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The Infant's Skull
The Infant's Skull

Chapter XII

Cover illustration for The Infant's Skull
Context Illustration Reading 1/19 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE DELIRIUM OF STARVATION.
Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.
On entering, a torch of resinous wood, fastened near the wall by an iron ring, lighted a heart-rending spectacle.
Stretched out near the hearth lay Den-Brao, his face covered by his mason's jacket; himself expiring of inanition, he wished to escape the sight of the agony of his family.
His wife, Gervaise, so thin that the bones of her face could be counted, was on her knees near a straw pallet where Julyan lay in convulsions.
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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 Infant's Skull

Chapter XII

Reading 1/19 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE DELIRIUM OF STARVATION.
Line 2
Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.
Line 3
On entering, a torch of resinous wood, fastened near the wall by an iron ring, lighted a heart-rending spectacle.
Line 4
Stretched out near the hearth lay Den-Brao, his face covered by his mason's jacket; himself expiring of inanition, he wished to escape the sight of the agony of his family.
Line 5
His wife, Gervaise, so thin that the bones of her face could be counted, was on her knees near a straw pallet where Julyan lay in convulsions.

Learner Dictionary

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

Agony noun US /ˈæɡ.ə.ni/

Extreme physical or mental suffering; intense anguish.

From this reading “Stretched out near the hearth lay Den-Brao, his face covered by his mason's jacket; himself expiring of inanition, he wished to escape the sight of the agony of his family.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “His wife, Gervaise, so thin that the bones of her face could be counted, was on her knees near a straw pallet where Julyan lay in convulsions.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “Stretched out near the hearth lay Den-Brao, his face covered by his mason's jacket; himself expiring of inanition, he wished to escape the sight of the agony of his family.”

Returned noun US /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading “Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.”

Thin adjective US /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading “His wife, Gervaise, so thin that the bones of her face could be counted, was on her knees near a straw pallet where Julyan lay in convulsions.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.”

All words in this reading · 79

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 Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

agonynounUS /ˈæɡ.ə.ni/

Extreme physical or mental suffering; intense anguish.

From this reading Stretched out near the hearth lay Den-Brao, his face covered by his mason's jacket; himself expiring of inanition, he wished to escape the sight of the agony of his family.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading On entering, a torch of resinous wood, fastened near the wall by an iron ring, lighted a heart-rending spectacle.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

back

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

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading His wife, Gervaise, so thin that the bones of her face could be counted, was on her knees near a straw pallet where Julyan lay in convulsions.

bones

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

From this reading His wife, Gervaise, so thin that the bones of her face could be counted, was on her knees near a straw pallet where Julyan lay in convulsions.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading On entering, a torch of resinous wood, fastened near the wall by an iron ring, lighted a heart-rending spectacle.

contesting

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

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

convulsions

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

From this reading His wife, Gervaise, so thin that the bones of her face could be counted, was on her knees near a straw pallet where Julyan lay in convulsions.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading His wife, Gervaise, so thin that the bones of her face could be counted, was on her knees near a straw pallet where Julyan lay in convulsions.

counted

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

From this reading His wife, Gervaise, so thin that the bones of her face could be counted, was on her knees near a straw pallet where Julyan lay in convulsions.

covered

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

From this reading Stretched out near the hearth lay Den-Brao, his face covered by his mason's jacket; himself expiring of inanition, he wished to escape the sight of the agony of his family.

DELIRIUM

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

From this reading THE DELIRIUM OF STARVATION.

Den-Brao

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

From this reading Stretched out near the hearth lay Den-Brao, his face covered by his mason's jacket; himself expiring of inanition, he wished to escape the sight of the agony of his family.

entering

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

From this reading On entering, a torch of resinous wood, fastened near the wall by an iron ring, lighted a heart-rending spectacle.

escape

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

From this reading Stretched out near the hearth lay Den-Brao, his face covered by his mason's jacket; himself expiring of inanition, he wished to escape the sight of the agony of his family.

expiring

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

From this reading Stretched out near the hearth lay Den-Brao, his face covered by his mason's jacket; himself expiring of inanition, he wished to escape the sight of the agony of his family.

face

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

From this reading Stretched out near the hearth lay Den-Brao, his face covered by his mason's jacket; himself expiring of inanition, he wished to escape the sight of the agony of his family.

family

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

From this reading Stretched out near the hearth lay Den-Brao, his face covered by his mason's jacket; himself expiring of inanition, he wished to escape the sight of the agony of his family.

fastened

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

From this reading On entering, a torch of resinous wood, fastened near the wall by an iron ring, lighted a heart-rending spectacle.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

Gervaise

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

From this reading His wife, Gervaise, so thin that the bones of her face could be counted, was on her knees near a straw pallet where Julyan lay in convulsions.

