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Little Dorrit
Little Dorrit

Chapter I · Sun and Shadow

Cover illustration for Little Dorrit
Context Illustration Reading 1/122 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Thirty years ago, Marseilles lay burning in the sun, one day.
A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.
Everything in Marseilles, and about Marseilles, had stared at the fervid sky, and been stared at in return, until a staring habit had become universal there.
Strangers were stared out of countenance by staring white houses, staring white walls, staring white streets, staring tracts of arid road, staring hills from which verdure was burnt away.
The only things to be seen not fixedly staring and glaring were the vines drooping under their load of grapes.
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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.

Little Dorrit

Chapter I · Sun and Shadow

Reading 1/122 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Thirty years ago, Marseilles lay burning in the sun, one day.
Line 2
A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.
Line 3
Everything in Marseilles, and about Marseilles, had stared at the fervid sky, and been stared at in return, until a staring habit had become universal there.
Line 4
Strangers were stared out of countenance by staring white houses, staring white walls, staring white streets, staring tracts of arid road, staring hills from which verdure was burnt away.
Line 5
The only things to be seen not fixedly staring and glaring were the vines drooping under their load of grapes.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Everything in Marseilles, and about Marseilles, had stared at the fervid sky, and been stared at in return, until a staring habit had become universal there.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Everything in Marseilles, and about Marseilles, had stared at the fervid sky, and been stared at in return, until a staring habit had become universal there.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.”

Everything pronoun US /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading “Everything in Marseilles, and about Marseilles, had stared at the fervid sky, and been stared at in return, until a staring habit had become universal there.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Thirty years ago, Marseilles lay burning in the sun, one day.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “The only things to be seen not fixedly staring and glaring were the vines drooping under their load of grapes.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “Everything in Marseilles, and about Marseilles, had stared at the fervid sky, and been stared at in return, until a staring habit had become universal there.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.”

All words in this reading · 79

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 blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Everything in Marseilles, and about Marseilles, had stared at the fervid sky, and been stared at in return, until a staring habit had become universal there.

ago

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, Marseilles lay burning in the sun, one day.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Everything in Marseilles, and about Marseilles, had stared at the fervid sky, and been stared at in return, until a staring habit had become universal there.

any

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

From this reading A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.

arid

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

From this reading Strangers were stared out of countenance by staring white houses, staring white walls, staring white streets, staring tracts of arid road, staring hills from which verdure was burnt away.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.

August

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

From this reading A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.

away

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

From this reading Strangers were stared out of countenance by staring white houses, staring white walls, staring white streets, staring tracts of arid road, staring hills from which verdure was burnt away.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The only things to be seen not fixedly staring and glaring were the vines drooping under their load of grapes.

become

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

From this reading Everything in Marseilles, and about Marseilles, had stared at the fervid sky, and been stared at in return, until a staring habit had become universal there.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Everything in Marseilles, and about Marseilles, had stared at the fervid sky, and been stared at in return, until a staring habit had become universal there.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.

blazing

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

From this reading A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.

burning

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, Marseilles lay burning in the sun, one day.

burnt

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

From this reading Strangers were stared out of countenance by staring white houses, staring white walls, staring white streets, staring tracts of arid road, staring hills from which verdure was burnt away.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Strangers were stared out of countenance by staring white houses, staring white walls, staring white streets, staring tracts of arid road, staring hills from which verdure was burnt away.

countenance

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

From this reading Strangers were stared out of countenance by staring white houses, staring white walls, staring white streets, staring tracts of arid road, staring hills from which verdure was burnt away.

day

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, Marseilles lay burning in the sun, one day.

drooping

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

From this reading The only things to be seen not fixedly staring and glaring were the vines drooping under their load of grapes.

EverythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading Everything in Marseilles, and about Marseilles, had stared at the fervid sky, and been stared at in return, until a staring habit had become universal there.

fervid

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

From this reading Everything in Marseilles, and about Marseilles, had stared at the fervid sky, and been stared at in return, until a staring habit had become universal there.

fierce

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

From this reading A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.

fixedly

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

From this reading The only things to be seen not fixedly staring and glaring were the vines drooping under their load of grapes.

