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The Gloved Hand
The Gloved Hand

Chapter V

Cover illustration for The Gloved Hand
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.
Then I shook myself together.
The fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.
It was too late now to hesitate or turn back; we must press forward.
I felt as though, after a long period of uncertainty, war had been declared and the advance definitely begun.
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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 Gloved Hand

Chapter V

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

Line 1
THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.
Line 2
Then I shook myself together.
Line 3
The fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.
Line 4
It was too late now to hesitate or turn back; we must press forward.
Line 5
I felt as though, after a long period of uncertainty, war had been declared and the advance definitely begun.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “I felt as though, after a long period of uncertainty, war had been declared and the advance definitely begun.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “I felt as though, after a long period of uncertainty, war had been declared and the advance definitely begun.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “The fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.”

Forward noun US /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was too late now to hesitate or turn back; we must press forward.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I felt as though, after a long period of uncertainty, war had been declared and the advance definitely begun.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “It was too late now to hesitate or turn back; we must press forward.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “Then I shook myself together.”

Speak noun US /speak/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “I felt as though, after a long period of uncertainty, war had been declared and the advance definitely begun.”

All words in this reading · 73

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 fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.

advance

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

From this reading I felt as though, after a long period of uncertainty, war had been declared and the advance definitely begun.

affair

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

From this reading The fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading I felt as though, after a long period of uncertainty, war had been declared and the advance definitely begun.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading I felt as though, after a long period of uncertainty, war had been declared and the advance definitely begun.

back

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

From this reading It was too late now to hesitate or turn back; we must press forward.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading I felt as though, after a long period of uncertainty, war had been declared and the advance definitely begun.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.

begun

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

From this reading I felt as though, after a long period of uncertainty, war had been declared and the advance definitely begun.

country

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

From this reading The fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.

darkness

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

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

declared

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

From this reading I felt as though, after a long period of uncertainty, war had been declared and the advance definitely begun.

definitely

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

From this reading I felt as though, after a long period of uncertainty, war had been declared and the advance definitely begun.

descend

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

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

enemy's

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

From this reading The fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.

fact

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

From this reading The fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.

felt

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

From this reading I felt as though, after a long period of uncertainty, war had been declared and the advance definitely begun.

figure

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

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

finality

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

From this reading The fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

forwardnounUS /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was too late now to hesitate or turn back; we must press forward.

gave

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

From this reading The fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.

half-expecting

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

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

hesitate

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

From this reading It was too late now to hesitate or turn back; we must press forward.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.

lacked

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

From this reading The fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.

ladder

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

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

late

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

From this reading It was too late now to hesitate or turn back; we must press forward.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I felt as though, after a long period of uncertainty, war had been declared and the advance definitely begun.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

moments

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

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

moving

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

From this reading The fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading It was too late now to hesitate or turn back; we must press forward.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading Then I shook myself together.

NIGHT

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

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

now

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

From this reading It was too late now to hesitate or turn back; we must press forward.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I felt as though, after a long period of uncertainty, war had been declared and the advance definitely begun.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It was too late now to hesitate or turn back; we must press forward.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading The fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.

period

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

From this reading I felt as though, after a long period of uncertainty, war had been declared and the advance definitely begun.

plot

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

From this reading The fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.

press

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

From this reading It was too late now to hesitate or turn back; we must press forward.

really

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

From this reading The fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.

reappear

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

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

rejoin

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

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

SCREAM

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

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

shadowy

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

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

shook

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

From this reading Then I shook myself together.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.

some

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

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

speak

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

From this reading The fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.

staring

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

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

Swain

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

From this reading The fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

Then

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

From this reading Then I shook myself together.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading I felt as though, after a long period of uncertainty, war had been declared and the advance definitely begun.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

together

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

From this reading Then I shook myself together.

too

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

From this reading It was too late now to hesitate or turn back; we must press forward.

turn

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

From this reading It was too late now to hesitate or turn back; we must press forward.

uncertainty

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

From this reading I felt as though, after a long period of uncertainty, war had been declared and the advance definitely begun.

up

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

From this reading THE SCREAM IN THE NIGHT For some moments, I stood staring up into the darkness, half-expecting that shadowy figure to reappear, descend the ladder, and rejoin me.

war

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

From this reading I felt as though, after a long period of uncertainty, war had been declared and the advance definitely begun.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading It was too late now to hesitate or turn back; we must press forward.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The fact that our plot was really moving, that Swain was in the enemy's country, so to speak, gave the affair a finality which it had lacked before.