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The Elect Lady
The Elect Lady

Chapter XXV

Cover illustration for The Elect Lady
Context Illustration Reading 1/24 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE HEART OF THE HEART.
The laird had been poorly for some weeks, and Alexa began to fear that he was failing.
Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.
If he would but take a start, thought Dawtie, and not lose all the good of this life!
It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!
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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 Elect Lady

Chapter XXV

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE HEART OF THE HEART.
Line 2
The laird had been poorly for some weeks, and Alexa began to fear that he was failing.
Line 3
Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.
Line 4
If he would but take a start, thought Dawtie, and not lose all the good of this life!
Line 5
It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!

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 laird had been poorly for some weeks, and Alexa began to fear that he was failing.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The laird had been poorly for some weeks, and Alexa began to fear that he was failing.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!”

Foot noun US /foot/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If he would but take a start, thought Dawtie, and not lose all the good of this life!”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If he would but take a start, thought Dawtie, and not lose all the good of this life!”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.”

Start noun US /start/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If he would but take a start, thought Dawtie, and not lose all the good of this life!”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If he would but take a start, thought Dawtie, and not lose all the good of this life!”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “If he would but take a start, thought Dawtie, and not lose all the good of this life!”

All words in this reading · 67

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 Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.

Alexa

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

From this reading The laird had been poorly for some weeks, and Alexa began to fear that he was failing.

all

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

From this reading If he would but take a start, thought Dawtie, and not lose all the good of this life!

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The laird had been poorly for some weeks, and Alexa began to fear that he was failing.

anxious

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

From this reading Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The laird had been poorly for some weeks, and Alexa began to fear that he was failing.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The laird had been poorly for some weeks, and Alexa began to fear that he was failing.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.

bliss

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

From this reading It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!

Dawtie

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

From this reading Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.

eternal

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

From this reading It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!

eyes

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

From this reading Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.

failing

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

From this reading The laird had been poorly for some weeks, and Alexa began to fear that he was failing.

fear

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

From this reading The laird had been poorly for some weeks, and Alexa began to fear that he was failing.

footnounUS /foot/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The laird had been poorly for some weeks, and Alexa began to fear that he was failing.

fullness

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

From this reading It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If he would but take a start, thought Dawtie, and not lose all the good of this life!

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The laird had been poorly for some weeks, and Alexa began to fear that he was failing.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The laird had been poorly for some weeks, and Alexa began to fear that he was failing.

HEART

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

From this reading THE HEART OF THE HEART.

high

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

From this reading It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If he would but take a start, thought Dawtie, and not lose all the good of this life!

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!

knew

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

From this reading Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.

laird

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

From this reading The laird had been poorly for some weeks, and Alexa began to fear that he was failing.

late

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

From this reading It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!

leads

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

From this reading It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If he would but take a start, thought Dawtie, and not lose all the good of this life!

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.

lose

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

From this reading If he would but take a start, thought Dawtie, and not lose all the good of this life!

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!

more

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

From this reading Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.

NothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.

now

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

From this reading It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE HEART OF THE HEART.

often

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

From this reading Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.

poorly

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

From this reading The laird had been poorly for some weeks, and Alexa began to fear that he was failing.

rise

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

From this reading It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!

saint

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

From this reading It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!

set

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

From this reading It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!

some

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

From this reading The laird had been poorly for some weeks, and Alexa began to fear that he was failing.

stair

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

From this reading It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!

startnounUS /start/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If he would but take a start, thought Dawtie, and not lose all the good of this life!

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If he would but take a start, thought Dawtie, and not lose all the good of this life!

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The laird had been poorly for some weeks, and Alexa began to fear that he was failing.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE HEART OF THE HEART.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading If he would but take a start, thought Dawtie, and not lose all the good of this life!

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The laird had been poorly for some weeks, and Alexa began to fear that he was failing.

too

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

From this reading It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!

very

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

From this reading It was too late for him to rise very high; he could not now be a saint, but he might at least set a foot on the eternal stair that leads to the fullness of bliss!

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The laird had been poorly for some weeks, and Alexa began to fear that he was failing.

watching

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

From this reading Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.

weeks

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

From this reading The laird had been poorly for some weeks, and Alexa began to fear that he was failing.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.

worried

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

From this reading Nothing more had passed between him and Dawtie, but he knew that anxious eyes were often watching him, and the thought worried him not a little.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading If he would but take a start, thought Dawtie, and not lose all the good of this life!