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Thyrza
Thyrza

Chapter XI

Cover illustration for Thyrza
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
LIGHTS AND SHADOWS Egremont's face, it was true, showed that things were not altogether well with him.
It was not ill-health, but mental restlessness, which expressed itself in the lines of his forehead and the diminished brightness of his eyes.
During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.
It was no mere failing of purpose.
He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.
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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.

Thyrza

Chapter XI

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
LIGHTS AND SHADOWS Egremont's face, it was true, showed that things were not altogether well with him.
Line 2
It was not ill-health, but mental restlessness, which expressed itself in the lines of his forehead and the diminished brightness of his eyes.
Line 3
During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.
Line 4
It was no mere failing of purpose.
Line 5
He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

Learner Dictionary

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

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.”

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.”

Help noun US /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “It was not ill-health, but mental restlessness, which expressed itself in the lines of his forehead and the diminished brightness of his eyes.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.”

Need noun US /need/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “LIGHTS AND SHADOWS Egremont's face, it was true, showed that things were not altogether well with him.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.”

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 During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.

acquaintance

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

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.

altogether

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

From this reading LIGHTS AND SHADOWS Egremont's face, it was true, showed that things were not altogether well with him.

always

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

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading LIGHTS AND SHADOWS Egremont's face, it was true, showed that things were not altogether well with him.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

brightness

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

From this reading It was not ill-health, but mental restlessness, which expressed itself in the lines of his forehead and the diminished brightness of his eyes.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It was not ill-health, but mental restlessness, which expressed itself in the lines of his forehead and the diminished brightness of his eyes.

constant

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

From this reading During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.

delivered

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

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

diminished

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

From this reading It was not ill-health, but mental restlessness, which expressed itself in the lines of his forehead and the diminished brightness of his eyes.

DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.

Egremont's

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

From this reading LIGHTS AND SHADOWS Egremont's face, it was true, showed that things were not altogether well with him.

energy

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

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

expressed

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

From this reading It was not ill-health, but mental restlessness, which expressed itself in the lines of his forehead and the diminished brightness of his eyes.

eyes

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

From this reading It was not ill-health, but mental restlessness, which expressed itself in the lines of his forehead and the diminished brightness of his eyes.

face

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

From this reading LIGHTS AND SHADOWS Egremont's face, it was true, showed that things were not altogether well with him.

failing

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

From this reading It was no mere failing of purpose.

felt

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

From this reading During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.

find

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

From this reading During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

forehead

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

From this reading It was not ill-health, but mental restlessness, which expressed itself in the lines of his forehead and the diminished brightness of his eyes.

Gilbert

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

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

Grail

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

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

grew

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

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.

helpnounUS /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading LIGHTS AND SHADOWS Egremont's face, it was true, showed that things were not altogether well with him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It was not ill-health, but mental restlessness, which expressed itself in the lines of his forehead and the diminished brightness of his eyes.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

ill-health

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

From this reading It was not ill-health, but mental restlessness, which expressed itself in the lines of his forehead and the diminished brightness of his eyes.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was not ill-health, but mental restlessness, which expressed itself in the lines of his forehead and the diminished brightness of his eyes.

incentive

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

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

indeed

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

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading LIGHTS AND SHADOWS Egremont's face, it was true, showed that things were not altogether well with him.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading It was not ill-health, but mental restlessness, which expressed itself in the lines of his forehead and the diminished brightness of his eyes.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.

latter's

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

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

lectures

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

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

less

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

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

LIGHTS

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

From this reading LIGHTS AND SHADOWS Egremont's face, it was true, showed that things were not altogether well with him.

lines

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

From this reading It was not ill-health, but mental restlessness, which expressed itself in the lines of his forehead and the diminished brightness of his eyes.

mental

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

From this reading It was not ill-health, but mental restlessness, which expressed itself in the lines of his forehead and the diminished brightness of his eyes.

mere

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

From this reading It was no mere failing of purpose.

months

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

From this reading During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.

nearer

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

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

neednounUS /need/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading It was no mere failing of purpose.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading LIGHTS AND SHADOWS Egremont's face, it was true, showed that things were not altogether well with him.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was not ill-health, but mental restlessness, which expressed itself in the lines of his forehead and the diminished brightness of his eyes.

prepared

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

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

purpose

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

From this reading It was no mere failing of purpose.

restlessness

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

From this reading It was not ill-health, but mental restlessness, which expressed itself in the lines of his forehead and the diminished brightness of his eyes.

SHADOWS

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

From this reading LIGHTS AND SHADOWS Egremont's face, it was true, showed that things were not altogether well with him.

showed

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

From this reading LIGHTS AND SHADOWS Egremont's face, it was true, showed that things were not altogether well with him.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

stead

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

From this reading During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading LIGHTS AND SHADOWS Egremont's face, it was true, showed that things were not altogether well with him.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It was not ill-health, but mental restlessness, which expressed itself in the lines of his forehead and the diminished brightness of his eyes.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

things

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

From this reading LIGHTS AND SHADOWS Egremont's face, it was true, showed that things were not altogether well with him.

thoroughly

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

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

true

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

From this reading LIGHTS AND SHADOWS Egremont's face, it was true, showed that things were not altogether well with him.

two

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

From this reading During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading LIGHTS AND SHADOWS Egremont's face, it was true, showed that things were not altogether well with him.

weeks

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

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.

well

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

From this reading LIGHTS AND SHADOWS Egremont's face, it was true, showed that things were not altogether well with him.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading LIGHTS AND SHADOWS Egremont's face, it was true, showed that things were not altogether well with him.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It was not ill-health, but mental restlessness, which expressed itself in the lines of his forehead and the diminished brightness of his eyes.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading LIGHTS AND SHADOWS Egremont's face, it was true, showed that things were not altogether well with him.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.

year

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

From this reading During the last two months of the year he had felt a constant need of help, and help such as would alone stead him he could not find.

zeal

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

From this reading He prepared his lectures as thoroughly as ever, and delivered them with no less zeal than in the first weeks; indeed, if anything, his energy grew, for, since his nearer acquaintance with Gilbert Grail, the latter's face before him was always an incentive.