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Nedra
Nedra

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Nedra
Context Illustration Reading 1/71 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.
After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.
Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.
He was rubbing a white streak from his trousers' leg when the door flew open and the butler admitted him to the hallway.
This personage relieved him of his hat, coat and stick and announced:
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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.

Nedra

Chapter I

Reading 1/71 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.
Line 2
After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.
Line 3
Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.
Line 4
He was rubbing a white streak from his trousers' leg when the door flew open and the butler admitted him to the hallway.
Line 5
This personage relieved him of his hat, coat and stick and announced:

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.”

Chalk noun US /tʃɔːk/

A soft white limestone used for marking doors, stone walls, and slate.

From this reading “Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “He was rubbing a white streak from his trousers' leg when the door flew open and the butler admitted him to the hallway.”

Relieved noun US /ˈrelieved/

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

From this reading “This personage relieved him of his hat, coat and stick and announced:”

Sharply noun US /ˈsharply/

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

From this reading “After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.”

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 tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.

admitted

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

From this reading He was rubbing a white streak from his trousers' leg when the door flew open and the butler admitted him to the hallway.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.

announced

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

From this reading This personage relieved him of his hat, coat and stick and announced:

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.

avenues

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

From this reading A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.

billiard

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

From this reading Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.

brushed

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

From this reading Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.

butler

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

From this reading He was rubbing a white streak from his trousers' leg when the door flew open and the butler admitted him to the hallway.

button

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

From this reading After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.

chalknounUS /tʃɔːk/

A soft white limestone used for marking doors, stone walls, and slate.

From this reading Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.

Chicago's

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

From this reading A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.

coat

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

From this reading Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.

door

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

From this reading After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.

doorway

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

From this reading A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.

dull

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

From this reading After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.

fashionable

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

From this reading A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.

flew

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

From this reading He was rubbing a white streak from his trousers' leg when the door flew open and the butler admitted him to the hallway.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.

general

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

From this reading Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.

guessed

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

From this reading After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.

hallway

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

From this reading He was rubbing a white streak from his trousers' leg when the door flew open and the butler admitted him to the hallway.

hastily

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

From this reading Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.

hat

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

From this reading This personage relieved him of his hat, coat and stick and announced:

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.

jerked

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

From this reading After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.

leading

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

From this reading A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.

leg

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

From this reading He was rubbing a white streak from his trousers' leg when the door flew open and the butler admitted him to the hallway.

light

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

From this reading After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.

man

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

From this reading A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.

mansion

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

From this reading A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.

most

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

From this reading A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading He was rubbing a white streak from his trousers' leg when the door flew open and the butler admitted him to the hallway.

out

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

From this reading After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.

panel

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

From this reading After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.

personage

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

From this reading This personage relieved him of his hat, coat and stick and announced:

precaution

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

From this reading Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.

presence

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

From this reading Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.

pushing

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

From this reading After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.

red

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

From this reading After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.

relievednounUS /ˈrelieved/

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

From this reading This personage relieved him of his hat, coat and stick and announced:

reminded

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

From this reading Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.

rubbing

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

From this reading He was rubbing a white streak from his trousers' leg when the door flew open and the butler admitted him to the hallway.

sharplynounUS /ˈsharply/

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

From this reading After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.

sleeve

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

From this reading Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.

sped

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

From this reading A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.

steps

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

From this reading A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.

stick

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

From this reading This personage relieved him of his hat, coat and stick and announced:

stone

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

From this reading A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.

streak

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

From this reading He was rubbing a white streak from his trousers' leg when the door flew open and the butler admitted him to the hallway.

survey

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

From this reading Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.

swiftly

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

From this reading A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.

tall

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

From this reading A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.

telltale

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

From this reading Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.

Then

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

From this reading Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This personage relieved him of his hat, coat and stick and announced:

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.

trousers

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

From this reading He was rubbing a white streak from his trousers' leg when the door flew open and the butler admitted him to the hallway.

up

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

From this reading A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was rubbing a white streak from his trousers' leg when the door flew open and the butler admitted him to the hallway.

watch

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

From this reading After pushing the button sharply he jerked out his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading He was rubbing a white streak from his trousers' leg when the door flew open and the butler admitted him to the hallway.

white

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

From this reading He was rubbing a white streak from his trousers' leg when the door flew open and the butler admitted him to the hallway.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.

wide

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

From this reading A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.

wise

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

From this reading Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence reminded him that a general survey might be a wise precaution.

young

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

From this reading A tall young man sped swiftly up the wide stone steps leading to the doorway of a mansion in one of Chicago's most fashionable avenues.