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Love Under Fire
Love Under Fire

Chapter XXXVI

Cover illustration for Love Under Fire
Context Illustration Reading 1/25 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE LAST STAND I had no time to answer, no opportunity to even realize what was meant.
There was a fiendish roar, a crash that shook the house to its very foundations, sending us staggering back against the walls.
I remember gripping Billie closely, and seeing her white face, even as I warded off with uplifted arm the falling plaster.
The soldier was on his knees, grovelling with face against the floor.
A great jagged hole appeared in the opposite wall, and I could see daylight through it.
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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.

Love Under Fire

Chapter XXXVI

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE LAST STAND I had no time to answer, no opportunity to even realize what was meant.
Line 2
There was a fiendish roar, a crash that shook the house to its very foundations, sending us staggering back against the walls.
Line 3
I remember gripping Billie closely, and seeing her white face, even as I warded off with uplifted arm the falling plaster.
Line 4
The soldier was on his knees, grovelling with face against the floor.
Line 5
A great jagged hole appeared in the opposite wall, and I could see daylight through it.

Learner Dictionary

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

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “There was a fiendish roar, a crash that shook the house to its very foundations, sending us staggering back against the walls.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “A great jagged hole appeared in the opposite wall, and I could see daylight through it.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE LAST STAND I had no time to answer, no opportunity to even realize what was meant.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A great jagged hole appeared in the opposite wall, and I could see daylight through it.”

LAST noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE LAST STAND I had no time to answer, no opportunity to even realize what was meant.”

Plaster noun US /ˈplæstər/

a soft material used to cover and protect a wound

From this reading “I remember gripping Billie closely, and seeing her white face, even as I warded off with uplifted arm the falling plaster.”

Remember verb US /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading “I remember gripping Billie closely, and seeing her white face, even as I warded off with uplifted arm the falling plaster.”

Seeing noun US /seeing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I remember gripping Billie closely, and seeing her white face, even as I warded off with uplifted arm the falling plaster.”

STAND noun US /stand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE LAST STAND I had no time to answer, no opportunity to even realize what was meant.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “A great jagged hole appeared in the opposite wall, and I could see daylight through it.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE LAST STAND I had no time to answer, no opportunity to even realize what was meant.”

All words in this reading · 67

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 There was a fiendish roar, a crash that shook the house to its very foundations, sending us staggering back against the walls.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading There was a fiendish roar, a crash that shook the house to its very foundations, sending us staggering back against the walls.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I remember gripping Billie closely, and seeing her white face, even as I warded off with uplifted arm the falling plaster.

answer

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

From this reading THE LAST STAND I had no time to answer, no opportunity to even realize what was meant.

appeared

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

From this reading A great jagged hole appeared in the opposite wall, and I could see daylight through it.

arm

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

From this reading I remember gripping Billie closely, and seeing her white face, even as I warded off with uplifted arm the falling plaster.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading I remember gripping Billie closely, and seeing her white face, even as I warded off with uplifted arm the falling plaster.

back

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

From this reading There was a fiendish roar, a crash that shook the house to its very foundations, sending us staggering back against the walls.

Billie

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

From this reading I remember gripping Billie closely, and seeing her white face, even as I warded off with uplifted arm the falling plaster.

closely

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

From this reading I remember gripping Billie closely, and seeing her white face, even as I warded off with uplifted arm the falling plaster.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading A great jagged hole appeared in the opposite wall, and I could see daylight through it.

crash

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

From this reading There was a fiendish roar, a crash that shook the house to its very foundations, sending us staggering back against the walls.

daylight

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

From this reading A great jagged hole appeared in the opposite wall, and I could see daylight through it.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE LAST STAND I had no time to answer, no opportunity to even realize what was meant.

face

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

From this reading I remember gripping Billie closely, and seeing her white face, even as I warded off with uplifted arm the falling plaster.

falling

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

From this reading I remember gripping Billie closely, and seeing her white face, even as I warded off with uplifted arm the falling plaster.

fiendish

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

From this reading There was a fiendish roar, a crash that shook the house to its very foundations, sending us staggering back against the walls.

floor

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

From this reading The soldier was on his knees, grovelling with face against the floor.

foundations

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

From this reading There was a fiendish roar, a crash that shook the house to its very foundations, sending us staggering back against the walls.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A great jagged hole appeared in the opposite wall, and I could see daylight through it.

gripping

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

From this reading I remember gripping Billie closely, and seeing her white face, even as I warded off with uplifted arm the falling plaster.

