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The Golden Web
The Golden Web

Chapter XXXIX

Cover illustration for The Golden Web
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.
To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.
A storm of rain once blew in from the sea, but mostly the day was still and colorless.
To Deane, after the long hours in the crowded courts, his directors' meetings, his self-imposed mask of ease and confidence, the relief of this absolute solitude was immeasurable.
It was just the season of the year when nature and those who minister to her seem alike to sleep.
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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 Golden Web

Chapter XXXIX

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.
Line 2
To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.
Line 3
A storm of rain once blew in from the sea, but mostly the day was still and colorless.
Line 4
To Deane, after the long hours in the crowded courts, his directors' meetings, his self-imposed mask of ease and confidence, the relief of this absolute solitude was immeasurable.
Line 5
It was just the season of the year when nature and those who minister to her seem alike to sleep.

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 “To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “To Deane, after the long hours in the crowded courts, his directors' meetings, his self-imposed mask of ease and confidence, the relief of this absolute solitude was immeasurable.”

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.”

Confidence noun US /ˈconfidence/

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

From this reading “To Deane, after the long hours in the crowded courts, his directors' meetings, his self-imposed mask of ease and confidence, the relief of this absolute solitude was immeasurable.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A storm of rain once blew in from the sea, but mostly the day was still and colorless.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.”

Relief noun US /rɪˈliːf/

a feeling of comfort after worry or pain

From this reading “To Deane, after the long hours in the crowded courts, his directors' meetings, his self-imposed mask of ease and confidence, the relief of this absolute solitude was immeasurable.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A storm of rain once blew in from the sea, but mostly the day was still and colorless.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “It was just the season of the year when nature and those who minister to her seem alike to sleep.”

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 To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

absolute

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

From this reading To Deane, after the long hours in the crowded courts, his directors' meetings, his self-imposed mask of ease and confidence, the relief of this absolute solitude was immeasurable.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading To Deane, after the long hours in the crowded courts, his directors' meetings, his self-imposed mask of ease and confidence, the relief of this absolute solitude was immeasurable.

alike

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

From this reading It was just the season of the year when nature and those who minister to her seem alike to sleep.

ALL

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

From this reading ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.

ASconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.

BEauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.

blew

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

From this reading A storm of rain once blew in from the sea, but mostly the day was still and colorless.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading A storm of rain once blew in from the sea, but mostly the day was still and colorless.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

came

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

From this reading ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.

colorless

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

From this reading A storm of rain once blew in from the sea, but mostly the day was still and colorless.

confidencenounUS /ˈconfidence/

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

From this reading To Deane, after the long hours in the crowded courts, his directors' meetings, his self-imposed mask of ease and confidence, the relief of this absolute solitude was immeasurable.

courts

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

From this reading To Deane, after the long hours in the crowded courts, his directors' meetings, his self-imposed mask of ease and confidence, the relief of this absolute solitude was immeasurable.

crowded

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

From this reading To Deane, after the long hours in the crowded courts, his directors' meetings, his self-imposed mask of ease and confidence, the relief of this absolute solitude was immeasurable.

day

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

From this reading A storm of rain once blew in from the sea, but mostly the day was still and colorless.

Deane

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

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

Deane's

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

From this reading ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.

directors

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

From this reading To Deane, after the long hours in the crowded courts, his directors' meetings, his self-imposed mask of ease and confidence, the relief of this absolute solitude was immeasurable.

ease

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

From this reading To Deane, after the long hours in the crowded courts, his directors' meetings, his self-imposed mask of ease and confidence, the relief of this absolute solitude was immeasurable.

figure

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

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

following

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

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.

front

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

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

gray

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

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading It was just the season of the year when nature and those who minister to her seem alike to sleep.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading To Deane, after the long hours in the crowded courts, his directors' meetings, his self-imposed mask of ease and confidence, the relief of this absolute solitude was immeasurable.

hours

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

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

immeasurable

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

From this reading To Deane, after the long hours in the crowded courts, his directors' meetings, his self-imposed mask of ease and confidence, the relief of this absolute solitude was immeasurable.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.

ITpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.

just

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

From this reading It was just the season of the year when nature and those who minister to her seem alike to sleep.

knew

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

From this reading ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

London

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

From this reading ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.

lonely

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

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

mask

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

From this reading To Deane, after the long hours in the crowded courts, his directors' meetings, his self-imposed mask of ease and confidence, the relief of this absolute solitude was immeasurable.

meetings

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

From this reading To Deane, after the long hours in the crowded courts, his directors' meetings, his self-imposed mask of ease and confidence, the relief of this absolute solitude was immeasurable.

minister

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

From this reading It was just the season of the year when nature and those who minister to her seem alike to sleep.

mostly

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

From this reading A storm of rain once blew in from the sea, but mostly the day was still and colorless.

nature

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

From this reading It was just the season of the year when nature and those who minister to her seem alike to sleep.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A storm of rain once blew in from the sea, but mostly the day was still and colorless.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

once

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

From this reading A storm of rain once blew in from the sea, but mostly the day was still and colorless.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.

person

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

From this reading ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.

plain

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

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

rain

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

From this reading A storm of rain once blew in from the sea, but mostly the day was still and colorless.

receding

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

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

reliefnounUS /rɪˈliːf/

a feeling of comfort after worry or pain

From this reading To Deane, after the long hours in the crowded courts, his directors' meetings, his self-imposed mask of ease and confidence, the relief of this absolute solitude was immeasurable.

sands

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

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

sea

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

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

season

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

From this reading It was just the season of the year when nature and those who minister to her seem alike to sleep.

seem

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

From this reading It was just the season of the year when nature and those who minister to her seem alike to sleep.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

self-imposed

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

From this reading To Deane, after the long hours in the crowded courts, his directors' meetings, his self-imposed mask of ease and confidence, the relief of this absolute solitude was immeasurable.

SHOULDmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.

sleep

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

From this reading It was just the season of the year when nature and those who minister to her seem alike to sleep.

solitude

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

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

spent

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

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A storm of rain once blew in from the sea, but mostly the day was still and colorless.

storm

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

From this reading A storm of rain once blew in from the sea, but mostly the day was still and colorless.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

There

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

From this reading ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading To Deane, after the long hours in the crowded courts, his directors' meetings, his self-imposed mask of ease and confidence, the relief of this absolute solitude was immeasurable.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading It was just the season of the year when nature and those who minister to her seem alike to sleep.

tide

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

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

unreal

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

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

wandering

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

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading It was just the season of the year when nature and those who minister to her seem alike to sleep.

whereabouts

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

From this reading ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading To Deane himself there seemed something unreal about the long hours which he spent in solitude, wandering along the sea front, following the sands left by the receding tide--himself a lonely figure on the great gray plain.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.

word

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

From this reading ALL AS IT SHOULD BE There was one person in London who knew Deane's whereabouts, and from him there came no word.

year

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

From this reading It was just the season of the year when nature and those who minister to her seem alike to sleep.