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The champion
The champion

Chapter III

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Context Illustration Reading 1/44 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The apparition advanced a few paces down the centre of the stage.
As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.
The figure paused thus only for a moment.
Then it leaped into the air and cut a wiry caper.
To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The champion

Chapter III

Reading 1/44 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The apparition advanced a few paces down the centre of the stage.
Line 2
As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.
Line 3
The figure paused thus only for a moment.
Line 4
Then it leaped into the air and cut a wiry caper.
Line 5
To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.

Learner Dictionary

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

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.”

Hear noun US /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.”

All words in this reading · 71

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 apparition advanced a few paces down the centre of the stage.

advanced

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

From this reading The apparition advanced a few paces down the centre of the stage.

air

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

From this reading Then it leaped into the air and cut a wiry caper.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Then it leaped into the air and cut a wiry caper.

apparition

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

From this reading The apparition advanced a few paces down the centre of the stage.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

beating

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

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

caper

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

From this reading Then it leaped into the air and cut a wiry caper.

centre

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

From this reading The apparition advanced a few paces down the centre of the stage.

conversant

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

From this reading To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

customs

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

From this reading To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.

cut

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

From this reading Then it leaped into the air and cut a wiry caper.

dawn

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

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

departure

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

From this reading To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.

doubt

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

From this reading To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.

down

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

From this reading The apparition advanced a few paces down the centre of the stage.

etiquette

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

From this reading To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.

fainting

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

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

few

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

From this reading The apparition advanced a few paces down the centre of the stage.

figure

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

From this reading The figure paused thus only for a moment.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The figure paused thus only for a moment.

forth

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

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.

genuineness

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

From this reading To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.

ghosts

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

From this reading To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.

gross

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

From this reading To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.

head

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

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

hearnounUS /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

heart

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

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

induce

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

From this reading To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Then it leaped into the air and cut a wiry caper.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

leaped

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

From this reading Then it leaped into the air and cut a wiry caper.

manifestation

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

From this reading To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.

manners

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

From this reading To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.

moment

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

From this reading The figure paused thus only for a moment.

moonbeams

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

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

more

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

From this reading To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.

Ned

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

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The apparition advanced a few paces down the centre of the stage.

only

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

From this reading The figure paused thus only for a moment.

own

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

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

paces

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

From this reading The apparition advanced a few paces down the centre of the stage.

paused

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

From this reading The figure paused thus only for a moment.

people

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

From this reading To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.

scented

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

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

seem

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

From this reading To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.

shimmer

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

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.

spectral

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

From this reading To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.

stage

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

From this reading The apparition advanced a few paces down the centre of the stage.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

stretched

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

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The apparition advanced a few paces down the centre of the stage.

Then

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

From this reading Then it leaped into the air and cut a wiry caper.

there

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

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.

thus

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

From this reading The figure paused thus only for a moment.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.

traditional

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

From this reading To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.

tumultuous

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

From this reading As it stood there in the fainting shimmer of the moonbeams, its head stretched forth as if it scented the dawn, Ned could hear nothing but the tumultuous beating of his own heart.

wiry

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

From this reading Then it leaped into the air and cut a wiry caper.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading To people more conversant with the traditional manners and customs of ghosts this might seem so gross a departure from spectral etiquette as to induce doubt of the genuineness of the manifestation.