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Laurel Vane
Laurel Vane

Chapter II

Cover illustration for Laurel Vane
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Come in," said Laurel, faintly, in answer to the sharp rap at the door.
The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.
Laurel's head was bowed upon her hands, and tears coursed slowly, each one a scalding drop of woe, down her white cheeks.
The door opened, and the woman from whom Mr. Vane had rented the two shabby little rooms entered abruptly.
She was a coarse, hard-featured creature, devoid of sympathy or sensibility.
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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.

Laurel Vane

Chapter II

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Come in," said Laurel, faintly, in answer to the sharp rap at the door.
Line 2
The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.
Line 3
Laurel's head was bowed upon her hands, and tears coursed slowly, each one a scalding drop of woe, down her white cheeks.
Line 4
The door opened, and the woman from whom Mr. Vane had rented the two shabby little rooms entered abruptly.
Line 5
She was a coarse, hard-featured creature, devoid of sympathy or sensibility.

Learner Dictionary

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

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Come in," said Laurel, faintly, in answer to the sharp rap at the door.”

Creature noun US /ˈcreature/

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

From this reading “She was a coarse, hard-featured creature, devoid of sympathy or sensibility.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “Laurel's head was bowed upon her hands, and tears coursed slowly, each one a scalding drop of woe, down her white cheeks.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Laurel's head was bowed upon her hands, and tears coursed slowly, each one a scalding drop of woe, down her white cheeks.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.”

Twilight noun US /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/

the dim light before night or sunrise

From this reading “The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Laurel's head was bowed upon her hands, and tears coursed slowly, each one a scalding drop of woe, down her white cheeks.”

All words in this reading · 80

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 The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

abruptly

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

From this reading The door opened, and the woman from whom Mr. Vane had rented the two shabby little rooms entered abruptly.

all

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

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

answer

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

From this reading "Come in," said Laurel, faintly, in answer to the sharp rap at the door.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "Come in," said Laurel, faintly, in answer to the sharp rap at the door.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

bowed

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

From this reading Laurel's head was bowed upon her hands, and tears coursed slowly, each one a scalding drop of woe, down her white cheeks.

cheap

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

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

cheeks

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

From this reading Laurel's head was bowed upon her hands, and tears coursed slowly, each one a scalding drop of woe, down her white cheeks.

coarse

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

From this reading She was a coarse, hard-featured creature, devoid of sympathy or sensibility.

ComenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Come in," said Laurel, faintly, in answer to the sharp rap at the door.

coursed

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

From this reading Laurel's head was bowed upon her hands, and tears coursed slowly, each one a scalding drop of woe, down her white cheeks.

creaturenounUS /ˈcreature/

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

From this reading She was a coarse, hard-featured creature, devoid of sympathy or sensibility.

death

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

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

deepening

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

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

devoid

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

From this reading She was a coarse, hard-featured creature, devoid of sympathy or sensibility.

dignity

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

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

door

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

From this reading "Come in," said Laurel, faintly, in answer to the sharp rap at the door.

down

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

From this reading Laurel's head was bowed upon her hands, and tears coursed slowly, each one a scalding drop of woe, down her white cheeks.

drop

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

From this reading Laurel's head was bowed upon her hands, and tears coursed slowly, each one a scalding drop of woe, down her white cheeks.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Laurel's head was bowed upon her hands, and tears coursed slowly, each one a scalding drop of woe, down her white cheeks.

entered

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

From this reading The door opened, and the woman from whom Mr. Vane had rented the two shabby little rooms entered abruptly.

faintly

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

From this reading "Come in," said Laurel, faintly, in answer to the sharp rap at the door.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The door opened, and the woman from whom Mr. Vane had rented the two shabby little rooms entered abruptly.

funeral

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

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading Laurel's head was bowed upon her hands, and tears coursed slowly, each one a scalding drop of woe, down her white cheeks.

hard-featured

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

From this reading She was a coarse, hard-featured creature, devoid of sympathy or sensibility.

head

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

From this reading Laurel's head was bowed upon her hands, and tears coursed slowly, each one a scalding drop of woe, down her white cheeks.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Laurel's head was bowed upon her hands, and tears coursed slowly, each one a scalding drop of woe, down her white cheeks.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "Come in," said Laurel, faintly, in answer to the sharp rap at the door.

invested

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

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

lately

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

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

Laurel

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

From this reading "Come in," said Laurel, faintly, in answer to the sharp rap at the door.

Laurel's

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

From this reading Laurel's head was bowed upon her hands, and tears coursed slowly, each one a scalding drop of woe, down her white cheeks.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

Mr

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

From this reading The door opened, and the woman from whom Mr. Vane had rented the two shabby little rooms entered abruptly.

now

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

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Laurel's head was bowed upon her hands, and tears coursed slowly, each one a scalding drop of woe, down her white cheeks.

opened

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

From this reading The door opened, and the woman from whom Mr. Vane had rented the two shabby little rooms entered abruptly.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading She was a coarse, hard-featured creature, devoid of sympathy or sensibility.

orphan

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

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

own

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

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

plain

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

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

presence

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

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

rap

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

From this reading "Come in," said Laurel, faintly, in answer to the sharp rap at the door.

rented

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

From this reading The door opened, and the woman from whom Mr. Vane had rented the two shabby little rooms entered abruptly.

room

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

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

rooms

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

From this reading The door opened, and the woman from whom Mr. Vane had rented the two shabby little rooms entered abruptly.

said

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

From this reading "Come in," said Laurel, faintly, in answer to the sharp rap at the door.

sat

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

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

scalding

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

From this reading Laurel's head was bowed upon her hands, and tears coursed slowly, each one a scalding drop of woe, down her white cheeks.

sensibility

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

From this reading She was a coarse, hard-featured creature, devoid of sympathy or sensibility.

shabby

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

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

sharp

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

From this reading "Come in," said Laurel, faintly, in answer to the sharp rap at the door.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She was a coarse, hard-featured creature, devoid of sympathy or sensibility.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

slowly

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

From this reading Laurel's head was bowed upon her hands, and tears coursed slowly, each one a scalding drop of woe, down her white cheeks.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

somber

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

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

sympathy

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

From this reading She was a coarse, hard-featured creature, devoid of sympathy or sensibility.

tears

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

From this reading Laurel's head was bowed upon her hands, and tears coursed slowly, each one a scalding drop of woe, down her white cheeks.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Come in," said Laurel, faintly, in answer to the sharp rap at the door.

there

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

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "Come in," said Laurel, faintly, in answer to the sharp rap at the door.

twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/

the dim light before night or sunrise

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

two

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

From this reading The door opened, and the woman from whom Mr. Vane had rented the two shabby little rooms entered abruptly.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Laurel's head was bowed upon her hands, and tears coursed slowly, each one a scalding drop of woe, down her white cheeks.

Vane

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

From this reading The door opened, and the woman from whom Mr. Vane had rented the two shabby little rooms entered abruptly.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

white

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

From this reading Laurel's head was bowed upon her hands, and tears coursed slowly, each one a scalding drop of woe, down her white cheeks.

whompronounUS /huːm/

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

From this reading The door opened, and the woman from whom Mr. Vane had rented the two shabby little rooms entered abruptly.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The cheap, plain funeral was over, and the orphan sat alone in the deepening twilight in the shabby little room, now invested with a somber dignity all its own since the presence of death had so lately been there.

woe

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

From this reading Laurel's head was bowed upon her hands, and tears coursed slowly, each one a scalding drop of woe, down her white cheeks.

woman

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

From this reading The door opened, and the woman from whom Mr. Vane had rented the two shabby little rooms entered abruptly.