France

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

From this reading A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Strangers were stared out of countenance by staring white houses, staring white walls, staring white streets, staring tracts of arid road, staring hills from which verdure was burnt away.

glaring

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

From this reading The only things to be seen not fixedly staring and glaring were the vines drooping under their load of grapes.

grapes

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

From this reading The only things to be seen not fixedly staring and glaring were the vines drooping under their load of grapes.

greater

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

From this reading A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.

habit

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

From this reading Everything in Marseilles, and about Marseilles, had stared at the fervid sky, and been stared at in return, until a staring habit had become universal there.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Everything in Marseilles, and about Marseilles, had stared at the fervid sky, and been stared at in return, until a staring habit had become universal there.

hills

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

From this reading Strangers were stared out of countenance by staring white houses, staring white walls, staring white streets, staring tracts of arid road, staring hills from which verdure was burnt away.

houses

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

From this reading Strangers were stared out of countenance by staring white houses, staring white walls, staring white streets, staring tracts of arid road, staring hills from which verdure was burnt away.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, Marseilles lay burning in the sun, one day.

lay

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, Marseilles lay burning in the sun, one day.

load

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

From this reading The only things to be seen not fixedly staring and glaring were the vines drooping under their load of grapes.

Marseilles

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, Marseilles lay burning in the sun, one day.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The only things to be seen not fixedly staring and glaring were the vines drooping under their load of grapes.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Strangers were stared out of countenance by staring white houses, staring white walls, staring white streets, staring tracts of arid road, staring hills from which verdure was burnt away.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Thirty years ago, Marseilles lay burning in the sun, one day.

only

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

From this reading The only things to be seen not fixedly staring and glaring were the vines drooping under their load of grapes.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.

other

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

From this reading A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.

out

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

From this reading Strangers were stared out of countenance by staring white houses, staring white walls, staring white streets, staring tracts of arid road, staring hills from which verdure was burnt away.

rarity

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

From this reading A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.

return

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

From this reading Everything in Marseilles, and about Marseilles, had stared at the fervid sky, and been stared at in return, until a staring habit had become universal there.

road

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

From this reading Strangers were stared out of countenance by staring white houses, staring white walls, staring white streets, staring tracts of arid road, staring hills from which verdure was burnt away.

seen

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

From this reading The only things to be seen not fixedly staring and glaring were the vines drooping under their load of grapes.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.

sky

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

From this reading Everything in Marseilles, and about Marseilles, had stared at the fervid sky, and been stared at in return, until a staring habit had become universal there.

southern

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

From this reading A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.

stared

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

From this reading Everything in Marseilles, and about Marseilles, had stared at the fervid sky, and been stared at in return, until a staring habit had become universal there.

staring

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

From this reading Everything in Marseilles, and about Marseilles, had stared at the fervid sky, and been stared at in return, until a staring habit had become universal there.

Strangers

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

From this reading Strangers were stared out of countenance by staring white houses, staring white walls, staring white streets, staring tracts of arid road, staring hills from which verdure was burnt away.

streets

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

From this reading Strangers were stared out of countenance by staring white houses, staring white walls, staring white streets, staring tracts of arid road, staring hills from which verdure was burnt away.

sun

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, Marseilles lay burning in the sun, one day.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, Marseilles lay burning in the sun, one day.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The only things to be seen not fixedly staring and glaring were the vines drooping under their load of grapes.

then

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

From this reading A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.

there

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

From this reading Everything in Marseilles, and about Marseilles, had stared at the fervid sky, and been stared at in return, until a staring habit had become universal there.

things

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

From this reading The only things to be seen not fixedly staring and glaring were the vines drooping under their load of grapes.

Thirty

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, Marseilles lay burning in the sun, one day.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The only things to be seen not fixedly staring and glaring were the vines drooping under their load of grapes.

tracts

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

From this reading Strangers were stared out of countenance by staring white houses, staring white walls, staring white streets, staring tracts of arid road, staring hills from which verdure was burnt away.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading The only things to be seen not fixedly staring and glaring were the vines drooping under their load of grapes.

universal

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

From this reading Everything in Marseilles, and about Marseilles, had stared at the fervid sky, and been stared at in return, until a staring habit had become universal there.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Everything in Marseilles, and about Marseilles, had stared at the fervid sky, and been stared at in return, until a staring habit had become universal there.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.

verdure

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

From this reading Strangers were stared out of countenance by staring white houses, staring white walls, staring white streets, staring tracts of arid road, staring hills from which verdure was burnt away.

vines

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

From this reading The only things to be seen not fixedly staring and glaring were the vines drooping under their load of grapes.

walls

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

From this reading Strangers were stared out of countenance by staring white houses, staring white walls, staring white streets, staring tracts of arid road, staring hills from which verdure was burnt away.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern France then, than at any other time, before or since.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Strangers were stared out of countenance by staring white houses, staring white walls, staring white streets, staring tracts of arid road, staring hills from which verdure was burnt away.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Strangers were stared out of countenance by staring white houses, staring white walls, staring white streets, staring tracts of arid road, staring hills from which verdure was burnt away.

white

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

From this reading Strangers were stared out of countenance by staring white houses, staring white walls, staring white streets, staring tracts of arid road, staring hills from which verdure was burnt away.

years

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

From this reading Thirty years ago, Marseilles lay burning in the sun, one day.