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Three Weeks
Three Weeks

Chapter III

Cover illustration for Three Weeks
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.
The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.
Silence and darkness--was she fooling him then?
No, there she was by one of the windows; he could dimly see her outline as she passed into the room beyond, through some heavy curtains.
That was why no light came through to the terrace.
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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.

Three Weeks

Chapter III

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.
Line 2
The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.
Line 3
Silence and darkness--was she fooling him then?
Line 4
No, there she was by one of the windows; he could dimly see her outline as she passed into the room beyond, through some heavy curtains.
Line 5
That was why no light came through to the terrace.

Learner Dictionary

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

Beyond preposition US /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading “No, there she was by one of the windows; he could dimly see her outline as she passed into the room beyond, through some heavy curtains.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “No, there she was by one of the windows; he could dimly see her outline as she passed into the room beyond, through some heavy curtains.”

Everything pronoun US /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading “Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “No, there she was by one of the windows; he could dimly see her outline as she passed into the room beyond, through some heavy curtains.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

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

From this reading “Silence and darkness--was she fooling him then?”

Sure noun US /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “No, there she was by one of the windows; he could dimly see her outline as she passed into the room beyond, through some heavy curtains.”

Wonderful noun US /ˈwonderful/

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

From this reading “Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.”

All words in this reading · 64

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.

appeared

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

From this reading The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading No, there she was by one of the windows; he could dimly see her outline as she passed into the room beyond, through some heavy curtains.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading No, there she was by one of the windows; he could dimly see her outline as she passed into the room beyond, through some heavy curtains.

bounded

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

From this reading The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading No, there she was by one of the windows; he could dimly see her outline as she passed into the room beyond, through some heavy curtains.

came

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

From this reading That was why no light came through to the terrace.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading No, there she was by one of the windows; he could dimly see her outline as she passed into the room beyond, through some heavy curtains.

curtains

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

From this reading No, there she was by one of the windows; he could dimly see her outline as she passed into the room beyond, through some heavy curtains.

darkness

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

From this reading Silence and darkness--was she fooling him then?

dimly

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

From this reading No, there she was by one of the windows; he could dimly see her outline as she passed into the room beyond, through some heavy curtains.

evening

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

From this reading Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.

everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.

fooling

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

From this reading Silence and darkness--was she fooling him then?

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.

gate

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

From this reading The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.

got

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

From this reading The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.

happened

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

From this reading Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.

heavy

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

From this reading No, there she was by one of the windows; he could dimly see her outline as she passed into the room beyond, through some heavy curtains.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading No, there she was by one of the windows; he could dimly see her outline as she passed into the room beyond, through some heavy curtains.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Silence and darkness--was she fooling him then?

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.

inside

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

From this reading The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading No, there she was by one of the windows; he could dimly see her outline as she passed into the room beyond, through some heavy curtains.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.

light

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

From this reading That was why no light came through to the terrace.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.

ordinary

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

From this reading Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.

outline

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

From this reading No, there she was by one of the windows; he could dimly see her outline as she passed into the room beyond, through some heavy curtains.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading No, there she was by one of the windows; he could dimly see her outline as she passed into the room beyond, through some heavy curtains.

Paul

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

From this reading Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.

room

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

From this reading No, there she was by one of the windows; he could dimly see her outline as she passed into the room beyond, through some heavy curtains.

see

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

From this reading No, there she was by one of the windows; he could dimly see her outline as she passed into the room beyond, through some heavy curtains.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Silence and darkness--was she fooling him then?

SilencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

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

From this reading Silence and darkness--was she fooling him then?

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.

some

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

From this reading No, there she was by one of the windows; he could dimly see her outline as she passed into the room beyond, through some heavy curtains.

steps

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

From this reading The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.

surenounUS /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.

terrace

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

From this reading The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.

then

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

From this reading Silence and darkness--was she fooling him then?

there

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

From this reading The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading No, there she was by one of the windows; he could dimly see her outline as she passed into the room beyond, through some heavy curtains.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.

unlike

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

From this reading Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.

unlocked

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

From this reading The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.

unusual

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

From this reading Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.

up

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

From this reading The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The gate was unlocked he found when he got there, but no one appeared to be inside, and he bounded up the steps and on to the terrace.

why

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

From this reading That was why no light came through to the terrace.

windows

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

From this reading No, there she was by one of the windows; he could dimly see her outline as she passed into the room beyond, through some heavy curtains.

wonderfulnounUS /ˈwonderful/

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

From this reading Paul was never quite sure of what happened that evening--everything was so wonderful, so unusual, so unlike his ordinary life.