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The Dark Star
The Dark Star

Chapter VIII

Cover illustration for The Dark Star
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
OBSESSION By the end of the week Brandes had done much to efface any unpleasant impression he had made on Ruhannah Carew.
The girl had never before had to do with any mature man.
She was therefore at a disadvantage in every way, and her total lack of experience emphasised the odds.
Nobody had ever before pointedly preferred her, paid her undivided attention; no man had ever sought her, conversed with her, deferred to her, interested himself in her.
It was entirely new to her, this attention which Brandes paid her.
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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 Dark Star

Chapter VIII

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
OBSESSION By the end of the week Brandes had done much to efface any unpleasant impression he had made on Ruhannah Carew.
Line 2
The girl had never before had to do with any mature man.
Line 3
She was therefore at a disadvantage in every way, and her total lack of experience emphasised the odds.
Line 4
Nobody had ever before pointedly preferred her, paid her undivided attention; no man had ever sought her, conversed with her, deferred to her, interested himself in her.
Line 5
It was entirely new to her, this attention which Brandes paid her.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “The girl had never before had to do with any mature man.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “OBSESSION By the end of the week Brandes had done much to efface any unpleasant impression he had made on Ruhannah Carew.”

Entirely noun US /ˈentirely/

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

From this reading “It was entirely new to her, this attention which Brandes paid her.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Nobody had ever before pointedly preferred her, paid her undivided attention; no man had ever sought her, conversed with her, deferred to her, interested himself in her.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “She was therefore at a disadvantage in every way, and her total lack of experience emphasised the odds.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Nobody had ever before pointedly preferred her, paid her undivided attention; no man had ever sought her, conversed with her, deferred to her, interested himself in her.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The girl had never before had to do with any mature man.”

Nobody pronoun US /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/

no person; not anyone

From this reading “Nobody had ever before pointedly preferred her, paid her undivided attention; no man had ever sought her, conversed with her, deferred to her, interested himself in her.”

Therefore adverb US /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading “She was therefore at a disadvantage in every way, and her total lack of experience emphasised the odds.”

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 was therefore at a disadvantage in every way, and her total lack of experience emphasised the odds.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading She was therefore at a disadvantage in every way, and her total lack of experience emphasised the odds.

any

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

From this reading OBSESSION By the end of the week Brandes had done much to efface any unpleasant impression he had made on Ruhannah Carew.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She was therefore at a disadvantage in every way, and her total lack of experience emphasised the odds.

attention

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

From this reading Nobody had ever before pointedly preferred her, paid her undivided attention; no man had ever sought her, conversed with her, deferred to her, interested himself in her.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The girl had never before had to do with any mature man.

Brandes

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

From this reading OBSESSION By the end of the week Brandes had done much to efface any unpleasant impression he had made on Ruhannah Carew.

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading OBSESSION By the end of the week Brandes had done much to efface any unpleasant impression he had made on Ruhannah Carew.

Carew

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

From this reading OBSESSION By the end of the week Brandes had done much to efface any unpleasant impression he had made on Ruhannah Carew.

conversed

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

From this reading Nobody had ever before pointedly preferred her, paid her undivided attention; no man had ever sought her, conversed with her, deferred to her, interested himself in her.

deferred

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

From this reading Nobody had ever before pointedly preferred her, paid her undivided attention; no man had ever sought her, conversed with her, deferred to her, interested himself in her.

disadvantage

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

From this reading She was therefore at a disadvantage in every way, and her total lack of experience emphasised the odds.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading The girl had never before had to do with any mature man.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading OBSESSION By the end of the week Brandes had done much to efface any unpleasant impression he had made on Ruhannah Carew.

efface

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

From this reading OBSESSION By the end of the week Brandes had done much to efface any unpleasant impression he had made on Ruhannah Carew.

emphasised

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

From this reading She was therefore at a disadvantage in every way, and her total lack of experience emphasised the odds.

end

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

From this reading OBSESSION By the end of the week Brandes had done much to efface any unpleasant impression he had made on Ruhannah Carew.

entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/

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

From this reading It was entirely new to her, this attention which Brandes paid her.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Nobody had ever before pointedly preferred her, paid her undivided attention; no man had ever sought her, conversed with her, deferred to her, interested himself in her.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading She was therefore at a disadvantage in every way, and her total lack of experience emphasised the odds.

experience

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

From this reading She was therefore at a disadvantage in every way, and her total lack of experience emphasised the odds.

