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Mosses from an Old Manse
Mosses from an Old Manse

Chapter XXIX

Cover illustration for Mosses from an Old Manse
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“My father, Reuben?” she began; but the change in her lover’s countenance made her pause.
The youth shrank as if with a bitter pain, and the blood gushed vividly into his wan and hollow cheeks.
His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.
“Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.
But I would not desert the old man in his extremity, and, though bleeding myself, I supported him; I gave him half my strength, and led him away with me.
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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.

Mosses from an Old Manse

Chapter XXIX

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

Line 1
“My father, Reuben?” she began; but the change in her lover’s countenance made her pause.
Line 2
The youth shrank as if with a bitter pain, and the blood gushed vividly into his wan and hollow cheeks.
Line 3
His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.
Line 4
“Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.
Line 5
But I would not desert the old man in his extremity, and, though bleeding myself, I supported him; I gave him half my strength, and led him away with me.

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 “His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““My father, Reuben?” she began; but the change in her lover’s countenance made her pause.”

Blood noun US /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The youth shrank as if with a bitter pain, and the blood gushed vividly into his wan and hollow cheeks.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.”

Impulse noun US /ˈɪmpʌls/

a sudden strong desire to act

From this reading “His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading ““Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading ““Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.”

Strength noun US /ˈstrength/

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

From this reading “But I would not desert the old man in his extremity, and, though bleeding myself, I supported him; I gave him half my strength, and led him away with me.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “But I would not desert the old man in his extremity, and, though bleeding myself, I supported him; I gave him half my strength, and led him away with me.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “But I would not desert the old man in his extremity, and, though bleeding myself, I supported him; I gave him half my strength, and led him away with me.”

Wounded noun US /wounded/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.”

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 The youth shrank as if with a bitter pain, and the blood gushed vividly into his wan and hollow cheeks.

accusation

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

From this reading His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The youth shrank as if with a bitter pain, and the blood gushed vividly into his wan and hollow cheeks.

apparently

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

From this reading His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The youth shrank as if with a bitter pain, and the blood gushed vividly into his wan and hollow cheeks.

away

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

From this reading But I would not desert the old man in his extremity, and, though bleeding myself, I supported him; I gave him half my strength, and led him away with me.

bade

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

From this reading “Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.

battle

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

From this reading “Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “My father, Reuben?” she began; but the change in her lover’s countenance made her pause.

bitter

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

From this reading The youth shrank as if with a bitter pain, and the blood gushed vividly into his wan and hollow cheeks.

bleeding

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

From this reading But I would not desert the old man in his extremity, and, though bleeding myself, I supported him; I gave him half my strength, and led him away with me.

bloodnounUS /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The youth shrank as if with a bitter pain, and the blood gushed vividly into his wan and hollow cheeks.

burden

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

From this reading “Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “My father, Reuben?” she began; but the change in her lover’s countenance made her pause.

change

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

From this reading “My father, Reuben?” she began; but the change in her lover’s countenance made her pause.

cheeks

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

From this reading The youth shrank as if with a bitter pain, and the blood gushed vividly into his wan and hollow cheeks.

countenance

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

From this reading “My father, Reuben?” she began; but the change in her lover’s countenance made her pause.

cover

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

From this reading His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.

defending

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

From this reading His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.

desert

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

From this reading But I would not desert the old man in his extremity, and, though bleeding myself, I supported him; I gave him half my strength, and led him away with me.

desperate

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

From this reading His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.

die

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

From this reading “Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.

