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The Colossus: A Novel
The Colossus: A Novel

Chapter XX

Cover illustration for The Colossus: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/16 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
CRIED A SENSATION.
In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.
Ragged boys, carrying this sheet, hung about the theaters and cried a sensation when the play was done.
Their aim was to catch strangers, and to turn fiercely upon their importunity was not so effective as simply to say, "I live here."
One night, as Henry and Ellen came out of a theater, they heard these ragged boys shouting the names of Witherspoon and Brooks.
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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 Colossus: A Novel

Chapter XX

Reading 1/16 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
CRIED A SENSATION.
Line 2
In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.
Line 3
Ragged boys, carrying this sheet, hung about the theaters and cried a sensation when the play was done.
Line 4
Their aim was to catch strangers, and to turn fiercely upon their importunity was not so effective as simply to say, "I live here."
Line 5
One night, as Henry and Ellen came out of a theater, they heard these ragged boys shouting the names of Witherspoon and Brooks.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Ragged boys, carrying this sheet, hung about the theaters and cried a sensation when the play was done.”

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.”

CRIED noun US /cried/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “CRIED A SENSATION.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Ragged boys, carrying this sheet, hung about the theaters and cried a sensation when the play was done.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Their aim was to catch strangers, and to turn fiercely upon their importunity was not so effective as simply to say, "I live here."”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “One night, as Henry and Ellen came out of a theater, they heard these ragged boys shouting the names of Witherspoon and Brooks.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “One night, as Henry and Ellen came out of a theater, they heard these ragged boys shouting the names of Witherspoon and Brooks.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Their aim was to catch strangers, and to turn fiercely upon their importunity was not so effective as simply to say, "I live here."”

All words in this reading · 78

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 CRIED A SENSATION.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Ragged boys, carrying this sheet, hung about the theaters and cried a sensation when the play was done.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

aim

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

From this reading Their aim was to catch strangers, and to turn fiercely upon their importunity was not so effective as simply to say, "I live here."

always

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

appeared

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Their aim was to catch strangers, and to turn fiercely upon their importunity was not so effective as simply to say, "I live here."

assuredly

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

border-line

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

boys

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

From this reading Ragged boys, carrying this sheet, hung about the theaters and cried a sensation when the play was done.

Brooks

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

From this reading One night, as Henry and Ellen came out of a theater, they heard these ragged boys shouting the names of Witherspoon and Brooks.

called

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

came

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

From this reading One night, as Henry and Ellen came out of a theater, they heard these ragged boys shouting the names of Witherspoon and Brooks.

carrying

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

From this reading Ragged boys, carrying this sheet, hung about the theaters and cried a sensation when the play was done.

catch

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

From this reading Their aim was to catch strangers, and to turn fiercely upon their importunity was not so effective as simply to say, "I live here."

Chicago

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

CRIEDnounUS /cried/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading CRIED A SENSATION.

darkness

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Ragged boys, carrying this sheet, hung about the theaters and cried a sensation when the play was done.

effective

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

From this reading Their aim was to catch strangers, and to turn fiercely upon their importunity was not so effective as simply to say, "I live here."

Ellen

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

From this reading One night, as Henry and Ellen came out of a theater, they heard these ragged boys shouting the names of Witherspoon and Brooks.

fiercely

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

From this reading Their aim was to catch strangers, and to turn fiercely upon their importunity was not so effective as simply to say, "I live here."

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

heard

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

From this reading One night, as Henry and Ellen came out of a theater, they heard these ragged boys shouting the names of Witherspoon and Brooks.

Henry

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

From this reading One night, as Henry and Ellen came out of a theater, they heard these ragged boys shouting the names of Witherspoon and Brooks.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Their aim was to catch strangers, and to turn fiercely upon their importunity was not so effective as simply to say, "I live here."

hung

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

From this reading Ragged boys, carrying this sheet, hung about the theaters and cried a sensation when the play was done.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Their aim was to catch strangers, and to turn fiercely upon their importunity was not so effective as simply to say, "I live here."

importunity

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

From this reading Their aim was to catch strangers, and to turn fiercely upon their importunity was not so effective as simply to say, "I live here."

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

lamps

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

late

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

light

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

live

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

From this reading Their aim was to catch strangers, and to turn fiercely upon their importunity was not so effective as simply to say, "I live here."

names

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

From this reading One night, as Henry and Ellen came out of a theater, they heard these ragged boys shouting the names of Witherspoon and Brooks.

newspaper

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

night

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One night, as Henry and Ellen came out of a theater, they heard these ragged boys shouting the names of Witherspoon and Brooks.

out

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

From this reading One night, as Henry and Ellen came out of a theater, they heard these ragged boys shouting the names of Witherspoon and Brooks.

play

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

From this reading Ragged boys, carrying this sheet, hung about the theaters and cried a sensation when the play was done.

publication

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

Ragged

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

From this reading Ragged boys, carrying this sheet, hung about the theaters and cried a sensation when the play was done.

rarely

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

say

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

From this reading Their aim was to catch strangers, and to turn fiercely upon their importunity was not so effective as simply to say, "I live here."

seen

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

SENSATION

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

From this reading CRIED A SENSATION.

sheet

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

shouting

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

From this reading One night, as Henry and Ellen came out of a theater, they heard these ragged boys shouting the names of Witherspoon and Brooks.

simply

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

From this reading Their aim was to catch strangers, and to turn fiercely upon their importunity was not so effective as simply to say, "I live here."

smuggled

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Their aim was to catch strangers, and to turn fiercely upon their importunity was not so effective as simply to say, "I live here."

strangers

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

From this reading Their aim was to catch strangers, and to turn fiercely upon their importunity was not so effective as simply to say, "I live here."

street

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

theater

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

From this reading One night, as Henry and Ellen came out of a theater, they heard these ragged boys shouting the names of Witherspoon and Brooks.

theaters

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

From this reading Ragged boys, carrying this sheet, hung about the theaters and cried a sensation when the play was done.

TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Their aim was to catch strangers, and to turn fiercely upon their importunity was not so effective as simply to say, "I live here."

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading One night, as Henry and Ellen came out of a theater, they heard these ragged boys shouting the names of Witherspoon and Brooks.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading One night, as Henry and Ellen came out of a theater, they heard these ragged boys shouting the names of Witherspoon and Brooks.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Ragged boys, carrying this sheet, hung about the theaters and cried a sensation when the play was done.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

turn

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

From this reading Their aim was to catch strangers, and to turn fiercely upon their importunity was not so effective as simply to say, "I live here."

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Their aim was to catch strangers, and to turn fiercely upon their importunity was not so effective as simply to say, "I live here."

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Ragged boys, carrying this sheet, hung about the theaters and cried a sensation when the play was done.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading In Chicago was a sheet--it could not be called a newspaper and assuredly was not a publication--that was rarely seen until late at night, and which always appeared to have been smuggled across the border-line of darkness into the light of the street lamps.

Witherspoon

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

From this reading One night, as Henry and Ellen came out of a theater, they heard these ragged boys shouting the names of Witherspoon and Brooks.