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Robert Elsmere
Robert Elsmere

Chapter VII

Cover illustration for Robert Elsmere
Context Illustration Reading 1/61 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.
He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.
One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.
The words had slipped from her involuntarily in the spiritual tension of her mood.
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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.

Robert Elsmere

Chapter VII

Reading 1/61 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.
Line 2
He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.
Line 3
One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
Line 4
‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.
Line 5
The words had slipped from her involuntarily in the spiritual tension of her mood.

Learner Dictionary

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

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.”

Hers pronoun US /hərz/

the one or ones belonging to her

From this reading “One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.”

Worthy adjective US /ˈwɜːr.ði/

Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.

From this reading “‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.”

All words in this reading · 85

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 He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.

afterward

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

From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.

Alexandria

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

From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.

almost

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

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.

away

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

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

barred

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

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.

brooding

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

From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.

Catherine

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

From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.

described

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

From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.

despair

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

From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.

ears

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

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

ethereal

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

From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.

exaltation

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

From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

happy

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

From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.

herspronounUS /hərz/

the one or ones belonging to her

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.

hour

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

From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.

intangible

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

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

involuntarily

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

From this reading The words had slipped from her involuntarily in the spiritual tension of her mood.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

joy

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

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

just

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

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.

maddening

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

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

making

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

From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.

miserable

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

From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.

moment

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

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

mood

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

From this reading The words had slipped from her involuntarily in the spiritual tension of her mood.

namesake

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

From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.

nearly

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

From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.

now

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

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

obstacle

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

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

only

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

From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

phrase

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

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

reach

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

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

reduced

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

From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.

ringing

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

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

Robert

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

From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.

said

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

From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.

scene

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

From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.

sense

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

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.

shock

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

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.

slipped

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

From this reading The words had slipped from her involuntarily in the spiritual tension of her mood.

spent

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

From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.

spiritual

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

From this reading The words had slipped from her involuntarily in the spiritual tension of her mood.

strong

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

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

study

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

From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.

tension

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

From this reading The words had slipped from her involuntarily in the spiritual tension of her mood.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.

unnoticed

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

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

up

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

From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.

very

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

From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.

vicar's

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

From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.

words

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

From this reading The words had slipped from her involuntarily in the spiritual tension of her mood.

worthyadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːr.ði/

Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.

From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.