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The House of a Thousand Candles
The House of a Thousand Candles

Chapter XVI

Cover illustration for The House of a Thousand Candles
Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.
The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.
The halls were of glacial temperature these cold days, but my room above, the dining-room and the great library were comfortable enough.
I threw down a book and knocked the ashes from my pipe.
“Bates!”
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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 House of a Thousand Candles

Chapter XVI

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.
Line 2
The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.
Line 3
The halls were of glacial temperature these cold days, but my room above, the dining-room and the great library were comfortable enough.
Line 4
I threw down a book and knocked the ashes from my pipe.
Line 5
“Bates!”

Learner Dictionary

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

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “The halls were of glacial temperature these cold days, but my room above, the dining-room and the great library were comfortable enough.”

Ashes noun US /ˈæʃ.ɪz/

The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.

From this reading “I threw down a book and knocked the ashes from my pipe.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.”

Pipe noun US /pipe/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I threw down a book and knocked the ashes from my pipe.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “The halls were of glacial temperature these cold days, but my room above, the dining-room and the great library were comfortable enough.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.”

All words in this reading · 69

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 PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading The halls were of glacial temperature these cold days, but my room above, the dining-room and the great library were comfortable enough.

all

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

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.

andirons

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

From this reading THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/

The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.

From this reading I threw down a book and knocked the ashes from my pipe.

Bates

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

From this reading THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

book

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

From this reading I threw down a book and knocked the ashes from my pipe.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

called

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

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

chimney

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

From this reading THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.

cold

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

From this reading The halls were of glacial temperature these cold days, but my room above, the dining-room and the great library were comfortable enough.

comfortable

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

From this reading The halls were of glacial temperature these cold days, but my room above, the dining-room and the great library were comfortable enough.

constellation

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

From this reading THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

days

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

From this reading The halls were of glacial temperature these cold days, but my room above, the dining-room and the great library were comfortable enough.

demonstrated

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

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

dining-room

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

From this reading The halls were of glacial temperature these cold days, but my room above, the dining-room and the great library were comfortable enough.

down

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

From this reading I threw down a book and knocked the ashes from my pipe.

enough

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

From this reading The halls were of glacial temperature these cold days, but my room above, the dining-room and the great library were comfortable enough.

establishment

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

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

exactly

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

From this reading THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.

favorite

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

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I threw down a book and knocked the ashes from my pipe.

glacial

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

From this reading The halls were of glacial temperature these cold days, but my room above, the dining-room and the great library were comfortable enough.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.

habitable

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

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

halls

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

From this reading The halls were of glacial temperature these cold days, but my room above, the dining-room and the great library were comfortable enough.

heated

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

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

house

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

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

knocked

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

From this reading I threw down a book and knocked the ashes from my pipe.

library

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

From this reading The halls were of glacial temperature these cold days, but my room above, the dining-room and the great library were comfortable enough.

log

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

From this reading THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.

many

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

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

names

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

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.

old

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

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

OLIVIA

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

From this reading THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.

parts

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

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

PASSING

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

From this reading THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.

pipe

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

From this reading I threw down a book and knocked the ashes from my pipe.

relic

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

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.

rolled

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

From this reading THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.

room

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

From this reading The halls were of glacial temperature these cold days, but my room above, the dining-room and the great library were comfortable enough.

sparks

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

From this reading THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.

spot

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

From this reading THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.

temperature

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

From this reading The halls were of glacial temperature these cold days, but my room above, the dining-room and the great library were comfortable enough.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading The halls were of glacial temperature these cold days, but my room above, the dining-room and the great library were comfortable enough.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

threw

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

From this reading I threw down a book and knocked the ashes from my pipe.

thronged

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

From this reading THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.

up

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

From this reading THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading THE PASSING OF OLIVIA Bates brought a great log and rolled it upon exactly the right spot on the andirons, and a great constellation of sparks thronged up the chimney.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The old relic of a house—I called the establishment by many names, but this was, I think, my favorite—could be heated in all its habitable parts, as Bates had demonstrated.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The halls were of glacial temperature these cold days, but my room above, the dining-room and the great library were comfortable enough.