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Pretty Michal
Pretty Michal

Chapter XIX

Cover illustration for Pretty Michal
Context Illustration Reading 1/19 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The Lenten penance succeeds the carnival revels.
When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.
So swiftly did death overtake him that he had not even time to make his will.
This extraordinary case made a huge sensation throughout the town.
Whole processions of acquaintances thronged the house of mourning, and in the courts of the Zwirinas there was wailing and woe.
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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.

Pretty Michal

Chapter XIX

Reading 1/19 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The Lenten penance succeeds the carnival revels.
Line 2
When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.
Line 3
So swiftly did death overtake him that he had not even time to make his will.
Line 4
This extraordinary case made a huge sensation throughout the town.
Line 5
Whole processions of acquaintances thronged the house of mourning, and in the courts of the Zwirinas there was wailing and woe.

Learner Dictionary

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

Apoplexy noun US /ˈæpəplɛksi/

a sudden loss of consciousness or death from a stroke

From this reading “When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So swiftly did death overtake him that he had not even time to make his will.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So swiftly did death overtake him that he had not even time to make his will.”

Struck noun US /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading “When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.”

Throughout preposition US /θruːˈaʊt/

in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period

From this reading “This extraordinary case made a huge sensation throughout the town.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So swiftly did death overtake him that he had not even time to make his will.”

All words in this reading · 69

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 This extraordinary case made a huge sensation throughout the town.

acquaintances

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

From this reading Whole processions of acquaintances thronged the house of mourning, and in the courts of the Zwirinas there was wailing and woe.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

apoplexynounUS /ˈæpəplɛksi/

a sudden loss of consciousness or death from a stroke

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

Augustus

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

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

big

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

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

blue

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

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

carnival

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

From this reading The Lenten penance succeeds the carnival revels.

case

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

From this reading This extraordinary case made a huge sensation throughout the town.

courts

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

From this reading Whole processions of acquaintances thronged the house of mourning, and in the courts of the Zwirinas there was wailing and woe.

death

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

From this reading So swiftly did death overtake him that he had not even time to make his will.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading So swiftly did death overtake him that he had not even time to make his will.

down

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

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

escaped

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

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So swiftly did death overtake him that he had not even time to make his will.

extraordinary

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

From this reading This extraordinary case made a huge sensation throughout the town.

face

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

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

fat

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

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

grew

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

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

happily

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

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading So swiftly did death overtake him that he had not even time to make his will.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading So swiftly did death overtake him that he had not even time to make his will.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading So swiftly did death overtake him that he had not even time to make his will.

house

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

From this reading Whole processions of acquaintances thronged the house of mourning, and in the courts of the Zwirinas there was wailing and woe.

huge

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

From this reading This extraordinary case made a huge sensation throughout the town.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

Kalondai

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

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

Lenten

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

From this reading The Lenten penance succeeds the carnival revels.

made

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

From this reading This extraordinary case made a huge sensation throughout the town.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So swiftly did death overtake him that he had not even time to make his will.

man

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

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

mourning

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

From this reading Whole processions of acquaintances thronged the house of mourning, and in the courts of the Zwirinas there was wailing and woe.

news

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

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading So swiftly did death overtake him that he had not even time to make his will.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Whole processions of acquaintances thronged the house of mourning, and in the courts of the Zwirinas there was wailing and woe.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

overtake

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

From this reading So swiftly did death overtake him that he had not even time to make his will.

penance

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

From this reading The Lenten penance succeeds the carnival revels.

processions

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

From this reading Whole processions of acquaintances thronged the house of mourning, and in the courts of the Zwirinas there was wailing and woe.

revels

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

From this reading The Lenten penance succeeds the carnival revels.

sensation

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

From this reading This extraordinary case made a huge sensation throughout the town.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So swiftly did death overtake him that he had not even time to make his will.

spot

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

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

strucknounUS /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

succeeds

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

From this reading The Lenten penance succeeds the carnival revels.

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

swiftly

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

From this reading So swiftly did death overtake him that he had not even time to make his will.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The Lenten penance succeeds the carnival revels.

there

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

From this reading Whole processions of acquaintances thronged the house of mourning, and in the courts of the Zwirinas there was wailing and woe.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This extraordinary case made a huge sensation throughout the town.

thronged

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

From this reading Whole processions of acquaintances thronged the house of mourning, and in the courts of the Zwirinas there was wailing and woe.

throughoutprepositionUS /θruːˈaʊt/

in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period

From this reading This extraordinary case made a huge sensation throughout the town.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So swiftly did death overtake him that he had not even time to make his will.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

town

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

From this reading This extraordinary case made a huge sensation throughout the town.

Valentine

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

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

wailing

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

From this reading Whole processions of acquaintances thronged the house of mourning, and in the courts of the Zwirinas there was wailing and woe.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

Whole

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

From this reading Whole processions of acquaintances thronged the house of mourning, and in the courts of the Zwirinas there was wailing and woe.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading So swiftly did death overtake him that he had not even time to make his will.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

woe

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

From this reading Whole processions of acquaintances thronged the house of mourning, and in the courts of the Zwirinas there was wailing and woe.

Zwirina

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

From this reading When they brought the news to Augustus Zwirina that Valentine Kalondai had happily escaped, the big fat man suddenly grew blue in the face, and was struck down with apoplexy on the spot.

Zwirinas

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

From this reading Whole processions of acquaintances thronged the house of mourning, and in the courts of the Zwirinas there was wailing and woe.