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The House of the Seven Gables
The House of the Seven Gables

Chapter XVI

Cover illustration for The House of the Seven Gables
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“It cannot be, Hepzibah!—it is too late,” said Clifford with deep sadness.
“We are ghosts!
We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!
And, besides,” he continued, with a fastidious sensibility, inalienably characteristic of the man, “it would not be fit nor beautiful to go!
It is an ugly thought that I should be frightful to my fellow-beings, and that children would cling to their mothers’ gowns at sight of me!”
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The House of the Seven Gables

Chapter XVI

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“It cannot be, Hepzibah!—it is too late,” said Clifford with deep sadness.
Line 2
“We are ghosts!
Line 3
We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!
Line 4
And, besides,” he continued, with a fastidious sensibility, inalienably characteristic of the man, “it would not be fit nor beautiful to go!
Line 5
It is an ugly thought that I should be frightful to my fellow-beings, and that children would cling to their mothers’ gowns at sight of me!”

Learner Dictionary

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

Among preposition US /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading “We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!”

Besides preposition US /bɪˈsaɪdz/

in addition to; as well as

From this reading “And, besides,” he continued, with a fastidious sensibility, inalienably characteristic of the man, “it would not be fit nor beautiful to go!”

Continued noun US /ˈcontinued/

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

From this reading “And, besides,” he continued, with a fastidious sensibility, inalienably characteristic of the man, “it would not be fit nor beautiful to go!”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!”

Therefore adverb US /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading “We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It is an ugly thought that I should be frightful to my fellow-beings, and that children would cling to their mothers’ gowns at sight of me!””

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “And, besides,” he continued, with a fastidious sensibility, inalienably characteristic of the man, “it would not be fit nor beautiful to go!”

All words in this reading · 70

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 We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading It is an ugly thought that I should be frightful to my fellow-beings, and that children would cling to their mothers’ gowns at sight of me!”

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!

anywhere

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

From this reading We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading “We are ghosts!

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It is an ugly thought that I should be frightful to my fellow-beings, and that children would cling to their mothers’ gowns at sight of me!”

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading “It cannot be, Hepzibah!—it is too late,” said Clifford with deep sadness.

beautiful

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

From this reading And, besides,” he continued, with a fastidious sensibility, inalienably characteristic of the man, “it would not be fit nor beautiful to go!

beings

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

From this reading We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!

besidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/

in addition to; as well as

From this reading And, besides,” he continued, with a fastidious sensibility, inalienably characteristic of the man, “it would not be fit nor beautiful to go!

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!

cannot

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

From this reading “It cannot be, Hepzibah!—it is too late,” said Clifford with deep sadness.

characteristic

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

From this reading And, besides,” he continued, with a fastidious sensibility, inalienably characteristic of the man, “it would not be fit nor beautiful to go!

children

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

From this reading It is an ugly thought that I should be frightful to my fellow-beings, and that children would cling to their mothers’ gowns at sight of me!”

Clifford

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

From this reading “It cannot be, Hepzibah!—it is too late,” said Clifford with deep sadness.

cling

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

From this reading It is an ugly thought that I should be frightful to my fellow-beings, and that children would cling to their mothers’ gowns at sight of me!”

continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/

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

From this reading And, besides,” he continued, with a fastidious sensibility, inalienably characteristic of the man, “it would not be fit nor beautiful to go!

curse

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

From this reading We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!

deep

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

From this reading “It cannot be, Hepzibah!—it is too late,” said Clifford with deep sadness.

doomed

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

From this reading We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!

fastidious

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

From this reading And, besides,” he continued, with a fastidious sensibility, inalienably characteristic of the man, “it would not be fit nor beautiful to go!

fellow-beings

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

From this reading It is an ugly thought that I should be frightful to my fellow-beings, and that children would cling to their mothers’ gowns at sight of me!”

fit

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

From this reading And, besides,” he continued, with a fastidious sensibility, inalienably characteristic of the man, “it would not be fit nor beautiful to go!

frightful

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

From this reading It is an ugly thought that I should be frightful to my fellow-beings, and that children would cling to their mothers’ gowns at sight of me!”

ghosts

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

From this reading “We are ghosts!

go

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

From this reading And, besides,” he continued, with a fastidious sensibility, inalienably characteristic of the man, “it would not be fit nor beautiful to go!

gowns

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

From this reading It is an ugly thought that I should be frightful to my fellow-beings, and that children would cling to their mothers’ gowns at sight of me!”