girl

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

From this reading The girl had never before had to do with any mature man.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading OBSESSION By the end of the week Brandes had done much to efface any unpleasant impression he had made on Ruhannah Carew.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading OBSESSION By the end of the week Brandes had done much to efface any unpleasant impression he had made on Ruhannah Carew.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading She was therefore at a disadvantage in every way, and her total lack of experience emphasised the odds.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Nobody had ever before pointedly preferred her, paid her undivided attention; no man had ever sought her, conversed with her, deferred to her, interested himself in her.

impression

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

From this reading OBSESSION By the end of the week Brandes had done much to efface any unpleasant impression he had made on Ruhannah Carew.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She was therefore at a disadvantage in every way, and her total lack of experience emphasised the odds.

interested

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

From this reading Nobody had ever before pointedly preferred her, paid her undivided attention; no man had ever sought her, conversed with her, deferred to her, interested himself in her.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was entirely new to her, this attention which Brandes paid her.

lack

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

From this reading She was therefore at a disadvantage in every way, and her total lack of experience emphasised the odds.

made

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

From this reading OBSESSION By the end of the week Brandes had done much to efface any unpleasant impression he had made on Ruhannah Carew.

man

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

From this reading The girl had never before had to do with any mature man.

mature

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

From this reading The girl had never before had to do with any mature man.

much

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

From this reading OBSESSION By the end of the week Brandes had done much to efface any unpleasant impression he had made on Ruhannah Carew.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The girl had never before had to do with any mature man.

new

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

From this reading It was entirely new to her, this attention which Brandes paid her.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Nobody had ever before pointedly preferred her, paid her undivided attention; no man had ever sought her, conversed with her, deferred to her, interested himself in her.

NobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/

no person; not anyone

From this reading Nobody had ever before pointedly preferred her, paid her undivided attention; no man had ever sought her, conversed with her, deferred to her, interested himself in her.

OBSESSION

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

From this reading OBSESSION By the end of the week Brandes had done much to efface any unpleasant impression he had made on Ruhannah Carew.

odds

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

From this reading She was therefore at a disadvantage in every way, and her total lack of experience emphasised the odds.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading OBSESSION By the end of the week Brandes had done much to efface any unpleasant impression he had made on Ruhannah Carew.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading OBSESSION By the end of the week Brandes had done much to efface any unpleasant impression he had made on Ruhannah Carew.

paid

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

From this reading Nobody had ever before pointedly preferred her, paid her undivided attention; no man had ever sought her, conversed with her, deferred to her, interested himself in her.

pointedly

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

From this reading Nobody had ever before pointedly preferred her, paid her undivided attention; no man had ever sought her, conversed with her, deferred to her, interested himself in her.

preferred

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

From this reading Nobody had ever before pointedly preferred her, paid her undivided attention; no man had ever sought her, conversed with her, deferred to her, interested himself in her.

Ruhannah

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

From this reading OBSESSION By the end of the week Brandes had done much to efface any unpleasant impression he had made on Ruhannah Carew.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She was therefore at a disadvantage in every way, and her total lack of experience emphasised the odds.

sought

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

From this reading Nobody had ever before pointedly preferred her, paid her undivided attention; no man had ever sought her, conversed with her, deferred to her, interested himself in her.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading OBSESSION By the end of the week Brandes had done much to efface any unpleasant impression he had made on Ruhannah Carew.

thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading She was therefore at a disadvantage in every way, and her total lack of experience emphasised the odds.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading It was entirely new to her, this attention which Brandes paid her.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading OBSESSION By the end of the week Brandes had done much to efface any unpleasant impression he had made on Ruhannah Carew.

total

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

From this reading She was therefore at a disadvantage in every way, and her total lack of experience emphasised the odds.

undivided

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

From this reading Nobody had ever before pointedly preferred her, paid her undivided attention; no man had ever sought her, conversed with her, deferred to her, interested himself in her.

unpleasant

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

From this reading OBSESSION By the end of the week Brandes had done much to efface any unpleasant impression he had made on Ruhannah Carew.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading She was therefore at a disadvantage in every way, and her total lack of experience emphasised the odds.

way

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

From this reading She was therefore at a disadvantage in every way, and her total lack of experience emphasised the odds.

week

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

From this reading OBSESSION By the end of the week Brandes had done much to efface any unpleasant impression he had made on Ruhannah Carew.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It was entirely new to her, this attention which Brandes paid her.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The girl had never before had to do with any mature man.