Gregory's

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

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

heart-rending

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

From this reading On entering, a torch of resinous wood, fastened near the wall by an iron ring, lighted a heart-rending spectacle.

hearth

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

From this reading Stretched out near the hearth lay Den-Brao, his face covered by his mason's jacket; himself expiring of inanition, he wished to escape the sight of the agony of his family.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading His wife, Gervaise, so thin that the bones of her face could be counted, was on her knees near a straw pallet where Julyan lay in convulsions.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading Stretched out near the hearth lay Den-Brao, his face covered by his mason's jacket; himself expiring of inanition, he wished to escape the sight of the agony of his family.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

home

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

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

hurried

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

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

hut

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

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading His wife, Gervaise, so thin that the bones of her face could be counted, was on her knees near a straw pallet where Julyan lay in convulsions.

inanition

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

From this reading Stretched out near the hearth lay Den-Brao, his face covered by his mason's jacket; himself expiring of inanition, he wished to escape the sight of the agony of his family.

iron

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

From this reading On entering, a torch of resinous wood, fastened near the wall by an iron ring, lighted a heart-rending spectacle.

jacket

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

From this reading Stretched out near the hearth lay Den-Brao, his face covered by his mason's jacket; himself expiring of inanition, he wished to escape the sight of the agony of his family.

Julyan

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

From this reading His wife, Gervaise, so thin that the bones of her face could be counted, was on her knees near a straw pallet where Julyan lay in convulsions.

knees

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

From this reading His wife, Gervaise, so thin that the bones of her face could be counted, was on her knees near a straw pallet where Julyan lay in convulsions.

lay

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

From this reading Stretched out near the hearth lay Den-Brao, his face covered by his mason's jacket; himself expiring of inanition, he wished to escape the sight of the agony of his family.

lighted

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

From this reading On entering, a torch of resinous wood, fastened near the wall by an iron ring, lighted a heart-rending spectacle.

man

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

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

mason's

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

From this reading Stretched out near the hearth lay Den-Brao, his face covered by his mason's jacket; himself expiring of inanition, he wished to escape the sight of the agony of his family.

midnight

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

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

near

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

From this reading On entering, a torch of resinous wood, fastened near the wall by an iron ring, lighted a heart-rending spectacle.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE DELIRIUM OF STARVATION.

old

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

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On entering, a torch of resinous wood, fastened near the wall by an iron ring, lighted a heart-rending spectacle.

out

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

From this reading Stretched out near the hearth lay Den-Brao, his face covered by his mason's jacket; himself expiring of inanition, he wished to escape the sight of the agony of his family.

pallet

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

From this reading His wife, Gervaise, so thin that the bones of her face could be counted, was on her knees near a straw pallet where Julyan lay in convulsions.

reached

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

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

resinous

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

From this reading On entering, a torch of resinous wood, fastened near the wall by an iron ring, lighted a heart-rending spectacle.

returnednounUS /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

ring

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

From this reading On entering, a torch of resinous wood, fastened near the wall by an iron ring, lighted a heart-rending spectacle.

sight

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

From this reading Stretched out near the hearth lay Den-Brao, his face covered by his mason's jacket; himself expiring of inanition, he wished to escape the sight of the agony of his family.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading His wife, Gervaise, so thin that the bones of her face could be counted, was on her knees near a straw pallet where Julyan lay in convulsions.

spectacle

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

From this reading On entering, a torch of resinous wood, fastened near the wall by an iron ring, lighted a heart-rending spectacle.

spoils

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

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

STARVATION

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

From this reading THE DELIRIUM OF STARVATION.

straw

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

From this reading His wife, Gervaise, so thin that the bones of her face could be counted, was on her knees near a straw pallet where Julyan lay in convulsions.

Stretched

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

From this reading Stretched out near the hearth lay Den-Brao, his face covered by his mason's jacket; himself expiring of inanition, he wished to escape the sight of the agony of his family.

tavern

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

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading His wife, Gervaise, so thin that the bones of her face could be counted, was on her knees near a straw pallet where Julyan lay in convulsions.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE DELIRIUM OF STARVATION.

thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading His wife, Gervaise, so thin that the bones of her face could be counted, was on her knees near a straw pallet where Julyan lay in convulsions.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

Too

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

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

torch

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

From this reading On entering, a torch of resinous wood, fastened near the wall by an iron ring, lighted a heart-rending spectacle.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

wall

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

From this reading On entering, a torch of resinous wood, fastened near the wall by an iron ring, lighted a heart-rending spectacle.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading His wife, Gervaise, so thin that the bones of her face could be counted, was on her knees near a straw pallet where Julyan lay in convulsions.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading His wife, Gervaise, so thin that the bones of her face could be counted, was on her knees near a straw pallet where Julyan lay in convulsions.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.

wife

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

From this reading His wife, Gervaise, so thin that the bones of her face could be counted, was on her knees near a straw pallet where Julyan lay in convulsions.

wished

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

From this reading Stretched out near the hearth lay Den-Brao, his face covered by his mason's jacket; himself expiring of inanition, he wished to escape the sight of the agony of his family.

wood

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

From this reading On entering, a torch of resinous wood, fastened near the wall by an iron ring, lighted a heart-rending spectacle.

Yvon

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

From this reading Too old a man to think of contesting the spoils for which he had returned to Gregory's tavern, Yvon hurried back home and reached his hut towards midnight.