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!

haunt

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

From this reading We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading And, besides,” he continued, with a fastidious sensibility, inalienably characteristic of the man, “it would not be fit nor beautiful to go!

Hepzibah

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

From this reading “It cannot be, Hepzibah!—it is too late,” said Clifford with deep sadness.

house

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

From this reading We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!

human

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

From this reading We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading It is an ugly thought that I should be frightful to my fellow-beings, and that children would cling to their mothers’ gowns at sight of me!”

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!

inalienably

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

From this reading And, besides,” he continued, with a fastidious sensibility, inalienably characteristic of the man, “it would not be fit nor beautiful to go!

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “It cannot be, Hepzibah!—it is too late,” said Clifford with deep sadness.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “It cannot be, Hepzibah!—it is too late,” said Clifford with deep sadness.

late

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

From this reading “It cannot be, Hepzibah!—it is too late,” said Clifford with deep sadness.

man

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

From this reading And, besides,” he continued, with a fastidious sensibility, inalienably characteristic of the man, “it would not be fit nor beautiful to go!

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading It is an ugly thought that I should be frightful to my fellow-beings, and that children would cling to their mothers’ gowns at sight of me!”

mothers

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

From this reading It is an ugly thought that I should be frightful to my fellow-beings, and that children would cling to their mothers’ gowns at sight of me!”

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading It is an ugly thought that I should be frightful to my fellow-beings, and that children would cling to their mothers’ gowns at sight of me!”

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading And, besides,” he continued, with a fastidious sensibility, inalienably characteristic of the man, “it would not be fit nor beautiful to go!

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading And, besides,” he continued, with a fastidious sensibility, inalienably characteristic of the man, “it would not be fit nor beautiful to go!

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading And, besides,” he continued, with a fastidious sensibility, inalienably characteristic of the man, “it would not be fit nor beautiful to go!

old

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

From this reading We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!

sadness

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

From this reading “It cannot be, Hepzibah!—it is too late,” said Clifford with deep sadness.

said

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

From this reading “It cannot be, Hepzibah!—it is too late,” said Clifford with deep sadness.

sensibility

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

From this reading And, besides,” he continued, with a fastidious sensibility, inalienably characteristic of the man, “it would not be fit nor beautiful to go!

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading It is an ugly thought that I should be frightful to my fellow-beings, and that children would cling to their mothers’ gowns at sight of me!”

sight

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

From this reading It is an ugly thought that I should be frightful to my fellow-beings, and that children would cling to their mothers’ gowns at sight of me!”

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It is an ugly thought that I should be frightful to my fellow-beings, and that children would cling to their mothers’ gowns at sight of me!”

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading And, besides,” he continued, with a fastidious sensibility, inalienably characteristic of the man, “it would not be fit nor beautiful to go!

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading It is an ugly thought that I should be frightful to my fellow-beings, and that children would cling to their mothers’ gowns at sight of me!”

thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It is an ugly thought that I should be frightful to my fellow-beings, and that children would cling to their mothers’ gowns at sight of me!”

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!

too

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

From this reading “It cannot be, Hepzibah!—it is too late,” said Clifford with deep sadness.

ugly

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

From this reading It is an ugly thought that I should be frightful to my fellow-beings, and that children would cling to their mothers’ gowns at sight of me!”

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “We are ghosts!

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading We have no right among human beings,—no right anywhere but in this old house, which has a curse on it, and which, therefore, we are doomed to haunt!

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading “It cannot be, Hepzibah!—it is too late,” said Clifford with deep sadness.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading And, besides,” he continued, with a fastidious sensibility, inalienably characteristic of the man, “it would not be fit nor beautiful to go!