From this reading The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.

chamber

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

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

count

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

From this reading The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.

countess

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

From this reading Sad, indeed, had been the previous life of the countess.

days

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

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

empty

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

From this reading The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.

escutcheons

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

From this reading In his time he had been active and industrious; he had wished to give the aristocracy an example of how men with escutcheons should apply themselves to labor and industry, and as a result, he lost his property.

evening

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

From this reading The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.

example

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

From this reading In his time he had been active and industrious; he had wished to give the aristocracy an example of how men with escutcheons should apply themselves to labor and industry, and as a result, he lost his property.

father's

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

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.

girls

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

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

give

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

From this reading In his time he had been active and industrious; he had wished to give the aristocracy an example of how men with escutcheons should apply themselves to labor and industry, and as a result, he lost his property.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Sad, indeed, had been the previous life of the countess.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Nothing succeeded with him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.

home

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

From this reading The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.

how

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

From this reading In his time he had been active and industrious; he had wished to give the aristocracy an example of how men with escutcheons should apply themselves to labor and industry, and as a result, he lost his property.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

indeed

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

From this reading Sad, indeed, had been the previous life of the countess.

industrious

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

From this reading In his time he had been active and industrious; he had wished to give the aristocracy an example of how men with escutcheons should apply themselves to labor and industry, and as a result, he lost his property.

industry

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

From this reading In his time he had been active and industrious; he had wished to give the aristocracy an example of how men with escutcheons should apply themselves to labor and industry, and as a result, he lost his property.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.

kitchen

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

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

labor

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

From this reading In his time he had been active and industrious; he had wished to give the aristocracy an example of how men with escutcheons should apply themselves to labor and industry, and as a result, he lost his property.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Sad, indeed, had been the previous life of the countess.

listening

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

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

lonely

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

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

lost

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

From this reading In his time he had been active and industrious; he had wished to give the aristocracy an example of how men with escutcheons should apply themselves to labor and industry, and as a result, he lost his property.

men

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

From this reading In his time he had been active and industrious; he had wished to give the aristocracy an example of how men with escutcheons should apply themselves to labor and industry, and as a result, he lost his property.

NothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Nothing succeeded with him.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Sad, indeed, had been the previous life of the countess.

old

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

From this reading The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/

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

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

poornounUS /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

pouring

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

From this reading The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.

previous

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

From this reading Sad, indeed, had been the previous life of the countess.

property

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

From this reading In his time he had been active and industrious; he had wished to give the aristocracy an example of how men with escutcheons should apply themselves to labor and industry, and as a result, he lost his property.

quarrels

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

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

result

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

From this reading In his time he had been active and industrious; he had wished to give the aristocracy an example of how men with escutcheons should apply themselves to labor and industry, and as a result, he lost his property.

Sad

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

From this reading Sad, indeed, had been the previous life of the countess.

sat

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

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading In his time he had been active and industrious; he had wished to give the aristocracy an example of how men with escutcheons should apply themselves to labor and industry, and as a result, he lost his property.

sparrows

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

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

succeeded

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

From this reading Nothing succeeded with him.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Sad, indeed, had been the previous life of the countess.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading In his time he had been active and industrious; he had wished to give the aristocracy an example of how men with escutcheons should apply themselves to labor and industry, and as a result, he lost his property.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In his time he had been active and industrious; he had wished to give the aristocracy an example of how men with escutcheons should apply themselves to labor and industry, and as a result, he lost his property.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

twittering

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

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

void

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

From this reading The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

wearied

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

From this reading The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

whole

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

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

windows

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

From this reading During her father's life she had sat whole days in a chamber which was lonely and almost poor, listening to the twittering of sparrows outside the windows, or the quarrels of girls in the kitchen.

wished

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

From this reading In his time he had been active and industrious; he had wished to give the aristocracy an example of how men with escutcheons should apply themselves to labor and industry, and as a result, he lost his property.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The old count came home every evening wearied and broken with ceaseless pouring from the empty into the void, as he called his affairs.