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Tommy
Tommy

Chapter VII

Cover illustration for Tommy
Context Illustration Reading 1/23 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
What was Alice Lister doing on the night when Tom prayed?
If it had been a night of wonder to Tom, it had been a night of decision to Alice Lister, who had to face another crisis in her life.
While Tom had been offering his almost inarticulate prayer in the trenches in the Ypres salient, Alice Lister sat alone in her bedroom.
More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.
What it had cost her to do this I will not try to describe, for Alice had truly cared for Tom.
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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.

Tommy

Chapter VII

Reading 1/23 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
What was Alice Lister doing on the night when Tom prayed?
Line 2
If it had been a night of wonder to Tom, it had been a night of decision to Alice Lister, who had to face another crisis in her life.
Line 3
While Tom had been offering his almost inarticulate prayer in the trenches in the Ypres salient, Alice Lister sat alone in her bedroom.
Line 4
More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.
Line 5
What it had cost her to do this I will not try to describe, for Alice had truly cared for Tom.

Learner Dictionary

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

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading “More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.”

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “While Tom had been offering his almost inarticulate prayer in the trenches in the Ypres salient, Alice Lister sat alone in her bedroom.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “If it had been a night of wonder to Tom, it had been a night of decision to Alice Lister, who had to face another crisis in her life.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “If it had been a night of wonder to Tom, it had been a night of decision to Alice Lister, who had to face another crisis in her life.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.”

Determined adjective US /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/

having firmly decided to do something

From this reading “More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If it had been a night of wonder to Tom, it had been a night of decision to Alice Lister, who had to face another crisis in her life.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “While Tom had been offering his almost inarticulate prayer in the trenches in the Ypres salient, Alice Lister sat alone in her bedroom.”

All words in this reading · 69

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 If it had been a night of wonder to Tom, it had been a night of decision to Alice Lister, who had to face another crisis in her life.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.

Alice

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

From this reading What was Alice Lister doing on the night when Tom prayed?

almost

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

From this reading While Tom had been offering his almost inarticulate prayer in the trenches in the Ypres salient, Alice Lister sat alone in her bedroom.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading While Tom had been offering his almost inarticulate prayer in the trenches in the Ypres salient, Alice Lister sat alone in her bedroom.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading If it had been a night of wonder to Tom, it had been a night of decision to Alice Lister, who had to face another crisis in her life.

bedroom

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

From this reading While Tom had been offering his almost inarticulate prayer in the trenches in the Ypres salient, Alice Lister sat alone in her bedroom.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading If it had been a night of wonder to Tom, it had been a night of decision to Alice Lister, who had to face another crisis in her life.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.

cared

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

From this reading What it had cost her to do this I will not try to describe, for Alice had truly cared for Tom.

choice

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

From this reading More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.

cost

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

From this reading What it had cost her to do this I will not try to describe, for Alice had truly cared for Tom.

crisis

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

From this reading If it had been a night of wonder to Tom, it had been a night of decision to Alice Lister, who had to face another crisis in her life.

decision

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

From this reading If it had been a night of wonder to Tom, it had been a night of decision to Alice Lister, who had to face another crisis in her life.

describe

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

From this reading What it had cost her to do this I will not try to describe, for Alice had truly cared for Tom.

determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/

having firmly decided to do something

From this reading More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading What it had cost her to do this I will not try to describe, for Alice had truly cared for Tom.

doing

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

From this reading What was Alice Lister doing on the night when Tom prayed?

face

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

From this reading If it had been a night of wonder to Tom, it had been a night of decision to Alice Lister, who had to face another crisis in her life.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading What it had cost her to do this I will not try to describe, for Alice had truly cared for Tom.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading If it had been a night of wonder to Tom, it had been a night of decision to Alice Lister, who had to face another crisis in her life.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading If it had been a night of wonder to Tom, it had been a night of decision to Alice Lister, who had to face another crisis in her life.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading While Tom had been offering his almost inarticulate prayer in the trenches in the Ypres salient, Alice Lister sat alone in her bedroom.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading What it had cost her to do this I will not try to describe, for Alice had truly cared for Tom.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If it had been a night of wonder to Tom, it had been a night of decision to Alice Lister, who had to face another crisis in her life.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading If it had been a night of wonder to Tom, it had been a night of decision to Alice Lister, who had to face another crisis in her life.

inarticulate

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

From this reading While Tom had been offering his almost inarticulate prayer in the trenches in the Ypres salient, Alice Lister sat alone in her bedroom.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading If it had been a night of wonder to Tom, it had been a night of decision to Alice Lister, who had to face another crisis in her life.

lead

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

From this reading More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If it had been a night of wonder to Tom, it had been a night of decision to Alice Lister, who had to face another crisis in her life.

Lister

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

From this reading What was Alice Lister doing on the night when Tom prayed?

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.

More

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

From this reading More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.

night

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

From this reading What was Alice Lister doing on the night when Tom prayed?

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading What it had cost her to do this I will not try to describe, for Alice had truly cared for Tom.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading If it had been a night of wonder to Tom, it had been a night of decision to Alice Lister, who had to face another crisis in her life.

offering

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

From this reading While Tom had been offering his almost inarticulate prayer in the trenches in the Ypres salient, Alice Lister sat alone in her bedroom.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading What was Alice Lister doing on the night when Tom prayed?

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.

prayed

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

From this reading What was Alice Lister doing on the night when Tom prayed?

prayer

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

From this reading While Tom had been offering his almost inarticulate prayer in the trenches in the Ypres salient, Alice Lister sat alone in her bedroom.

salient

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

From this reading While Tom had been offering his almost inarticulate prayer in the trenches in the Ypres salient, Alice Lister sat alone in her bedroom.

sat

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

From this reading While Tom had been offering his almost inarticulate prayer in the trenches in the Ypres salient, Alice Lister sat alone in her bedroom.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.

Sunday

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

From this reading More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading What was Alice Lister doing on the night when Tom prayed?

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading What it had cost her to do this I will not try to describe, for Alice had truly cared for Tom.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading If it had been a night of wonder to Tom, it had been a night of decision to Alice Lister, who had to face another crisis in her life.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.

Tom

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

From this reading What was Alice Lister doing on the night when Tom prayed?

trenches

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

From this reading While Tom had been offering his almost inarticulate prayer in the trenches in the Ypres salient, Alice Lister sat alone in her bedroom.

truly

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

From this reading What it had cost her to do this I will not try to describe, for Alice had truly cared for Tom.

try

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

From this reading What it had cost her to do this I will not try to describe, for Alice had truly cared for Tom.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading What was Alice Lister doing on the night when Tom prayed?

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What was Alice Lister doing on the night when Tom prayed?

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading What was Alice Lister doing on the night when Tom prayed?

WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading While Tom had been offering his almost inarticulate prayer in the trenches in the Ypres salient, Alice Lister sat alone in her bedroom.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading If it had been a night of wonder to Tom, it had been a night of decision to Alice Lister, who had to face another crisis in her life.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading What it had cost her to do this I will not try to describe, for Alice had truly cared for Tom.

wonder

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

From this reading If it had been a night of wonder to Tom, it had been a night of decision to Alice Lister, who had to face another crisis in her life.

year

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

From this reading More than a year had passed since the Sunday afternoon when she had told Tom that he must make his choice between her and the life he seemed determined to lead.

Ypres

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

From this reading While Tom had been offering his almost inarticulate prayer in the trenches in the Ypres salient, Alice Lister sat alone in her bedroom.