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The Pilgrim's Shell
The Pilgrim's Shell

Chapter II

Cover illustration for The Pilgrim's Shell
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
FERGAN THE QUARRYMAN.
It was long after the bailiff had led away his prisoners.
The night grew rapidly darker.
A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.
A few chips of brush-wood were burning in the fire-place.
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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 Pilgrim's Shell

Chapter II

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
FERGAN THE QUARRYMAN.
Line 2
It was long after the bailiff had led away his prisoners.
Line 3
The night grew rapidly darker.
Line 4
A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.
Line 5
A few chips of brush-wood were burning in the fire-place.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “It was long after the bailiff had led away his prisoners.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was long after the bailiff had led away his prisoners.”

All words in this reading · 63

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 A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading It was long after the bailiff had led away his prisoners.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

away

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

From this reading It was long after the bailiff had led away his prisoners.

bailiff

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

From this reading It was long after the bailiff had led away his prisoners.

bare

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

brush-wood

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

From this reading A few chips of brush-wood were burning in the fire-place.

burning

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

From this reading A few chips of brush-wood were burning in the fire-place.

chips

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

From this reading A few chips of brush-wood were burning in the fire-place.

clad

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

covered

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

darker

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

From this reading The night grew rapidly darker.

deformed

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

escaped

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

extremity

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

face

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

feet

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

FERGAN

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

From this reading FERGAN THE QUARRYMAN.

few

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

From this reading A few chips of brush-wood were burning in the fire-place.

fire-place

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

From this reading A few chips of brush-wood were burning in the fire-place.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

grew

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

From this reading The night grew rapidly darker.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It was long after the bailiff had led away his prisoners.

hair

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

head

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

hearth

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

held

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

hidden

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It was long after the bailiff had led away his prisoners.

hood

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

hut

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

inhabited

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was long after the bailiff had led away his prisoners.

lean

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

led

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

From this reading It was long after the bailiff had led away his prisoners.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was long after the bailiff had led away his prisoners.

near

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

night

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

From this reading The night grew rapidly darker.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

pale

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

prisoners

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

From this reading It was long after the bailiff had led away his prisoners.

QUARRYMAN

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

From this reading FERGAN THE QUARRYMAN.

rapidly

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

From this reading The night grew rapidly darker.

sat

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

smock

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

stone

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

tattered

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading FERGAN THE QUARRYMAN.

village

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was long after the bailiff had led away his prisoners.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading A few chips of brush-wood were burning in the fire-place.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

woman

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.

young

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

From this reading A young woman, pale, lean and deformed, clad in a tattered smock, her feet bare, her head half covered with a hood from which her hair escaped, held her face hidden in her hands, as she sat on a stone near the hearth of the hut which Fergan inhabited at the extremity of the village.