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The Pawns Count
The Pawns Count

Chapter V

Cover illustration for The Pawns Count
Context Illustration Reading 1/46 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.
He was seated in the most comfortable easy-chair of John Lutchester's bachelor sitting-room.
By his side was a coffee equipage and a decanter of brandy.
His head still throbbed, and his bones ached, but his mind was beginning to grow clearer.
Lutchester, who had been seated at the writing table, swung round in his chair at the sound of his guest's movement.
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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 Pawns Count

Chapter V

Reading 1/46 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.
Line 2
He was seated in the most comfortable easy-chair of John Lutchester's bachelor sitting-room.
Line 3
By his side was a coffee equipage and a decanter of brandy.
Line 4
His head still throbbed, and his bones ached, but his mind was beginning to grow clearer.
Line 5
Lutchester, who had been seated at the writing table, swung round in his chair at the sound of his guest's movement.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Lutchester, who had been seated at the writing table, swung round in his chair at the sound of his guest's movement.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.”

Beginning noun US /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading “His head still throbbed, and his bones ached, but his mind was beginning to grow clearer.”

Brandy noun US /ˈbrændi/

a strong alcoholic drink distilled from wine

From this reading “By his side was a coffee equipage and a decanter of brandy.”

John noun US /john/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was seated in the most comfortable easy-chair of John Lutchester's bachelor sitting-room.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His head still throbbed, and his bones ached, but his mind was beginning to grow clearer.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His head still throbbed, and his bones ached, but his mind was beginning to grow clearer.”

All words in this reading · 62

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 By his side was a coffee equipage and a decanter of brandy.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.

ached

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

From this reading His head still throbbed, and his bones ached, but his mind was beginning to grow clearer.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Lutchester, who had been seated at the writing table, swung round in his chair at the sound of his guest's movement.

bachelor

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

From this reading He was seated in the most comfortable easy-chair of John Lutchester's bachelor sitting-room.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Lutchester, who had been seated at the writing table, swung round in his chair at the sound of his guest's movement.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.

beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading His head still throbbed, and his bones ached, but his mind was beginning to grow clearer.

bones

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

From this reading His head still throbbed, and his bones ached, but his mind was beginning to grow clearer.

brandynounUS /ˈbrændi/

a strong alcoholic drink distilled from wine

From this reading By his side was a coffee equipage and a decanter of brandy.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading His head still throbbed, and his bones ached, but his mind was beginning to grow clearer.

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By his side was a coffee equipage and a decanter of brandy.

chair

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

From this reading Lutchester, who had been seated at the writing table, swung round in his chair at the sound of his guest's movement.

clearer

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

From this reading His head still throbbed, and his bones ached, but his mind was beginning to grow clearer.

coffee

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

From this reading By his side was a coffee equipage and a decanter of brandy.

comfortable

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

From this reading He was seated in the most comfortable easy-chair of John Lutchester's bachelor sitting-room.

decanter

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

From this reading By his side was a coffee equipage and a decanter of brandy.

easy-chair

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

From this reading He was seated in the most comfortable easy-chair of John Lutchester's bachelor sitting-room.

equipage

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

From this reading By his side was a coffee equipage and a decanter of brandy.

eyes

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

From this reading It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.

feel

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

From this reading It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.

Graham

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

From this reading It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.

grow

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

From this reading His head still throbbed, and his bones ached, but his mind was beginning to grow clearer.

guest's

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

From this reading Lutchester, who had been seated at the writing table, swung round in his chair at the sound of his guest's movement.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Lutchester, who had been seated at the writing table, swung round in his chair at the sound of his guest's movement.

half-an-hour

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

From this reading It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was seated in the most comfortable easy-chair of John Lutchester's bachelor sitting-room.

head

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

From this reading His head still throbbed, and his bones ached, but his mind was beginning to grow clearer.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.

John

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

From this reading He was seated in the most comfortable easy-chair of John Lutchester's bachelor sitting-room.

later

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

From this reading It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.

Lutchester

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

From this reading Lutchester, who had been seated at the writing table, swung round in his chair at the sound of his guest's movement.

Lutchester's

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

From this reading He was seated in the most comfortable easy-chair of John Lutchester's bachelor sitting-room.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His head still throbbed, and his bones ached, but his mind was beginning to grow clearer.

more

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

From this reading It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.

most

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

From this reading He was seated in the most comfortable easy-chair of John Lutchester's bachelor sitting-room.

movement

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

From this reading Lutchester, who had been seated at the writing table, swung round in his chair at the sound of his guest's movement.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He was seated in the most comfortable easy-chair of John Lutchester's bachelor sitting-room.

once

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

From this reading It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.

opened

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

From this reading It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.

round

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

From this reading Lutchester, who had been seated at the writing table, swung round in his chair at the sound of his guest's movement.

Sandy

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

From this reading It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.

seated

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

From this reading He was seated in the most comfortable easy-chair of John Lutchester's bachelor sitting-room.

side

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

From this reading By his side was a coffee equipage and a decanter of brandy.

sitting-room

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

From this reading He was seated in the most comfortable easy-chair of John Lutchester's bachelor sitting-room.

sound

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

From this reading Lutchester, who had been seated at the writing table, swung round in his chair at the sound of his guest's movement.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His head still throbbed, and his bones ached, but his mind was beginning to grow clearer.

swung

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

From this reading Lutchester, who had been seated at the writing table, swung round in his chair at the sound of his guest's movement.

table

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

From this reading Lutchester, who had been seated at the writing table, swung round in his chair at the sound of his guest's movement.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.

throbbed

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

From this reading His head still throbbed, and his bones ached, but his mind was beginning to grow clearer.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.

veins

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

From this reading It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.

warm

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

From this reading It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading It was about half-an-hour later when Sandy Graham opened his eyes and began to feel the life once more warm in his veins.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Lutchester, who had been seated at the writing table, swung round in his chair at the sound of his guest's movement.

writing

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

From this reading Lutchester, who had been seated at the writing table, swung round in his chair at the sound of his guest's movement.