grovelling

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

From this reading The soldier was on his knees, grovelling with face against the floor.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading THE LAST STAND I had no time to answer, no opportunity to even realize what was meant.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading I remember gripping Billie closely, and seeing her white face, even as I warded off with uplifted arm the falling plaster.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The soldier was on his knees, grovelling with face against the floor.

hole

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

From this reading A great jagged hole appeared in the opposite wall, and I could see daylight through it.

house

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

From this reading There was a fiendish roar, a crash that shook the house to its very foundations, sending us staggering back against the walls.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading THE LAST STAND I had no time to answer, no opportunity to even realize what was meant.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A great jagged hole appeared in the opposite wall, and I could see daylight through it.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A great jagged hole appeared in the opposite wall, and I could see daylight through it.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading There was a fiendish roar, a crash that shook the house to its very foundations, sending us staggering back against the walls.

jagged

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

From this reading A great jagged hole appeared in the opposite wall, and I could see daylight through it.

knees

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

From this reading The soldier was on his knees, grovelling with face against the floor.

LASTnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE LAST STAND I had no time to answer, no opportunity to even realize what was meant.

meant

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

From this reading THE LAST STAND I had no time to answer, no opportunity to even realize what was meant.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading THE LAST STAND I had no time to answer, no opportunity to even realize what was meant.

off

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

From this reading I remember gripping Billie closely, and seeing her white face, even as I warded off with uplifted arm the falling plaster.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The soldier was on his knees, grovelling with face against the floor.

opportunity

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

From this reading THE LAST STAND I had no time to answer, no opportunity to even realize what was meant.

opposite

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

From this reading A great jagged hole appeared in the opposite wall, and I could see daylight through it.

plasternounUS /ˈplæstər/

a soft material used to cover and protect a wound

From this reading I remember gripping Billie closely, and seeing her white face, even as I warded off with uplifted arm the falling plaster.

realize

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

From this reading THE LAST STAND I had no time to answer, no opportunity to even realize what was meant.

rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading I remember gripping Billie closely, and seeing her white face, even as I warded off with uplifted arm the falling plaster.

roar

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

From this reading There was a fiendish roar, a crash that shook the house to its very foundations, sending us staggering back against the walls.

see

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

From this reading A great jagged hole appeared in the opposite wall, and I could see daylight through it.

seeing

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

From this reading I remember gripping Billie closely, and seeing her white face, even as I warded off with uplifted arm the falling plaster.

sending

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

From this reading There was a fiendish roar, a crash that shook the house to its very foundations, sending us staggering back against the walls.

shook

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

From this reading There was a fiendish roar, a crash that shook the house to its very foundations, sending us staggering back against the walls.

soldier

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

From this reading The soldier was on his knees, grovelling with face against the floor.

staggering

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

From this reading There was a fiendish roar, a crash that shook the house to its very foundations, sending us staggering back against the walls.

STAND

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

From this reading THE LAST STAND I had no time to answer, no opportunity to even realize what was meant.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There was a fiendish roar, a crash that shook the house to its very foundations, sending us staggering back against the walls.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE LAST STAND I had no time to answer, no opportunity to even realize what was meant.

There

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

From this reading There was a fiendish roar, a crash that shook the house to its very foundations, sending us staggering back against the walls.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading A great jagged hole appeared in the opposite wall, and I could see daylight through it.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE LAST STAND I had no time to answer, no opportunity to even realize what was meant.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE LAST STAND I had no time to answer, no opportunity to even realize what was meant.

uplifted

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

From this reading I remember gripping Billie closely, and seeing her white face, even as I warded off with uplifted arm the falling plaster.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading There was a fiendish roar, a crash that shook the house to its very foundations, sending us staggering back against the walls.

very

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

From this reading There was a fiendish roar, a crash that shook the house to its very foundations, sending us staggering back against the walls.

wall

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

From this reading A great jagged hole appeared in the opposite wall, and I could see daylight through it.

walls

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

From this reading There was a fiendish roar, a crash that shook the house to its very foundations, sending us staggering back against the walls.

warded

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

From this reading I remember gripping Billie closely, and seeing her white face, even as I warded off with uplifted arm the falling plaster.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE LAST STAND I had no time to answer, no opportunity to even realize what was meant.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading THE LAST STAND I had no time to answer, no opportunity to even realize what was meant.

white

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

From this reading I remember gripping Billie closely, and seeing her white face, even as I warded off with uplifted arm the falling plaster.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I remember gripping Billie closely, and seeing her white face, even as I warded off with uplifted arm the falling plaster.