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The Four Faces: A Mystery
The Four Faces: A Mystery

Chapter XXIV

Cover illustration for The Four Faces: A Mystery
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE GLITTERING UNDERWORLD Never shall I forget that astounding spectacle.
Even as I think of it now, it rises once more before me.
The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.
Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.
Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.
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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 Four Faces: A Mystery

Chapter XXIV

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE GLITTERING UNDERWORLD Never shall I forget that astounding spectacle.
Line 2
Even as I think of it now, it rises once more before me.
Line 3
The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.
Line 4
Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.
Line 5
Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.

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 “Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Even as I think of it now, it rises once more before me.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even as I think of it now, it rises once more before me.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE GLITTERING UNDERWORLD Never shall I forget that astounding spectacle.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even as I think of it now, it rises once more before me.”

Precious adjective US /ˈpreʃəs/

rare and worth a great deal

From this reading “Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.”

Shall modal verb US /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading “THE GLITTERING UNDERWORLD Never shall I forget that astounding spectacle.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even as I think of it now, it rises once more before me.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.”

Wonderful noun US /ˈwonderful/

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

From this reading “Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.”

All words in this reading · 87

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 room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.

all

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

From this reading Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Even as I think of it now, it rises once more before me.

astounding

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

From this reading THE GLITTERING UNDERWORLD Never shall I forget that astounding spectacle.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Even as I think of it now, it rises once more before me.

brilliant

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

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

broad

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

From this reading The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

ceiling

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

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

cellar

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

From this reading The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.

cellars

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

From this reading The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.

collection

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

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

conceivable

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

From this reading Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.

description

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

From this reading Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.

down

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

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

dozen

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

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

electric

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

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

EvennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even as I think of it now, it rises once more before me.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.

few

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

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

forget

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

From this reading THE GLITTERING UNDERWORLD Never shall I forget that astounding spectacle.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

gazed

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

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

glittered

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

From this reading Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.

GLITTERING

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

From this reading THE GLITTERING UNDERWORLD Never shall I forget that astounding spectacle.

guessed

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

From this reading The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.

Heaped

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

From this reading Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading THE GLITTERING UNDERWORLD Never shall I forget that astounding spectacle.

imaginable

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

From this reading Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.

indeed

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

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Even as I think of it now, it rises once more before me.

lamps

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

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

lit

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

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.

low

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

From this reading The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Even as I think of it now, it rises once more before me.

more

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

From this reading Even as I think of it now, it rises once more before me.

most

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

From this reading Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.

NevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE GLITTERING UNDERWORLD Never shall I forget that astounding spectacle.

now

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

From this reading Even as I think of it now, it rises once more before me.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Even as I think of it now, it rises once more before me.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.

once

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

From this reading Even as I think of it now, it rises once more before me.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.

originally

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

From this reading The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.

possibly

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

From this reading The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.

powerful

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

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

preciousadjectiveUS /ˈpreʃəs/

rare and worth a great deal

From this reading Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.

rays

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

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

rises

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

From this reading Even as I think of it now, it rises once more before me.

room

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

From this reading The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.

scintillated

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

From this reading Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.

series

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

From this reading The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.

shades

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

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading THE GLITTERING UNDERWORLD Never shall I forget that astounding spectacle.

shone

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

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

spectacle

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

From this reading THE GLITTERING UNDERWORLD Never shall I forget that astounding spectacle.

stones

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

From this reading Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

tables

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

From this reading Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE GLITTERING UNDERWORLD Never shall I forget that astounding spectacle.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE GLITTERING UNDERWORLD Never shall I forget that astounding spectacle.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even as I think of it now, it rises once more before me.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

tinted

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

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

trays

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

From this reading Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.

treasure

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

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

UNDERWORLD

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

From this reading THE GLITTERING UNDERWORLD Never shall I forget that astounding spectacle.

unset

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

From this reading Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.

up

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

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Now as the brilliant electric rays from a dozen powerful ceiling lamps shone down through their tinted shades, they lit up a collection of treasure such as few indeed can have gazed upon.

very

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

From this reading The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The room, though low, was very long and very broad; I guessed at once that originally it must have been a cellar, or possibly a series of cellars.

way

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

From this reading Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.

wonderfulnounUS /ˈwonderful/

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

From this reading Heaped upon trays on tables all about the room were unset precious stones of every conceivable description, which glittered and scintillated in the most wonderful way imaginable.