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The Lighted Way
The Lighted Way

Chapter II

Cover illustration for The Lighted Way
Context Illustration Reading 1/48 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.
A book which she had apparently been reading had fallen neglected onto the floor.
Steadfastly she watched the passers-by.
Her delicate, expressive features were more than once illuminated with joy, only to be clouded, a moment later, with disappointment.
The color came and went in her cheeks, as though, indeed, she were more sensitive than her years.
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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 Lighted Way

Chapter II

Reading 1/48 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.
Line 2
A book which she had apparently been reading had fallen neglected onto the floor.
Line 3
Steadfastly she watched the passers-by.
Line 4
Her delicate, expressive features were more than once illuminated with joy, only to be clouded, a moment later, with disappointment.
Line 5
The color came and went in her cheeks, as though, indeed, she were more sensitive than her years.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “A book which she had apparently been reading had fallen neglected onto the floor.”

Below preposition US /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading “RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.”

Disappointment noun US /ˈdisappointment/

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

From this reading “Her delicate, expressive features were more than once illuminated with joy, only to be clouded, a moment later, with disappointment.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Her delicate, expressive features were more than once illuminated with joy, only to be clouded, a moment later, with disappointment.”

Onto preposition US /ˈɑːntuː/

moving to a position on a surface

From this reading “A book which she had apparently been reading had fallen neglected onto the floor.”

Thin adjective US /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading “RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “The color came and went in her cheeks, as though, indeed, she were more sensitive than her years.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The color came and went in her cheeks, as though, indeed, she were more sensitive than her years.”

All words in this reading · 77

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 RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

Adam

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

apparently

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

From this reading A book which she had apparently been reading had fallen neglected onto the floor.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The color came and went in her cheeks, as though, indeed, she were more sensitive than her years.

bare

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Her delicate, expressive features were more than once illuminated with joy, only to be clouded, a moment later, with disappointment.

beautiful

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading A book which she had apparently been reading had fallen neglected onto the floor.

belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

book

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

From this reading A book which she had apparently been reading had fallen neglected onto the floor.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

came

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

From this reading The color came and went in her cheeks, as though, indeed, she were more sensitive than her years.

chamber

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

cheeks

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

From this reading The color came and went in her cheeks, as though, indeed, she were more sensitive than her years.

close

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

clouded

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

From this reading Her delicate, expressive features were more than once illuminated with joy, only to be clouded, a moment later, with disappointment.

color

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

From this reading The color came and went in her cheeks, as though, indeed, she were more sensitive than her years.

command

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

delicate

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

From this reading Her delicate, expressive features were more than once illuminated with joy, only to be clouded, a moment later, with disappointment.

disappointmentnounUS /ˈdisappointment/

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

From this reading Her delicate, expressive features were more than once illuminated with joy, only to be clouded, a moment later, with disappointment.

expectant

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

expressive

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

From this reading Her delicate, expressive features were more than once illuminated with joy, only to be clouded, a moment later, with disappointment.

eyes

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

face

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

fallen

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

From this reading A book which she had apparently been reading had fallen neglected onto the floor.

features

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

From this reading Her delicate, expressive features were more than once illuminated with joy, only to be clouded, a moment later, with disappointment.

floor

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

From this reading A book which she had apparently been reading had fallen neglected onto the floor.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

girl

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

gray

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading A book which she had apparently been reading had fallen neglected onto the floor.

HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Her delicate, expressive features were more than once illuminated with joy, only to be clouded, a moment later, with disappointment.

houses

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

illuminated

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

From this reading Her delicate, expressive features were more than once illuminated with joy, only to be clouded, a moment later, with disappointment.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

indeed

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

From this reading The color came and went in her cheeks, as though, indeed, she were more sensitive than her years.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

joy

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

From this reading Her delicate, expressive features were more than once illuminated with joy, only to be clouded, a moment later, with disappointment.

large

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

later

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

From this reading Her delicate, expressive features were more than once illuminated with joy, only to be clouded, a moment later, with disappointment.

moment

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

From this reading Her delicate, expressive features were more than once illuminated with joy, only to be clouded, a moment later, with disappointment.

more

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

From this reading Her delicate, expressive features were more than once illuminated with joy, only to be clouded, a moment later, with disappointment.

neglected

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

From this reading A book which she had apparently been reading had fallen neglected onto the floor.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

once

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

From this reading Her delicate, expressive features were more than once illuminated with joy, only to be clouded, a moment later, with disappointment.

only

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

From this reading Her delicate, expressive features were more than once illuminated with joy, only to be clouded, a moment later, with disappointment.

ontoprepositionUS /ˈɑːntuː/

moving to a position on a surface

From this reading A book which she had apparently been reading had fallen neglected onto the floor.

passers-by

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

From this reading Steadfastly she watched the passers-by.

possible

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

reading

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

From this reading A book which she had apparently been reading had fallen neglected onto the floor.

row

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

RUTH

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

sat

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

sensitive

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

From this reading The color came and went in her cheeks, as though, indeed, she were more sensitive than her years.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading A book which she had apparently been reading had fallen neglected onto the floor.

somber

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

Steadfastly

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

From this reading Steadfastly she watched the passers-by.

stone

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

Street

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Her delicate, expressive features were more than once illuminated with joy, only to be clouded, a moment later, with disappointment.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading The color came and went in her cheeks, as though, indeed, she were more sensitive than her years.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

topmost

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

uncurtained

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

view

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

watched

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

From this reading Steadfastly she watched the passers-by.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The color came and went in her cheeks, as though, indeed, she were more sensitive than her years.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Her delicate, expressive features were more than once illuminated with joy, only to be clouded, a moment later, with disappointment.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

window

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

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading RUTH In the topmost chamber of the last of a row of somber gray stone houses in Adam Street a girl with a thin but beautiful face and large, expectant eyes sat close to the bare, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below.

years

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

From this reading The color came and went in her cheeks, as though, indeed, she were more sensitive than her years.