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Wilfrid Cumbermede
Wilfrid Cumbermede

Chapter XXXIV

Cover illustration for Wilfrid Cumbermede
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
ATTEMPTS AND COINCIDENCES.
It was months before I could resume my work.
Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.
The moment, however, that I took the pen in my hand another necessity seized me.
Although Mary had hardly been out of my thoughts, I had heard no word of her since her brother’s death.
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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.

Wilfrid Cumbermede

Chapter XXXIV

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
ATTEMPTS AND COINCIDENCES.
Line 2
It was months before I could resume my work.
Line 3
Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.
Line 4
The moment, however, that I took the pen in my hand another necessity seized me.
Line 5
Although Mary had hardly been out of my thoughts, I had heard no word of her since her brother’s death.

Learner Dictionary

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

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.”

Although noun US /ˈalthough/

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

From this reading “Although Mary had hardly been out of my thoughts, I had heard no word of her since her brother’s death.”

Amongst preposition US /əˈmʌŋst/

surrounded by; in the company of

From this reading “Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “The moment, however, that I took the pen in my hand another necessity seized me.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Although Mary had hardly been out of my thoughts, I had heard no word of her since her brother’s death.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “It was months before I could resume my work.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “It was months before I could resume my work.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The moment, however, that I took the pen in my hand another necessity seized me.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “The moment, however, that I took the pen in my hand another necessity seized me.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.”

Memory noun US /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading “Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “Although Mary had hardly been out of my thoughts, I had heard no word of her since her brother’s death.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The moment, however, that I took the pen in my hand another necessity seized me.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.”

All words in this reading · 80

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

able

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

absence

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

accepted

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

AlthoughnounUS /ˈalthough/

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

From this reading Although Mary had hardly been out of my thoughts, I had heard no word of her since her brother’s death.

amongstprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋst/

surrounded by; in the company of

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading ATTEMPTS AND COINCIDENCES.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading The moment, however, that I took the pen in my hand another necessity seized me.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

assert

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

ATTEMPTS

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

From this reading ATTEMPTS AND COINCIDENCES.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Although Mary had hardly been out of my thoughts, I had heard no word of her since her brother’s death.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading It was months before I could resume my work.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

begun

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

brother's

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

From this reading Although Mary had hardly been out of my thoughts, I had heard no word of her since her brother’s death.

ceased

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

certainty

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

Charley

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

Charley's

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

COINCIDENCES

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

From this reading ATTEMPTS AND COINCIDENCES.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading It was months before I could resume my work.

death

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

From this reading Although Mary had hardly been out of my thoughts, I had heard no word of her since her brother’s death.

despairful

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

established

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

far

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

form

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

guide

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

hand

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

From this reading The moment, however, that I took the pen in my hand another necessity seized me.

hardly

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

From this reading Although Mary had hardly been out of my thoughts, I had heard no word of her since her brother’s death.

heard

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

From this reading Although Mary had hardly been out of my thoughts, I had heard no word of her since her brother’s death.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Although Mary had hardly been out of my thoughts, I had heard no word of her since her brother’s death.

hope

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading The moment, however, that I took the pen in my hand another necessity seized me.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading It was months before I could resume my work.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The moment, however, that I took the pen in my hand another necessity seized me.

invent

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was months before I could resume my work.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

Mary

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

From this reading Although Mary had hardly been out of my thoughts, I had heard no word of her since her brother’s death.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

mists

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

moment

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

From this reading The moment, however, that I took the pen in my hand another necessity seized me.

months

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

From this reading It was months before I could resume my work.

more

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading It was months before I could resume my work.

necessity

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

From this reading The moment, however, that I took the pen in my hand another necessity seized me.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Although Mary had hardly been out of my thoughts, I had heard no word of her since her brother’s death.

NotadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

once

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

out

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

From this reading Although Mary had hardly been out of my thoughts, I had heard no word of her since her brother’s death.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

paper

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

pen

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

resume

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

From this reading It was months before I could resume my work.

rise

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

seized

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

From this reading The moment, however, that I took the pen in my hand another necessity seized me.

silvery

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Although Mary had hardly been out of my thoughts, I had heard no word of her since her brother’s death.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

thoughts

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

From this reading Although Mary had hardly been out of my thoughts, I had heard no word of her since her brother’s death.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The moment, however, that I took the pen in my hand another necessity seized me.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

visage

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

wander

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was months before I could resume my work.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Not until Charley’s absence was, as it were, so far established and accepted that hope had begun to assert itself against memory; that is, not until the form of Charley ceased to wander with despairful visage behind me and began to rise amongst the silvery mists before me, was I able to invent once more, or even to guide the pen with certainty over the paper.

word

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

From this reading Although Mary had hardly been out of my thoughts, I had heard no word of her since her brother’s death.

work

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

From this reading It was months before I could resume my work.