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The Freelands
The Freelands

Chapter XXXIX

Cover illustration for The Freelands
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.
And then, suddenly, up started that thing, and stood there, haunting him!
Why did it come?
What did it want of him?
After writing the little note to Nedda, he hurried to the station and found a train about to start.
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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 Freelands

Chapter XXXIX

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

Line 1
Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.
Line 2
And then, suddenly, up started that thing, and stood there, haunting him!
Line 3
Why did it come?
Line 4
What did it want of him?
Line 5
After writing the little note to Nedda, he hurried to the station and found a train about to start.

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 “After writing the little note to Nedda, he hurried to the station and found a train about to start.”

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “After writing the little note to Nedda, he hurried to the station and found a train about to start.”

Beside preposition US /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading “Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Why did it come?”

Dead noun US /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “After writing the little note to Nedda, he hurried to the station and found a train about to start.”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “After writing the little note to Nedda, he hurried to the station and found a train about to start.”

Nights noun US /naɪts/

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading “Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.”

None pronoun US /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading “Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.”

Start noun US /start/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “After writing the little note to Nedda, he hurried to the station and found a train about to start.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And then, suddenly, up started that thing, and stood there, haunting him!”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading “And then, suddenly, up started that thing, and stood there, haunting him!”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And then, suddenly, up started that thing, and stood there, haunting him!”

Thinking noun US /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.”

All words in this reading · 57

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 After writing the little note to Nedda, he hurried to the station and found a train about to start.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading After writing the little note to Nedda, he hurried to the station and found a train about to start.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading After writing the little note to Nedda, he hurried to the station and found a train about to start.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And then, suddenly, up started that thing, and stood there, haunting him!

besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Why did it come?

dark

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

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

deadnounUS /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

Derek

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

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading Why did it come?

down

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

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

face

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

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading After writing the little note to Nedda, he hurried to the station and found a train about to start.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

haunting

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

From this reading And then, suddenly, up started that thing, and stood there, haunting him!

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading After writing the little note to Nedda, he hurried to the station and found a train about to start.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

hovering

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

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

hurried

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

From this reading After writing the little note to Nedda, he hurried to the station and found a train about to start.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Why did it come?

laid

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

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading After writing the little note to Nedda, he hurried to the station and found a train about to start.

Nedda

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

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

nightsnounUS /naɪts/

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

note

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

From this reading After writing the little note to Nedda, he hurried to the station and found a train about to start.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

pillow

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

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

sleep

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

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

slept

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

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

startnounUS /start/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading After writing the little note to Nedda, he hurried to the station and found a train about to start.

started

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

From this reading And then, suddenly, up started that thing, and stood there, haunting him!

station

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

From this reading After writing the little note to Nedda, he hurried to the station and found a train about to start.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And then, suddenly, up started that thing, and stood there, haunting him!

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading And then, suddenly, up started that thing, and stood there, haunting him!

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And then, suddenly, up started that thing, and stood there, haunting him!

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

then

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

From this reading And then, suddenly, up started that thing, and stood there, haunting him!

there

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

From this reading And then, suddenly, up started that thing, and stood there, haunting him!

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And then, suddenly, up started that thing, and stood there, haunting him!

thinkingnounUS /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading After writing the little note to Nedda, he hurried to the station and found a train about to start.

train

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

From this reading After writing the little note to Nedda, he hurried to the station and found a train about to start.

two

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

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

up

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

From this reading And then, suddenly, up started that thing, and stood there, haunting him!

want

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

From this reading What did it want of him?

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What did it want of him?

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

Why

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

From this reading Why did it come?

woke

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

From this reading Derek, who had slept the sleep of the dead, having had none for two nights, woke thinking of Nedda hovering above him in the dark; of her face laid down beside him on the pillow.

writing

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

From this reading After writing the little note to Nedda, he hurried to the station and found a train about to start.