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The Chase of the Ruby
The Chase of the Ruby

Chapter XVIII

Cover illustration for The Chase of the Ruby
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.
The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.
She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.
'Guy!
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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 Chase of the Ruby

Chapter XVIII

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.
Line 2
The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
Line 3
But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.
Line 4
She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.
Line 5
'Guy!

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.”

Owing noun US /owing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.”

All words in this reading · 61

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 bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.

addressing

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

From this reading She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.

apparently

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

From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.

attitude

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

From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.

bed

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

From this reading She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.

bent

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

From this reading She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.

Broad

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

From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.

continue

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

From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.

contraction

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

From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.

dozen

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

From this reading She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.

endearing

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

From this reading She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.

epithets

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

From this reading She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.

extent

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

From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.

eyes

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

From this reading REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.

Guy

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

From this reading 'Guy!

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.

Holland

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

From this reading REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.

instant

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

From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.

involuntary

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

From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.

Miss

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

From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.

more

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

From this reading REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.

movement

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

From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.

Mr

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

From this reading REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.

muscles

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

From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.

opened

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

From this reading REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.

owing

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

From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.

pupils

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

From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.

REINFORCED

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

From this reading REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.

rigid

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

From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.

shown

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

From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.

signs

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

From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.

small

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

From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.

staring

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

From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.

sufficient

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

From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.

unseeing

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

From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.

volition

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

From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.