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A Child's History of England
A Child's History of England

Chapter XI · England Under Matilda and Stephen

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Context Illustration Reading 1/8 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.
Stephen, whom he had never mistrusted or suspected, started up to claim the throne.
Stephen was the son of Adela, the Conqueror’s daughter, married to the Count of Blois.
To Stephen, and to his brother Henry, the late King had been liberal; making Henry Bishop of Winchester, and finding a good marriage for Stephen, and much enriching him.
This did not prevent Stephen from hastily producing a false witness, a servant of the late King, to swear that the King had named him for his heir upon his death-bed.
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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.

A Child's History of England

Chapter XI · England Under Matilda and Stephen

Reading 1/8 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.
Line 2
Stephen, whom he had never mistrusted or suspected, started up to claim the throne.
Line 3
Stephen was the son of Adela, the Conqueror’s daughter, married to the Count of Blois.
Line 4
To Stephen, and to his brother Henry, the late King had been liberal; making Henry Bishop of Winchester, and finding a good marriage for Stephen, and much enriching him.
Line 5
This did not prevent Stephen from hastily producing a false witness, a servant of the late King, to swear that the King had named him for his heir upon his death-bed.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “To Stephen, and to his brother Henry, the late King had been liberal; making Henry Bishop of Winchester, and finding a good marriage for Stephen, and much enriching him.”

Dead noun US /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To Stephen, and to his brother Henry, the late King had been liberal; making Henry Bishop of Winchester, and finding a good marriage for Stephen, and much enriching him.”

Heir noun US /er/

A person legally or magically entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death.

From this reading “This did not prevent Stephen from hastily producing a false witness, a servant of the late King, to swear that the King had named him for his heir upon his death-bed.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Stephen, whom he had never mistrusted or suspected, started up to claim the throne.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “This did not prevent Stephen from hastily producing a false witness, a servant of the late King, to swear that the King had named him for his heir upon his death-bed.”

All words in this reading · 76

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 The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

Adela

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

From this reading Stephen was the son of Adela, the Conqueror’s daughter, married to the Count of Blois.

all

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

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

away

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

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading To Stephen, and to his brother Henry, the late King had been liberal; making Henry Bishop of Winchester, and finding a good marriage for Stephen, and much enriching him.

Bishop

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

From this reading To Stephen, and to his brother Henry, the late King had been liberal; making Henry Bishop of Winchester, and finding a good marriage for Stephen, and much enriching him.

Blois

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

From this reading Stephen was the son of Adela, the Conqueror’s daughter, married to the Count of Blois.

brother

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

From this reading To Stephen, and to his brother Henry, the late King had been liberal; making Henry Bishop of Winchester, and finding a good marriage for Stephen, and much enriching him.

claim

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

From this reading Stephen, whom he had never mistrusted or suspected, started up to claim the throne.

Conqueror's

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

From this reading Stephen was the son of Adela, the Conqueror’s daughter, married to the Count of Blois.

Count

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

From this reading Stephen was the son of Adela, the Conqueror’s daughter, married to the Count of Blois.

crumbled

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

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

daughter

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

From this reading Stephen was the son of Adela, the Conqueror’s daughter, married to the Count of Blois.

deadnounUS /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

death-bed

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

From this reading This did not prevent Stephen from hastily producing a false witness, a servant of the late King, to swear that the King had named him for his heir upon his death-bed.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading This did not prevent Stephen from hastily producing a false witness, a servant of the late King, to swear that the King had named him for his heir upon his death-bed.

enriching

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

From this reading To Stephen, and to his brother Henry, the late King had been liberal; making Henry Bishop of Winchester, and finding a good marriage for Stephen, and much enriching him.

false

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

From this reading This did not prevent Stephen from hastily producing a false witness, a servant of the late King, to swear that the King had named him for his heir upon his death-bed.

finding

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

From this reading To Stephen, and to his brother Henry, the late King had been liberal; making Henry Bishop of Winchester, and finding a good marriage for Stephen, and much enriching him.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading This did not prevent Stephen from hastily producing a false witness, a servant of the late King, to swear that the King had named him for his heir upon his death-bed.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To Stephen, and to his brother Henry, the late King had been liberal; making Henry Bishop of Winchester, and finding a good marriage for Stephen, and much enriching him.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

hastily

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

From this reading This did not prevent Stephen from hastily producing a false witness, a servant of the late King, to swear that the King had named him for his heir upon his death-bed.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

heap

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

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

heirnounUS /er/

A person legally or magically entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death.

