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The White Terror and The Red
The White Terror and The Red

Chapter XXIII

Chapter 23 of The White Terror and The Red is here in full — 155 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
CLARA BECOMES "ILLEGAL."
Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.
An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.
Clara stood in the doorway of the warden's office, watching the scene.
"Double Chin," the gateman, was still on duty, and as the disguised prisoner approached him the impersonation struck her as absurdly defective.
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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 White Terror and The Red

Chapter XXIII

Chapter 23 of The White Terror and The Red is here in full — 155 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
CLARA BECOMES "ILLEGAL."
Line 2
Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.
Line 3
An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.
Line 4
Clara stood in the doorway of the warden's office, watching the scene.
Line 5
"Double Chin," the gateman, was still on duty, and as the disguised prisoner approached him the impersonation struck her as absurdly defective.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

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

absurdly adverb US /əbˈsɜːrdli/

in an absurd manner or to an absurd degree

From this reading “"Double Chin," the gateman, was still on duty, and as the disguised prisoner approached him the impersonation struck her as absurdly defective.”

colorless adjective US /ˈkʌlərləs/

lacking in variety and interest

From this reading “An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.”

defective adjective US /dɪˈfektɪv/

having a defect

From this reading “"Double Chin," the gateman, was still on duty, and as the disguised prisoner approached him the impersonation struck her as absurdly defective.”

disguised adjective US /dɪsˈɡaɪzd/

having its true character concealed with the intent of misleading

From this reading “"Double Chin," the gateman, was still on duty, and as the disguised prisoner approached him the impersonation struck her as absurdly defective.”

illegal adjective US /ˌɪˈliːɡəl/

prohibited by law or by official or accepted rules

From this reading “CLARA BECOMES "ILLEGAL."”

impersonation noun US /ˌɪmpərsəˈneɪʃən/

a representation of a person that is exaggerated for comic effect

From this reading “"Double Chin," the gateman, was still on duty, and as the disguised prisoner approached him the impersonation struck her as absurdly defective.”

swollen adjective US /ˈswoʊlən/

characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance

From this reading “Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.”

warden's noun US /ˈwɔːrdənz/

possessive form of “warden” — the chief official in charge of a prison

From this reading “Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

silk handkerchief noun + noun

In this reading “Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.”

Double Chin verb + noun

a fold of fatty tissue under the chin

In this reading “"Double Chin," the gateman, was still on duty, and as the disguised prisoner approached him the impersonation struck her as absurdly defective.”

blue silk adjective + noun

In this reading “Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.”

handkerchief round noun + noun

In this reading “Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.”

toward the gate preposition + article + noun counted as “toward … gate”

In this reading “An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.”

next afternoon adjective + noun

In this reading “Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.”

in the doorway preposition + article + noun counted as “in … doorway”

In this reading “Clara stood in the doorway of the warden's office, watching the scene.”

shone out verb + adjective counted as “shine out”

In this reading “An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.”

All words in this reading · 79

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

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 Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

absorbedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbd/

giving or marked by complete attention to

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

absurdlyadverbUS /əbˈsɜːrdli/

in an absurd manner or to an absurd degree

From this reading "Double Chin," the gateman, was still on duty, and as the disguised prisoner approached him the impersonation struck her as absurdly defective.

advancedadjectiveUS /ədˈvænst/

farther along in physical or mental development

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

afternoonnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːn/

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

AndeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

apparentlyadverbUS /əˈperəntli/

from appearances alone

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

approachedverbUS /əˈproʊtʃt/

past form of “approach” — move towards

From this reading "Double Chin," the gateman, was still on duty, and as the disguised prisoner approached him the impersonation struck her as absurdly defective.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

BECOMESverbUS /bɪˈkʌmz/

third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading CLARA BECOMES "ILLEGAL."

blueadjectiveUS /bluː/

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

calledverbUS /kɔːld/

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

cardsnounUS /kɑːrdz/

a game played with playing cards

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

cheeknounUS /tʃiːk/

either side of the face below the eyes

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

ChinnounUS /tʃɪn/

the protruding part of the lower jaw

From this reading "Double Chin," the gateman, was still on duty, and as the disguised prisoner approached him the impersonation struck her as absurdly defective.

cladadjectiveUS /klæd/

wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

CLARA

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

From this reading CLARA BECOMES "ILLEGAL."

clean-shavenadjective

closely shaved recently

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

colorlessadjectiveUS /ˈkʌlərləs/

lacking in variety and interest

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

defectiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈfektɪv/

having a defect

From this reading "Double Chin," the gateman, was still on duty, and as the disguised prisoner approached him the impersonation struck her as absurdly defective.

disguisedadjectiveUS /dɪsˈɡaɪzd/

having its true character concealed with the intent of misleading

From this reading "Double Chin," the gateman, was still on duty, and as the disguised prisoner approached him the impersonation struck her as absurdly defective.

doorwaynounUS /ˈdɔːrweɪ/

the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close

From this reading Clara stood in the doorway of the warden's office, watching the scene.

