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Pierre and Jean
Pierre and Jean

Chapter V

Cover illustration for Pierre and Jean
Context Illustration Reading 1/65 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
But the doctor’s frame lay scarcely more than an hour or two in the torpor of troubled slumbers.
When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.
It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.
Memory returned to him like a blow, and he sat up in bed.
Then slowly, one by one, he again went through all the arguments which had wrung his heart on the jetty while the fog-horns were bellowing.
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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.

Pierre and Jean

Chapter V

Reading 1/65 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
But the doctor’s frame lay scarcely more than an hour or two in the torpor of troubled slumbers.
Line 2
When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.
Line 3
It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.
Line 4
Memory returned to him like a blow, and he sat up in bed.
Line 5
Then slowly, one by one, he again went through all the arguments which had wrung his heart on the jetty while the fog-horns were bellowing.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then slowly, one by one, he again went through all the arguments which had wrung his heart on the jetty while the fog-horns were bellowing.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.”

Memory noun US /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading “Memory returned to him like a blow, and he sat up in bed.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Then slowly, one by one, he again went through all the arguments which had wrung his heart on the jetty while the fog-horns were bellowing.”

Returned noun US /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading “Memory returned to him like a blow, and he sat up in bed.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “Then slowly, one by one, he again went through all the arguments which had wrung his heart on the jetty while the fog-horns were bellowing.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then slowly, one by one, he again went through all the arguments which had wrung his heart on the jetty while the fog-horns were bellowing.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “Then slowly, one by one, he again went through all the arguments which had wrung his heart on the jetty while the fog-horns were bellowing.”

All words in this reading · 91

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 It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then slowly, one by one, he again went through all the arguments which had wrung his heart on the jetty while the fog-horns were bellowing.

all

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

From this reading Then slowly, one by one, he again went through all the arguments which had wrung his heart on the jetty while the fog-horns were bellowing.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading But the doctor’s frame lay scarcely more than an hour or two in the torpor of troubled slumbers.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

arguments

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

From this reading Then slowly, one by one, he again went through all the arguments which had wrung his heart on the jetty while the fog-horns were bellowing.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

awake

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

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

aware

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

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

awoke

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

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

bed

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

From this reading Memory returned to him like a blow, and he sat up in bed.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

bellowing

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

From this reading Then slowly, one by one, he again went through all the arguments which had wrung his heart on the jetty while the fog-horns were bellowing.

blow

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

From this reading Memory returned to him like a blow, and he sat up in bed.

bruising

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

From this reading It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the doctor’s frame lay scarcely more than an hour or two in the torpor of troubled slumbers.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Then slowly, one by one, he again went through all the arguments which had wrung his heart on the jetty while the fog-horns were bellowing.

closed

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

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

darkness

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

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

disaster

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

From this reading It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

doctor's

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

From this reading But the doctor’s frame lay scarcely more than an hour or two in the torpor of troubled slumbers.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

exhausting

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

From this reading It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

fever

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

From this reading It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

flesh

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

From this reading It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

fog-horns

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

From this reading Then slowly, one by one, he again went through all the arguments which had wrung his heart on the jetty while the fog-horns were bellowing.

frame

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

From this reading But the doctor’s frame lay scarcely more than an hour or two in the torpor of troubled slumbers.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

heart

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

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

hour

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

From this reading But the doctor’s frame lay scarcely more than an hour or two in the torpor of troubled slumbers.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But the doctor’s frame lay scarcely more than an hour or two in the torpor of troubled slumbers.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

jarred

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

From this reading It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

jetty

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

From this reading Then slowly, one by one, he again went through all the arguments which had wrung his heart on the jetty while the fog-horns were bellowing.

lay

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

From this reading But the doctor’s frame lay scarcely more than an hour or two in the torpor of troubled slumbers.

leaves

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

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

like

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

From this reading It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

MemorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading Memory returned to him like a blow, and he sat up in bed.

merely

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

From this reading It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

more

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

From this reading But the doctor’s frame lay scarcely more than an hour or two in the torpor of troubled slumbers.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But the doctor’s frame lay scarcely more than an hour or two in the torpor of troubled slumbers.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Then slowly, one by one, he again went through all the arguments which had wrung his heart on the jetty while the fog-horns were bellowing.

oppression

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

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading But the doctor’s frame lay scarcely more than an hour or two in the torpor of troubled slumbers.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

painful

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

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

returnednounUS /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading Memory returned to him like a blow, and he sat up in bed.

room

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

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

sat

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

From this reading Memory returned to him like a blow, and he sat up in bed.

scarcely

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

From this reading But the doctor’s frame lay scarcely more than an hour or two in the torpor of troubled slumbers.

shock

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

From this reading It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

sickness

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

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

sleep

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

From this reading It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

slept

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

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

slowly

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

From this reading Then slowly, one by one, he again went through all the arguments which had wrung his heart on the jetty while the fog-horns were bellowing.

slumbers

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

From this reading But the doctor’s frame lay scarcely more than an hour or two in the torpor of troubled slumbers.

sorrow

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

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

stolen

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

From this reading It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading But the doctor’s frame lay scarcely more than an hour or two in the torpor of troubled slumbers.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading But the doctor’s frame lay scarcely more than an hour or two in the torpor of troubled slumbers.

Then

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

From this reading Then slowly, one by one, he again went through all the arguments which had wrung his heart on the jetty while the fog-horns were bellowing.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading Then slowly, one by one, he again went through all the arguments which had wrung his heart on the jetty while the fog-horns were bellowing.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Memory returned to him like a blow, and he sat up in bed.

torpor

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

From this reading But the doctor’s frame lay scarcely more than an hour or two in the torpor of troubled slumbers.

troubled

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

From this reading But the doctor’s frame lay scarcely more than an hour or two in the torpor of troubled slumbers.

two

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

From this reading But the doctor’s frame lay scarcely more than an hour or two in the torpor of troubled slumbers.

up

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

From this reading Memory returned to him like a blow, and he sat up in bed.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

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

From this reading It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

very

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

From this reading It is as though the disaster of which the shock merely jarred us at first, had, during sleep, stolen into our very flesh, bruising and exhausting it like a fever.

warm

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

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then slowly, one by one, he again went through all the arguments which had wrung his heart on the jetty while the fog-horns were bellowing.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Then slowly, one by one, he again went through all the arguments which had wrung his heart on the jetty while the fog-horns were bellowing.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading When he awoke in the darkness of his warm, closed room he was aware, even before thought was awake in him, of the painful oppression, the sickness of heart which the sorrow we have slept on leaves behind it.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading Then slowly, one by one, he again went through all the arguments which had wrung his heart on the jetty while the fog-horns were bellowing.

wrung

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

From this reading Then slowly, one by one, he again went through all the arguments which had wrung his heart on the jetty while the fog-horns were bellowing.