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Winding Paths
Winding Paths

Chapter XXXVII

Cover illustration for Winding Paths
Context Illustration Reading 1/36 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When Hal first saw her old friend she was almost too shocked for words at the swift change in her.
Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.
Jean had not told her of the letter, and she knew nothing of Hal’s coming until she was actually in the house.
When she saw her, she could have cried for gladness.
“How good of you, Hal… how good of you!” she breathed, and Hal, on her knees by the couch, in an unsteady voice replied:
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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.

Winding Paths

Chapter XXXVII

Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When Hal first saw her old friend she was almost too shocked for words at the swift change in her.
Line 2
Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.
Line 3
Jean had not told her of the letter, and she knew nothing of Hal’s coming until she was actually in the house.
Line 4
When she saw her, she could have cried for gladness.
Line 5
“How good of you, Hal… how good of you!” she breathed, and Hal, on her knees by the couch, in an unsteady voice replied:

Learner Dictionary

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

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.”

Cried noun US /cried/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When she saw her, she could have cried for gladness.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When Hal first saw her old friend she was almost too shocked for words at the swift change in her.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““How good of you, Hal… how good of you!” she breathed, and Hal, on her knees by the couch, in an unsteady voice replied:”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “When she saw her, she could have cried for gladness.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “Jean had not told her of the letter, and she knew nothing of Hal’s coming until she was actually in the house.”

Replied noun US /replied/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““How good of you, Hal… how good of you!” she breathed, and Hal, on her knees by the couch, in an unsteady voice replied:”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Jean had not told her of the letter, and she knew nothing of Hal’s coming until she was actually in the house.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “Jean had not told her of the letter, and she knew nothing of Hal’s coming until she was actually in the house.”

All words in this reading · 68

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

actually

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

From this reading Jean had not told her of the letter, and she knew nothing of Hal’s coming until she was actually in the house.

almost

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

From this reading When Hal first saw her old friend she was almost too shocked for words at the swift change in her.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading “How good of you, Hal… how good of you!” she breathed, and Hal, on her knees by the couch, in an unsteady voice replied:

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

any

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

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading When Hal first saw her old friend she was almost too shocked for words at the swift change in her.

breathed

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

From this reading “How good of you, Hal… how good of you!” she breathed, and Hal, on her knees by the couch, in an unsteady voice replied:

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading “How good of you, Hal… how good of you!” she breathed, and Hal, on her knees by the couch, in an unsteady voice replied:

change

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

From this reading When Hal first saw her old friend she was almost too shocked for words at the swift change in her.

cheerfully

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

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

coming

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

From this reading Jean had not told her of the letter, and she knew nothing of Hal’s coming until she was actually in the house.

couch

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

From this reading “How good of you, Hal… how good of you!” she breathed, and Hal, on her knees by the couch, in an unsteady voice replied:

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

criednounUS /cried/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When she saw her, she could have cried for gladness.

felt

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

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When Hal first saw her old friend she was almost too shocked for words at the swift change in her.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading When Hal first saw her old friend she was almost too shocked for words at the swift change in her.

friend

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

From this reading When Hal first saw her old friend she was almost too shocked for words at the swift change in her.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

gladness

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

From this reading When she saw her, she could have cried for gladness.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “How good of you, Hal… how good of you!” she breathed, and Hal, on her knees by the couch, in an unsteady voice replied:

grown

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

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

Hal

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

From this reading When Hal first saw her old friend she was almost too shocked for words at the swift change in her.

Hal's

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

From this reading Jean had not told her of the letter, and she knew nothing of Hal’s coming until she was actually in the house.

hard

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

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading When she saw her, she could have cried for gladness.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading When Hal first saw her old friend she was almost too shocked for words at the swift change in her.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

hide

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

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

house

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

From this reading Jean had not told her of the letter, and she knew nothing of Hal’s coming until she was actually in the house.

how

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

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

ill

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

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading When Hal first saw her old friend she was almost too shocked for words at the swift change in her.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

Jean

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

From this reading Jean had not told her of the letter, and she knew nothing of Hal’s coming until she was actually in the house.

knees

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

From this reading “How good of you, Hal… how good of you!” she breathed, and Hal, on her knees by the couch, in an unsteady voice replied:

knew

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

From this reading Jean had not told her of the letter, and she knew nothing of Hal’s coming until she was actually in the house.

letter

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

From this reading Jean had not told her of the letter, and she knew nothing of Hal’s coming until she was actually in the house.

longer

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

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

Lorraine

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

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Jean had not told her of the letter, and she knew nothing of Hal’s coming until she was actually in the house.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Jean had not told her of the letter, and she knew nothing of Hal’s coming until she was actually in the house.

old

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

From this reading When Hal first saw her old friend she was almost too shocked for words at the swift change in her.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “How good of you, Hal… how good of you!” she breathed, and Hal, on her knees by the couch, in an unsteady voice replied:

repliednounUS /replied/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “How good of you, Hal… how good of you!” she breathed, and Hal, on her knees by the couch, in an unsteady voice replied:

saw

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

From this reading When Hal first saw her old friend she was almost too shocked for words at the swift change in her.

seriously

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

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading When Hal first saw her old friend she was almost too shocked for words at the swift change in her.

shocked

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

From this reading When Hal first saw her old friend she was almost too shocked for words at the swift change in her.

smile

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

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

swift

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

From this reading When Hal first saw her old friend she was almost too shocked for words at the swift change in her.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading When Hal first saw her old friend she was almost too shocked for words at the swift change in her.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Jean had not told her of the letter, and she knew nothing of Hal’s coming until she was actually in the house.

too

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

From this reading When Hal first saw her old friend she was almost too shocked for words at the swift change in her.

tried

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

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

try

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

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

unsteady

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

From this reading “How good of you, Hal… how good of you!” she breathed, and Hal, on her knees by the couch, in an unsteady voice replied:

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Jean had not told her of the letter, and she knew nothing of Hal’s coming until she was actually in the house.

useless

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

From this reading Lorraine tried hard to smile cheerfully, but she could not hide any longer from herself how seriously ill she had grown, and she felt it useless to try and hide it from Hal.

voice

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

From this reading “How good of you, Hal… how good of you!” she breathed, and Hal, on her knees by the couch, in an unsteady voice replied:

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading When Hal first saw her old friend she was almost too shocked for words at the swift change in her.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When Hal first saw her old friend she was almost too shocked for words at the swift change in her.

words

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

From this reading When Hal first saw her old friend she was almost too shocked for words at the swift change in her.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “How good of you, Hal… how good of you!” she breathed, and Hal, on her knees by the couch, in an unsteady voice replied: