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Starvecrow Farm
Starvecrow Farm

Chapter XXIX · The Dark Maid

Cover illustration for Starvecrow Farm
Context Illustration Reading 1/48 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.
The door opened, and a girl entered hurriedly.
The surprise was common to both, for the newcomer had closed the door behind her before she discerned Henrietta, and then her action was eloquent.
She turned the key in the lock, and stood frowning, with her back to the door, and one shoulder advanced as if to defend herself.
The other hand remained on the fastening.
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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.

Starvecrow Farm

Chapter XXIX · The Dark Maid

Reading 1/48 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.
Line 2
The door opened, and a girl entered hurriedly.
Line 3
The surprise was common to both, for the newcomer had closed the door behind her before she discerned Henrietta, and then her action was eloquent.
Line 4
She turned the key in the lock, and stood frowning, with her back to the door, and one shoulder advanced as if to defend herself.
Line 5
The other hand remained on the fastening.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “The surprise was common to both, for the newcomer had closed the door behind her before she discerned Henrietta, and then her action was eloquent.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The other hand remained on the fastening.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “She turned the key in the lock, and stood frowning, with her back to the door, and one shoulder advanced as if to defend herself.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “She turned the key in the lock, and stood frowning, with her back to the door, and one shoulder advanced as if to defend herself.”

Remained noun US /ˈremained/

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

From this reading “The other hand remained on the fastening.”

Shadow noun US /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading “The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She turned the key in the lock, and stood frowning, with her back to the door, and one shoulder advanced as if to defend herself.”

Substance noun US /ˈsʌbstəns/

wealth or financial means

From this reading “The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.”

All words in this reading · 58

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The door opened, and a girl entered hurriedly.

action

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

From this reading The surprise was common to both, for the newcomer had closed the door behind her before she discerned Henrietta, and then her action was eloquent.

advanced

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

From this reading She turned the key in the lock, and stood frowning, with her back to the door, and one shoulder advanced as if to defend herself.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The door opened, and a girl entered hurriedly.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading She turned the key in the lock, and stood frowning, with her back to the door, and one shoulder advanced as if to defend herself.

back

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

From this reading She turned the key in the lock, and stood frowning, with her back to the door, and one shoulder advanced as if to defend herself.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading The surprise was common to both, for the newcomer had closed the door behind her before she discerned Henrietta, and then her action was eloquent.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading The surprise was common to both, for the newcomer had closed the door behind her before she discerned Henrietta, and then her action was eloquent.

closed

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

From this reading The surprise was common to both, for the newcomer had closed the door behind her before she discerned Henrietta, and then her action was eloquent.

common

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

From this reading The surprise was common to both, for the newcomer had closed the door behind her before she discerned Henrietta, and then her action was eloquent.

consider

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

From this reading The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.

defend

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

From this reading She turned the key in the lock, and stood frowning, with her back to the door, and one shoulder advanced as if to defend herself.

discerned

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

From this reading The surprise was common to both, for the newcomer had closed the door behind her before she discerned Henrietta, and then her action was eloquent.

door

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

From this reading The door opened, and a girl entered hurriedly.

eloquent

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

From this reading The surprise was common to both, for the newcomer had closed the door behind her before she discerned Henrietta, and then her action was eloquent.

entered

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

From this reading The door opened, and a girl entered hurriedly.

fastening

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

From this reading The other hand remained on the fastening.

followed

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

From this reading The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The surprise was common to both, for the newcomer had closed the door behind her before she discerned Henrietta, and then her action was eloquent.

frowning

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

From this reading She turned the key in the lock, and stood frowning, with her back to the door, and one shoulder advanced as if to defend herself.

girl

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

From this reading The door opened, and a girl entered hurriedly.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.

hand

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

From this reading The other hand remained on the fastening.

Henrietta

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

From this reading The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading She turned the key in the lock, and stood frowning, with her back to the door, and one shoulder advanced as if to defend herself.

hurriedly

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

From this reading The door opened, and a girl entered hurriedly.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading She turned the key in the lock, and stood frowning, with her back to the door, and one shoulder advanced as if to defend herself.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She turned the key in the lock, and stood frowning, with her back to the door, and one shoulder advanced as if to defend herself.

key

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

From this reading She turned the key in the lock, and stood frowning, with her back to the door, and one shoulder advanced as if to defend herself.

latch

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

From this reading The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.

lock

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

From this reading She turned the key in the lock, and stood frowning, with her back to the door, and one shoulder advanced as if to defend herself.

newcomer

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

From this reading The surprise was common to both, for the newcomer had closed the door behind her before she discerned Henrietta, and then her action was eloquent.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The other hand remained on the fastening.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading She turned the key in the lock, and stood frowning, with her back to the door, and one shoulder advanced as if to defend herself.

opened

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

From this reading The door opened, and a girl entered hurriedly.

other

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

From this reading The other hand remained on the fastening.

position

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

From this reading The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.

quickly

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

From this reading The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.

remainednounUS /ˈremained/

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

From this reading The other hand remained on the fastening.

rose

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

From this reading The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.

shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading The surprise was common to both, for the newcomer had closed the door behind her before she discerned Henrietta, and then her action was eloquent.

shoulder

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

From this reading She turned the key in the lock, and stood frowning, with her back to the door, and one shoulder advanced as if to defend herself.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She turned the key in the lock, and stood frowning, with her back to the door, and one shoulder advanced as if to defend herself.

substancenounUS /ˈsʌbstəns/

wealth or financial means

From this reading The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.

surprise

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

From this reading The surprise was common to both, for the newcomer had closed the door behind her before she discerned Henrietta, and then her action was eloquent.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.

then

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

From this reading The surprise was common to both, for the newcomer had closed the door behind her before she discerned Henrietta, and then her action was eloquent.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The substance followed the shadow so quickly that Henrietta had not time to consider her position before the latch rose.

turned

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

From this reading She turned the key in the lock, and stood frowning, with her back to the door, and one shoulder advanced as if to defend herself.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The surprise was common to both, for the newcomer had closed the door behind her before she discerned Henrietta, and then her action was eloquent.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading She turned the key in the lock, and stood frowning, with her back to the door, and one shoulder advanced as if to defend herself.