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The Intoxicated Ghost, and Other Stories
The Intoxicated Ghost, and Other Stories

Chapter IV

Cover illustration for The Intoxicated Ghost, and Other Stories
Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.
Slowly, slowly, the nucleus rose to the surface, dragging the threads behind it.
Then above the water began to form a faint haze.
With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.
The magician made strange gestures, and a slow rotary motion was discerned in the cloud.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Intoxicated Ghost, and Other Stories

Chapter IV

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.
Line 2
Slowly, slowly, the nucleus rose to the surface, dragging the threads behind it.
Line 3
Then above the water began to form a faint haze.
Line 4
With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.
Line 5
The magician made strange gestures, and a slow rotary motion was discerned in the cloud.

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 “Then above the water began to form a faint haze.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then above the water began to form a faint haze.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “Slowly, slowly, the nucleus rose to the surface, dragging the threads behind it.”

Glowing noun US /ˈglowing/

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

From this reading “With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.”

Magician noun US /məˈdʒɪʃ.ən/

A practitioner of magic and ancient arcane arts, often wielding deception and powerful spells.

From this reading “The magician made strange gestures, and a slow rotary motion was discerned in the cloud.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.”

All words in this reading · 78

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 From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Then above the water began to form a faint haze.

absorbing

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

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then above the water began to form a faint haze.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Slowly, slowly, the nucleus rose to the surface, dragging the threads behind it.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

centre

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

cloud

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

From this reading The magician made strange gestures, and a slow rotary motion was discerned in the cloud.

degrees

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

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

discerned

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

From this reading The magician made strange gestures, and a slow rotary motion was discerned in the cloud.

dragging

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

From this reading Slowly, slowly, the nucleus rose to the surface, dragging the threads behind it.

dully

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

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

faint

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

From this reading Then above the water began to form a faint haze.

faintly

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

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

feet

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

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

fibres

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

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

filaments

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

filled

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

fire

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

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

five

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

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

form

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

From this reading Then above the water began to form a faint haze.

four

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

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

gestures

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

From this reading The magician made strange gestures, and a slow rotary motion was discerned in the cloud.

glass

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

globe

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

glowingnounUS /ˈglowing/

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

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

gradual

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

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

grew

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

haze

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

From this reading Then above the water began to form a faint haze.

high

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

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

hyacinth

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

intertwined

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Slowly, slowly, the nucleus rose to the surface, dragging the threads behind it.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

light

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

like

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

liquid

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

luminous

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

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

made

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

From this reading The magician made strange gestures, and a slow rotary motion was discerned in the cloud.

magiciannounUS /məˈdʒɪʃ.ən/

A practitioner of magic and ancient arcane arts, often wielding deception and powerful spells.

From this reading The magician made strange gestures, and a slow rotary motion was discerned in the cloud.

mist

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

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

motion

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

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

mounted

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

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

mouth

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

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

movement

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

nucleus

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

From this reading Slowly, slowly, the nucleus rose to the surface, dragging the threads behind it.

numerous

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

out

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

phosphorescent

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

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

pillar

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

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

roots

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

rose

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

From this reading Slowly, slowly, the nucleus rose to the surface, dragging the threads behind it.

rotary

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

From this reading The magician made strange gestures, and a slow rotary motion was discerned in the cloud.

served

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

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

showed

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

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

sinuous

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

slow

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

Slowly

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

From this reading Slowly, slowly, the nucleus rose to the surface, dragging the threads behind it.

strange

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

From this reading The magician made strange gestures, and a slow rotary motion was discerned in the cloud.

surface

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

From this reading Slowly, slowly, the nucleus rose to the surface, dragging the threads behind it.

tangled

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

Then

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

From this reading Then above the water began to form a faint haze.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

threads

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Slowly, slowly, the nucleus rose to the surface, dragging the threads behind it.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

violet

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.

water

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

From this reading Then above the water began to form a faint haze.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading With gradual motion it mounted, absorbing by degrees the fire from the phosphorescent fibres which served for its roots, until a faintly luminous pillar of dully glowing mist four or five feet high showed above the mouth of the globe.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading From this violet centre, with slow, sinuous movement, numerous filaments of light grew out in the liquid, until the globe was filled with tangled and intertwined threads like the roots of a hyacinth in its glass.