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The Pretty Lady
The Pretty Lady

Chapter XII

Cover illustration for The Pretty Lady
Context Illustration Reading 1/18 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
IN COMMITTEE Within the hotel the glowing Gold Hall, whose Lincrusta Walton panels dated it, was nearly empty.
Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.
A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.
The red lips beneath the green hat discernibly moved, but no faintest murmur therefrom reached the entrance.
The hot, still place seemed to be enchanted.
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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 Pretty Lady

Chapter XII

Reading 1/18 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
IN COMMITTEE Within the hotel the glowing Gold Hall, whose Lincrusta Walton panels dated it, was nearly empty.
Line 2
Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.
Line 3
A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.
Line 4
The red lips beneath the green hat discernibly moved, but no faintest murmur therefrom reached the entrance.
Line 5
The hot, still place seemed to be enchanted.

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 “A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.”

Amid preposition US /əˈmɪd/

in the middle of; surrounded by

From this reading “A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.”

Beneath preposition US /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading “The red lips beneath the green hat discernibly moved, but no faintest murmur therefrom reached the entrance.”

Enchanted adjective US /ɪnˈtʃæn.tɪd/

Filled with or placed under the influence of magical power or charm.

From this reading “The hot, still place seemed to be enchanted.”

Except preposition US /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading “Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.”

Glowing noun US /ˈglowing/

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

From this reading “IN COMMITTEE Within the hotel the glowing Gold Hall, whose Lincrusta Walton panels dated it, was nearly empty.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The hot, still place seemed to be enchanted.”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The hot, still place seemed to be enchanted.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “IN COMMITTEE Within the hotel the glowing Gold Hall, whose Lincrusta Walton panels dated it, was nearly empty.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “IN COMMITTEE Within the hotel the glowing Gold Hall, whose Lincrusta Walton panels dated it, was nearly empty.”

All words in this reading · 83

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 Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.

almost

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

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/

in the middle of; surrounded by

From this reading A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

ashtray

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

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

bald

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

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The hot, still place seemed to be enchanted.

befallen

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

From this reading A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading The red lips beneath the green hat discernibly moved, but no faintest murmur therefrom reached the entrance.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

COMMITTEE

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

From this reading IN COMMITTEE Within the hotel the glowing Gold Hall, whose Lincrusta Walton panels dated it, was nearly empty.

curse

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

From this reading A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.

dated

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

From this reading IN COMMITTEE Within the hotel the glowing Gold Hall, whose Lincrusta Walton panels dated it, was nearly empty.

discernibly

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

From this reading The red lips beneath the green hat discernibly moved, but no faintest murmur therefrom reached the entrance.

electric

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

From this reading A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.

empty

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

From this reading IN COMMITTEE Within the hotel the glowing Gold Hall, whose Lincrusta Walton panels dated it, was nearly empty.

enchantedadjectiveUS /ɪnˈtʃæn.tɪd/

Filled with or placed under the influence of magical power or charm.

From this reading The hot, still place seemed to be enchanted.

entrance

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

From this reading The red lips beneath the green hat discernibly moved, but no faintest murmur therefrom reached the entrance.

exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

faintest

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

From this reading The red lips beneath the green hat discernibly moved, but no faintest murmur therefrom reached the entrance.

glowingnounUS /ˈglowing/

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

From this reading IN COMMITTEE Within the hotel the glowing Gold Hall, whose Lincrusta Walton panels dated it, was nearly empty.

Gold

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

From this reading IN COMMITTEE Within the hotel the glowing Gold Hall, whose Lincrusta Walton panels dated it, was nearly empty.

green

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

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.

Hall

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

From this reading IN COMMITTEE Within the hotel the glowing Gold Hall, whose Lincrusta Walton panels dated it, was nearly empty.

hat

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

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

head

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

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

hot

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

From this reading The hot, still place seemed to be enchanted.

hotel

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

From this reading IN COMMITTEE Within the hotel the glowing Gold Hall, whose Lincrusta Walton panels dated it, was nearly empty.

hotels

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

From this reading A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.

hundred

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

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading IN COMMITTEE Within the hotel the glowing Gold Hall, whose Lincrusta Walton panels dated it, was nearly empty.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading IN COMMITTEE Within the hotel the glowing Gold Hall, whose Lincrusta Walton panels dated it, was nearly empty.

large

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

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

light

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

From this reading A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.

Lincrusta

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

From this reading IN COMMITTEE Within the hotel the glowing Gold Hall, whose Lincrusta Walton panels dated it, was nearly empty.

lips

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

From this reading The red lips beneath the green hat discernibly moved, but no faintest murmur therefrom reached the entrance.

meditating

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

From this reading A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.

meeting

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

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

moved

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

From this reading The red lips beneath the green hat discernibly moved, but no faintest murmur therefrom reached the entrance.

murmur

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

From this reading The red lips beneath the green hat discernibly moved, but no faintest murmur therefrom reached the entrance.

nearly

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

From this reading IN COMMITTEE Within the hotel the glowing Gold Hall, whose Lincrusta Walton panels dated it, was nearly empty.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The red lips beneath the green hat discernibly moved, but no faintest murmur therefrom reached the entrance.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

occupied

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

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

OfprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

only

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

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

panels

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

From this reading IN COMMITTEE Within the hotel the glowing Gold Hall, whose Lincrusta Walton panels dated it, was nearly empty.

place

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

From this reading The hot, still place seemed to be enchanted.

plushy

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

From this reading A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.

pools

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

From this reading A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.

reached

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

From this reading The red lips beneath the green hat discernibly moved, but no faintest murmur therefrom reached the entrance.

red

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

From this reading The red lips beneath the green hat discernibly moved, but no faintest murmur therefrom reached the entrance.

round

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

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The hot, still place seemed to be enchanted.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.

small

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

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

stagnant

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

From this reading A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The hot, still place seemed to be enchanted.

table

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

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

tables

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

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading IN COMMITTEE Within the hotel the glowing Gold Hall, whose Lincrusta Walton panels dated it, was nearly empty.

there

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

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

therefrom

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

From this reading The red lips beneath the green hat discernibly moved, but no faintest murmur therefrom reached the entrance.

thick

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

From this reading A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The hot, still place seemed to be enchanted.

top

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

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.

waiter

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

From this reading A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.

Walton

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

From this reading IN COMMITTEE Within the hotel the glowing Gold Hall, whose Lincrusta Walton panels dated it, was nearly empty.

wandered

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

From this reading A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading IN COMMITTEE Within the hotel the glowing Gold Hall, whose Lincrusta Walton panels dated it, was nearly empty.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Of the hundred small round tables only one was occupied; a bald head and a large green hat were almost meeting over the top of this table, but there was nothing on it except an ashtray.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading IN COMMITTEE Within the hotel the glowing Gold Hall, whose Lincrusta Walton panels dated it, was nearly empty.

WithinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading IN COMMITTEE Within the hotel the glowing Gold Hall, whose Lincrusta Walton panels dated it, was nearly empty.

world

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

From this reading A waiter wandered about amid the thick plushy silence and the stagnant pools of electric light, meditating upon the curse which had befallen the world of hotels.