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The Betrayal
The Betrayal

Chapter XX

Cover illustration for The Betrayal
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.
And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.
She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.
A dry twig snapped beneath my feet, and, turning quickly round, she had seen me.
She came forward at once, and for some reason or other I knew that she was glad.
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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.

The Betrayal

Chapter XX

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.
Line 2
And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.
Line 3
She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.
Line 4
A dry twig snapped beneath my feet, and, turning quickly round, she had seen me.
Line 5
She came forward at once, and for some reason or other I knew that she was glad.

Learner Dictionary

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

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.”

Beneath preposition US /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading “A dry twig snapped beneath my feet, and, turning quickly round, she had seen me.”

Forward noun US /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She came forward at once, and for some reason or other I knew that she was glad.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She came forward at once, and for some reason or other I knew that she was glad.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.”

Short adjective US /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading “She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.”

Standing noun US /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading “She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.”

Stopped noun US /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.”

All words in this reading · 94

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 She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

air

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

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

all

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

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

allowed

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

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

ANGELA

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

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

APPROVES

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

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

avoid

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

From this reading And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading A dry twig snapped beneath my feet, and, turning quickly round, she had seen me.

breath

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

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

came

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

From this reading She came forward at once, and for some reason or other I knew that she was glad.

carry

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

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

cliff

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

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

dazzling

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

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

dry

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

From this reading A dry twig snapped beneath my feet, and, turning quickly round, she had seen me.

earnestly

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

From this reading And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.

edge

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

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

entertained

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

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

feet

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

From this reading A dry twig snapped beneath my feet, and, turning quickly round, she had seen me.

flight

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

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

forwardnounUS /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She came forward at once, and for some reason or other I knew that she was glad.

fresh

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

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

gazing

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

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

glad

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

From this reading She came forward at once, and for some reason or other I knew that she was glad.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

ill

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

From this reading And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

knew

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

From this reading She came forward at once, and for some reason or other I knew that she was glad.

LADY

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

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

luck

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

From this reading And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

moment

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

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

most

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

From this reading And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading A dry twig snapped beneath my feet, and, turning quickly round, she had seen me.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

now

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

From this reading And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

once

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

From this reading She came forward at once, and for some reason or other I knew that she was glad.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.

only

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

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading She came forward at once, and for some reason or other I knew that she was glad.

other

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

From this reading She came forward at once, and for some reason or other I knew that she was glad.

out

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

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

person

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

From this reading And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.

possible

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

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

presence

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

From this reading And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.

quickly

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

From this reading A dry twig snapped beneath my feet, and, turning quickly round, she had seen me.

reason

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

From this reading She came forward at once, and for some reason or other I knew that she was glad.

round

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

From this reading A dry twig snapped beneath my feet, and, turning quickly round, she had seen me.

seawards

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

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

seen

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

From this reading A dry twig snapped beneath my feet, and, turning quickly round, she had seen me.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

sight

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

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

snapped

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

From this reading A dry twig snapped beneath my feet, and, turning quickly round, she had seen me.

soft

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

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

some

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

From this reading She came forward at once, and for some reason or other I knew that she was glad.

standingnounUS /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

stoppednounUS /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

straight

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

From this reading And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.

sunlight

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

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

tempted

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

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She came forward at once, and for some reason or other I knew that she was glad.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

thoughts

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

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.

turning

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

From this reading A dry twig snapped beneath my feet, and, turning quickly round, she had seen me.

twig

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

From this reading A dry twig snapped beneath my feet, and, turning quickly round, she had seen me.

walked

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

From this reading And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

west

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

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.

wild

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

From this reading She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

wished

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

From this reading And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.

world

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

From this reading And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.