Dorcas

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

From this reading “Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.

effort

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

From this reading His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.

extremity

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

From this reading But I would not desert the old man in his extremity, and, though bleeding myself, I supported him; I gave him half my strength, and led him away with me.

face

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

From this reading His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.

father

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

From this reading “My father, Reuben?” she began; but the change in her lover’s countenance made her pause.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.

gave

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

From this reading But I would not desert the old man in his extremity, and, though bleeding myself, I supported him; I gave him half my strength, and led him away with me.

gushed

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

From this reading The youth shrank as if with a bitter pain, and the blood gushed vividly into his wan and hollow cheeks.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading “My father, Reuben?” she began; but the change in her lover’s countenance made her pause.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading “Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The youth shrank as if with a bitter pain, and the blood gushed vividly into his wan and hollow cheeks.

hollow

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

From this reading The youth shrank as if with a bitter pain, and the blood gushed vividly into his wan and hollow cheeks.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading But I would not desert the old man in his extremity, and, though bleeding myself, I supported him; I gave him half my strength, and led him away with me.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The youth shrank as if with a bitter pain, and the blood gushed vividly into his wan and hollow cheeks.

imaginary

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

From this reading His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.

impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpʌls/

a sudden strong desire to act

From this reading His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “My father, Reuben?” she began; but the change in her lover’s countenance made her pause.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The youth shrank as if with a bitter pain, and the blood gushed vividly into his wan and hollow cheeks.

lakeside

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

From this reading “Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.

lead

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

From this reading “Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.

led

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

From this reading But I would not desert the old man in his extremity, and, though bleeding myself, I supported him; I gave him half my strength, and led him away with me.

lover's

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

From this reading “My father, Reuben?” she began; but the change in her lover’s countenance made her pause.

made

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

From this reading “My father, Reuben?” she began; but the change in her lover’s countenance made her pause.

man

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

From this reading But I would not desert the old man in his extremity, and, though bleeding myself, I supported him; I gave him half my strength, and led him away with me.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading “Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “My father, Reuben?” she began; but the change in her lover’s countenance made her pause.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading “Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.

old

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

From this reading But I would not desert the old man in his extremity, and, though bleeding myself, I supported him; I gave him half my strength, and led him away with me.

only

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

From this reading “Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.

pain

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

From this reading The youth shrank as if with a bitter pain, and the blood gushed vividly into his wan and hollow cheeks.

pause

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

From this reading “My father, Reuben?” she began; but the change in her lover’s countenance made her pause.

quench

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

From this reading “Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.

raised

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

From this reading His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.

Reuben

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

From this reading “My father, Reuben?” she began; but the change in her lover’s countenance made her pause.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading “My father, Reuben?” she began; but the change in her lover’s countenance made her pause.

shrank

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

From this reading The youth shrank as if with a bitter pain, and the blood gushed vividly into his wan and hollow cheeks.

sore

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

From this reading “Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.

spoke

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

From this reading His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.

strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/

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

From this reading But I would not desert the old man in his extremity, and, though bleeding myself, I supported him; I gave him half my strength, and led him away with me.

supported

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

From this reading But I would not desert the old man in his extremity, and, though bleeding myself, I supported him; I gave him half my strength, and led him away with me.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “My father, Reuben?” she began; but the change in her lover’s countenance made her pause.

thirst

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

From this reading “Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading But I would not desert the old man in his extremity, and, though bleeding myself, I supported him; I gave him half my strength, and led him away with me.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.

vehemently

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

From this reading His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.

vividly

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

From this reading The youth shrank as if with a bitter pain, and the blood gushed vividly into his wan and hollow cheeks.

wan

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

From this reading The youth shrank as if with a bitter pain, and the blood gushed vividly into his wan and hollow cheeks.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading His first impulse was to cover his face; but, apparently with a desperate effort, he half raised himself and spoke vehemently, defending himself against an imaginary accusation.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The youth shrank as if with a bitter pain, and the blood gushed vividly into his wan and hollow cheeks.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading But I would not desert the old man in his extremity, and, though bleeding myself, I supported him; I gave him half my strength, and led him away with me.

wounded

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

From this reading “Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.

YourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Your father was sore wounded in the battle, Dorcas; and he bade me not burden myself with him, but only to lead him to the lakeside, that he might quench his thirst and die.

youth

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

From this reading The youth shrank as if with a bitter pain, and the blood gushed vividly into his wan and hollow cheeks.