From this reading This did not prevent Stephen from hastily producing a false witness, a servant of the late King, to swear that the King had named him for his heir upon his death-bed.

Henry

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

From this reading To Stephen, and to his brother Henry, the late King had been liberal; making Henry Bishop of Winchester, and finding a good marriage for Stephen, and much enriching him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading To Stephen, and to his brother Henry, the late King had been liberal; making Henry Bishop of Winchester, and finding a good marriage for Stephen, and much enriching him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading To Stephen, and to his brother Henry, the late King had been liberal; making Henry Bishop of Winchester, and finding a good marriage for Stephen, and much enriching him.

hollow

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

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

King

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

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

laboured

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

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

late

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

From this reading To Stephen, and to his brother Henry, the late King had been liberal; making Henry Bishop of Winchester, and finding a good marriage for Stephen, and much enriching him.

liberal

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

From this reading To Stephen, and to his brother Henry, the late King had been liberal; making Henry Bishop of Winchester, and finding a good marriage for Stephen, and much enriching him.

lied

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

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

like

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

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

making

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

From this reading To Stephen, and to his brother Henry, the late King had been liberal; making Henry Bishop of Winchester, and finding a good marriage for Stephen, and much enriching him.

marriage

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

From this reading To Stephen, and to his brother Henry, the late King had been liberal; making Henry Bishop of Winchester, and finding a good marriage for Stephen, and much enriching him.

married

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

From this reading Stephen was the son of Adela, the Conqueror’s daughter, married to the Count of Blois.

mistrusted

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

From this reading Stephen, whom he had never mistrusted or suspected, started up to claim the throne.

much

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

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

named

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

From this reading This did not prevent Stephen from hastily producing a false witness, a servant of the late King, to swear that the King had named him for his heir upon his death-bed.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Stephen, whom he had never mistrusted or suspected, started up to claim the throne.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading This did not prevent Stephen from hastily producing a false witness, a servant of the late King, to swear that the King had named him for his heir upon his death-bed.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Stephen, whom he had never mistrusted or suspected, started up to claim the throne.

plans

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

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

prevent

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

From this reading This did not prevent Stephen from hastily producing a false witness, a servant of the late King, to swear that the King had named him for his heir upon his death-bed.

producing

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

From this reading This did not prevent Stephen from hastily producing a false witness, a servant of the late King, to swear that the King had named him for his heir upon his death-bed.

sand

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

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

schemes

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

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

servant

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

From this reading This did not prevent Stephen from hastily producing a false witness, a servant of the late King, to swear that the King had named him for his heir upon his death-bed.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

son

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

From this reading Stephen was the son of Adela, the Conqueror’s daughter, married to the Count of Blois.

sooner

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

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

started

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

From this reading Stephen, whom he had never mistrusted or suspected, started up to claim the throne.

Stephen

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

From this reading Stephen, whom he had never mistrusted or suspected, started up to claim the throne.

suspected

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

From this reading Stephen, whom he had never mistrusted or suspected, started up to claim the throne.

swear

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

From this reading This did not prevent Stephen from hastily producing a false witness, a servant of the late King, to swear that the King had named him for his heir upon his death-bed.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading This did not prevent Stephen from hastily producing a false witness, a servant of the late King, to swear that the King had named him for his heir upon his death-bed.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This did not prevent Stephen from hastily producing a false witness, a servant of the late King, to swear that the King had named him for his heir upon his death-bed.

throne

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

From this reading Stephen, whom he had never mistrusted or suspected, started up to claim the throne.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Stephen, whom he had never mistrusted or suspected, started up to claim the throne.

up

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

From this reading Stephen, whom he had never mistrusted or suspected, started up to claim the throne.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading This did not prevent Stephen from hastily producing a false witness, a servant of the late King, to swear that the King had named him for his heir upon his death-bed.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The King was no sooner dead than all the plans and schemes he had laboured at so long, and lied so much for, crumbled away like a hollow heap of sand.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Stephen, whom he had never mistrusted or suspected, started up to claim the throne.

Winchester

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

From this reading To Stephen, and to his brother Henry, the late King had been liberal; making Henry Bishop of Winchester, and finding a good marriage for Stephen, and much enriching him.

witness

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

From this reading This did not prevent Stephen from hastily producing a false witness, a servant of the late King, to swear that the King had named him for his heir upon his death-bed.