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The Time Traders
The Time Traders

Chapter II

Cover illustration for The Time Traders
Context Illustration Reading 1/57 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.
"What--?"
His startled voice rang loudly in his ears, too loudly, for all sound had been wiped out with the light.
The faint swish of the ventilating system, of which he had not been actively aware until it had disappeared, was also missing.
A trace of the same panic he had known in the cockpit of the atomjet tingled along his nerves.
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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 Time Traders

Chapter II

Reading 1/57 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.
Line 2
"What--?"
/wʌt/
Line 3
His startled voice rang loudly in his ears, too loudly, for all sound had been wiped out with the light.
Line 4
The faint swish of the ventilating system, of which he had not been actively aware until it had disappeared, was also missing.
Line 5
A trace of the same panic he had known in the cockpit of the atomjet tingled along his nerves.

Learner Dictionary

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

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “A trace of the same panic he had known in the cockpit of the atomjet tingled along his nerves.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “His startled voice rang loudly in his ears, too loudly, for all sound had been wiped out with the light.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.”

Complete noun US /complete/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.”

Disappeared noun US /ˈdisappeared/

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

From this reading “The faint swish of the ventilating system, of which he had not been actively aware until it had disappeared, was also missing.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A trace of the same panic he had known in the cockpit of the atomjet tingled along his nerves.”

Sudden noun US /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “The faint swish of the ventilating system, of which he had not been actively aware until it had disappeared, was also missing.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.”

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 trace of the same panic he had known in the cockpit of the atomjet tingled along his nerves.

absorbed

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

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

action

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

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

actively

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

From this reading The faint swish of the ventilating system, of which he had not been actively aware until it had disappeared, was also missing.

all

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

From this reading His startled voice rang loudly in his ears, too loudly, for all sound had been wiped out with the light.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading A trace of the same panic he had known in the cockpit of the atomjet tingled along his nerves.

also

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

From this reading The faint swish of the ventilating system, of which he had not been actively aware until it had disappeared, was also missing.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

atomjet

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

From this reading A trace of the same panic he had known in the cockpit of the atomjet tingled along his nerves.

aware

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

From this reading The faint swish of the ventilating system, of which he had not been actively aware until it had disappeared, was also missing.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading His startled voice rang loudly in his ears, too loudly, for all sound had been wiped out with the light.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

blotted

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

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

cockpit

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

From this reading A trace of the same panic he had known in the cockpit of the atomjet tingled along his nerves.

completenounUS /complete/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

darkness

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

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

disappearednounUS /ˈdisappeared/

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

From this reading The faint swish of the ventilating system, of which he had not been actively aware until it had disappeared, was also missing.

ears

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

From this reading His startled voice rang loudly in his ears, too loudly, for all sound had been wiped out with the light.

faint

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

From this reading The faint swish of the ventilating system, of which he had not been actively aware until it had disappeared, was also missing.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading His startled voice rang loudly in his ears, too loudly, for all sound had been wiped out with the light.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The faint swish of the ventilating system, of which he had not been actively aware until it had disappeared, was also missing.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The faint swish of the ventilating system, of which he had not been actively aware until it had disappeared, was also missing.

known

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

From this reading A trace of the same panic he had known in the cockpit of the atomjet tingled along his nerves.

light

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

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

loudly

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

From this reading His startled voice rang loudly in his ears, too loudly, for all sound had been wiped out with the light.

missing

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

From this reading The faint swish of the ventilating system, of which he had not been actively aware until it had disappeared, was also missing.

nerves

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

From this reading A trace of the same panic he had known in the cockpit of the atomjet tingled along his nerves.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The faint swish of the ventilating system, of which he had not been actively aware until it had disappeared, was also missing.

only

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

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

out

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

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

own

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

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

panic

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

From this reading A trace of the same panic he had known in the cockpit of the atomjet tingled along his nerves.

prepared

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

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

rang

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

From this reading His startled voice rang loudly in his ears, too loudly, for all sound had been wiped out with the light.

room

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

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

Ross

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

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A trace of the same panic he had known in the cockpit of the atomjet tingled along his nerves.

scene

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

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

sound

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

From this reading His startled voice rang loudly in his ears, too loudly, for all sound had been wiped out with the light.

startled

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

From this reading His startled voice rang loudly in his ears, too loudly, for all sound had been wiped out with the light.

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

swish

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

From this reading The faint swish of the ventilating system, of which he had not been actively aware until it had disappeared, was also missing.

system

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

From this reading The faint swish of the ventilating system, of which he had not been actively aware until it had disappeared, was also missing.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

tingled

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

From this reading A trace of the same panic he had known in the cockpit of the atomjet tingled along his nerves.

too

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

From this reading His startled voice rang loudly in his ears, too loudly, for all sound had been wiped out with the light.

trace

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

From this reading A trace of the same panic he had known in the cockpit of the atomjet tingled along his nerves.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading The faint swish of the ventilating system, of which he had not been actively aware until it had disappeared, was also missing.

ventilating

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

From this reading The faint swish of the ventilating system, of which he had not been actively aware until it had disappeared, was also missing.

voice

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

From this reading His startled voice rang loudly in his ears, too loudly, for all sound had been wiped out with the light.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

well

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

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "What--?"

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Ross, absorbed in the scene before him, was not prepared for the sudden and complete darkness which blotted out not only the action but the light in his own room as well.

wiped

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

From this reading His startled voice rang loudly in his ears, too loudly, for all sound had been wiped out with the light.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading His startled voice rang loudly in his ears, too loudly, for all sound had been wiped out with the light.