DoubleverbUS /ˈdʌbəl/

increase twofold

From this reading "Double Chin," the gateman, was still on duty, and as the disguised prisoner approached him the impersonation struck her as absurdly defective.

dutynounUS /ˈduːti/

the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading "Double Chin," the gateman, was still on duty, and as the disguised prisoner approached him the impersonation struck her as absurdly defective.

facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

gamenounUS /ɡeɪm/

a contest with rules to determine a winner

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

gatenounUS /ɡeɪt/

a movable barrier in a fence or wall

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

gateman

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

From this reading "Double Chin," the gateman, was still on duty, and as the disguised prisoner approached him the impersonation struck her as absurdly defective.

handkerchiefnounUS /ˈhæŋkərtʃɪf/

a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading "Double Chin," the gateman, was still on duty, and as the disguised prisoner approached him the impersonation struck her as absurdly defective.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

hournounUS /ˈaʊər/

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

ILLEGALadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈliːɡəl/

prohibited by law or by official or accepted rules

From this reading CLARA BECOMES "ILLEGAL."

impersonationnounUS /ˌɪmpərsəˈneɪʃən/

a representation of a person that is exaggerated for comic effect

From this reading "Double Chin," the gateman, was still on duty, and as the disguised prisoner approached him the impersonation struck her as absurdly defective.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

LateadjectiveUS /leɪt/

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

lateradverbUS /ˈleɪtər/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

Makar

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

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

Mme

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

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

officenounUS /ˈɔːfɪs/

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading Clara stood in the doorway of the warden's office, watching the scene.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Double Chin," the gateman, was still on duty, and as the disguised prisoner approached him the impersonation struck her as absurdly defective.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

parlournounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/

reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

prisonernounUS /ˈprɪzənər/

a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war

From this reading "Double Chin," the gateman, was still on duty, and as the disguised prisoner approached him the impersonation struck her as absurdly defective.

Rodkevich

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

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

roundnounUS /raʊnd/

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

scenenounUS /siːn/

the place where some action occurs

From this reading Clara stood in the doorway of the warden's office, watching the scene.

semi-obscurity

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

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

shoneverbUS /ʃoʊn/

inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

Shubeyko

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

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

silknounUS /sɪlk/

a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

skynounUS /skaɪ/

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

solitaryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləteri/

characterized by or preferring solitude

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

starnounUS /stɑːr/

(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading "Double Chin," the gateman, was still on duty, and as the disguised prisoner approached him the impersonation struck her as absurdly defective.

stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Clara stood in the doorway of the warden's office, watching the scene.

struckadjectiveUS /strʌk/

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading "Double Chin," the gateman, was still on duty, and as the disguised prisoner approached him the impersonation struck her as absurdly defective.

sufferingnounUS /ˈsʌfərɪŋ/

a state of acute pain

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

swollenadjectiveUS /ˈswoʊlən/

characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

toothachenoun

an ache localized in or around a tooth

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

warden'snounUS /ˈwɔːrdənz/

possessive form of “warden” — the chief official in charge of a prison

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "Double Chin," the gateman, was still on duty, and as the disguised prisoner approached him the impersonation struck her as absurdly defective.

watchingnounUS /ˈwɑːtʃɪŋ/

the act of observing; taking a patient look

From this reading Clara stood in the doorway of the warden's office, watching the scene.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Late the next afternoon Mme. Shubeyko called at the warden's house with a blue silk handkerchief round her face, apparently suffering from a swollen cheek or toothache.

womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading An hour or more later, while she and Rodkevich were absorbed in a game of cards in the parlour and a solitary star shone out of the semi-obscurity of a colorless sky, Makar, clean-shaven and clad as a woman, with a blue handkerchief round his face, advanced toward the gate.

Chapter 23 of The White Terror and The Red by Abraham Cahan holds 155 sentences, grouped into 31 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 23 of The White Terror and The Red contain?

Chapter 23 holds 155 sentences of The White Terror and The Red, unabridged, divided into 31 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 23 of The White Terror and The Red by Abraham Cahan exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 155 sentences, grouped into 31 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 23 of The White Terror and The Red?

Work through the 31 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 31 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 23 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 23 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The White Terror and The Red

Common questions about reading The White Terror and The Red by Abraham Cahan on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The White Terror and The Red?

Yes. All 7044 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #39166 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The White Terror and The Red is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #39166, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The White Terror and The Red take to read?

About 587 minutes of reading across 1409 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The White Terror and The Red section by section

How to work through The White Terror and The Red section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of The White Terror and The Red to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The White Terror and The Red

Words and structures a reader meets early in The White Terror and The Red, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Cahan
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The White Terror and The Red; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The White Terror and The Red; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Imported
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The White Terror and The Red; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Bridegroom
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The White Terror and The Red; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.