Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Bronze Bell
The Bronze Bell

Chapter III

Cover illustration for The Bronze Bell
Context Illustration Reading 1/90 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.
But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.
A flood of radiance together with a gust of heated air struck him in the face.
Dazzled, he reeled across the threshold.
The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Bronze Bell

Chapter III

Reading 1/90 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.
Line 2
But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.
Line 3
A flood of radiance together with a gust of heated air struck him in the face.
Line 4
Dazzled, he reeled across the threshold.
Line 5
The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.”

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.”

Reeled verb US /riːld/

moved unsteadily as if about to fall

From this reading “Dazzled, he reeled across the threshold.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.”

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 MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.”

Struck noun US /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A flood of radiance together with a gust of heated air struck him in the face.”

Summons noun US /ˈsʌmənz/

an official order to appear or respond

From this reading “But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.”

All words in this reading · 103

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 MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.

air

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

From this reading A flood of radiance together with a gust of heated air struck him in the face.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

apart

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

From this reading The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

aught

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

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

aware

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

banged

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

From this reading The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

begun

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

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

bolt

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

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

brutal

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

chain

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

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

cheated

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

From this reading The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.

Dazzled

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

From this reading Dazzled, he reeled across the threshold.

deaf

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

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

debate

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

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

door

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

dunes

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

From this reading The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.

ears

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

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

empty

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

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

enter

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

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

evidence

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

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

face

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

From this reading A flood of radiance together with a gust of heated air struck him in the face.

fallen

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

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

fell

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

From this reading The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.

ferocity

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

From this reading The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.

flood

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

From this reading A flood of radiance together with a gust of heated air struck him in the face.

foreordained

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

From this reading The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.

foundation

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

frail

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

From this reading The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.

grated

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

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

gust

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

heated

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

From this reading A flood of radiance together with a gust of heated air struck him in the face.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading A flood of radiance together with a gust of heated air struck him in the face.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

house

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A flood of radiance together with a gust of heated air struck him in the face.

inner

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

jarring

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

MAN

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

momentarily

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

From this reading The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.

more

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

ordinarily

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

otherwise

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

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

PERDU

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

permission

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

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

prey

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

From this reading The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.

radiance

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

From this reading A flood of radiance together with a gust of heated air struck him in the face.

rattled

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

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

reeledverbUS /riːld/

moved unsteadily as if about to fall

From this reading Dazzled, he reeled across the threshold.

refuge

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

From this reading The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.

regain

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

From this reading The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.

rend

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

From this reading The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

shaken

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

shuddered

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

From this reading The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.

slammed

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

slight

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

some

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

storm

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

From this reading The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.

stranger

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

strucknounUS /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A flood of radiance together with a gust of heated air struck him in the face.

summonsnounUS /ˈsʌmənz/

an official order to appear or respond

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

swept

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

swiftly

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

swung

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

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

threshold

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

From this reading Dazzled, he reeled across the threshold.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

together

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

From this reading A flood of radiance together with a gust of heated air struck him in the face.

trebled

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

From this reading The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

violently

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

walls

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

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

wide

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

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

windows

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

From this reading THE MAN PERDU A shadow swept swiftly across one of the windows, and the stranger at the door was aware of a slight jarring as though some more than ordinarily brutal gust of wind had shaken the house upon its foundation, or an inner door had been slammed violently.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A flood of radiance together with a gust of heated air struck him in the face.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading But otherwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permission, when a chain rattled, a bolt grated, and the door swung wide.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading The door banged, and again the house in the dunes shuddered as the storm fell upon it with momentarily trebled ferocity; as if, cheated of its foreordained prey, it would rend apart his frail refuge to regain him.