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A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 3.
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 3.

Chapter V

Cover illustration for A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 3.
Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
MORGAN LE FAY If knights errant were to be believed, not all castles were desirable places to seek hospitality in.
As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.
It was very simple: you discounted a statement ninety-seven per cent; the rest was fact.
Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.
So I was pleased when I saw in the distance a horseman making the bottom turn of the road that wound down from this castle.
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Speed 0.75x
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 Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 3.

Chapter V

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
MORGAN LE FAY If knights errant were to be believed, not all castles were desirable places to seek hospitality in.
Line 2
As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.
Line 3
It was very simple: you discounted a statement ninety-seven per cent; the rest was fact.
Line 4
Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.
Line 5
So I was pleased when I saw in the distance a horseman making the bottom turn of the road that wound down from this castle.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.”

Per preposition US /pɜːr/

for each

From this reading “It was very simple: you discounted a statement ninety-seven per cent; the rest was fact.”

Pleased noun US /ˈpleased/

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

From this reading “So I was pleased when I saw in the distance a horseman making the bottom turn of the road that wound down from this castle.”

Remained noun US /ˈremained/

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

From this reading “Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.”

Rest noun US /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was very simple: you discounted a statement ninety-seven per cent; the rest was fact.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.”

All words in this reading · 86

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 As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.

accordingly

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

From this reading As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.

all

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

From this reading MORGAN LE FAY If knights errant were to be believed, not all castles were desirable places to seek hospitality in.

allowance

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

From this reading Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading MORGAN LE FAY If knights errant were to be believed, not all castles were desirable places to seek hospitality in.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.

believed

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

From this reading MORGAN LE FAY If knights errant were to be believed, not all castles were desirable places to seek hospitality in.

bottom

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

From this reading So I was pleased when I saw in the distance a horseman making the bottom turn of the road that wound down from this castle.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.

castle

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

From this reading Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.

castles

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

From this reading MORGAN LE FAY If knights errant were to be believed, not all castles were desirable places to seek hospitality in.

cent

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

From this reading It was very simple: you discounted a statement ninety-seven per cent; the rest was fact.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.

desirable

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

From this reading MORGAN LE FAY If knights errant were to be believed, not all castles were desirable places to seek hospitality in.

discounted

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

From this reading It was very simple: you discounted a statement ninety-seven per cent; the rest was fact.

distance

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

From this reading So I was pleased when I saw in the distance a horseman making the bottom turn of the road that wound down from this castle.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.

door-bell

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

From this reading Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.

down

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

From this reading So I was pleased when I saw in the distance a horseman making the bottom turn of the road that wound down from this castle.

errant

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

From this reading MORGAN LE FAY If knights errant were to be believed, not all castles were desirable places to seek hospitality in.

fact

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

From this reading As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.

FAY

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

From this reading MORGAN LE FAY If knights errant were to be believed, not all castles were desirable places to seek hospitality in.

find

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

From this reading Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading So I was pleased when I saw in the distance a horseman making the bottom turn of the road that wound down from this castle.

got

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

From this reading As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.

hailing

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

From this reading Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.

horseman

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

From this reading So I was pleased when I saw in the distance a horseman making the bottom turn of the road that wound down from this castle.

hospitality

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

From this reading MORGAN LE FAY If knights errant were to be believed, not all castles were desirable places to seek hospitality in.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading MORGAN LE FAY If knights errant were to be believed, not all castles were desirable places to seek hospitality in.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading MORGAN LE FAY If knights errant were to be believed, not all castles were desirable places to seek hospitality in.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was very simple: you discounted a statement ninety-seven per cent; the rest was fact.

knights

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

From this reading MORGAN LE FAY If knights errant were to be believed, not all castles were desirable places to seek hospitality in.

LE

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

From this reading MORGAN LE FAY If knights errant were to be believed, not all castles were desirable places to seek hospitality in.

making

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

From this reading Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.

matter

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

From this reading As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.

mean

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

From this reading Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.

measured

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

From this reading As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.

modern

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

From this reading As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.

MORGAN

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

From this reading MORGAN LE FAY If knights errant were to be believed, not all castles were desirable places to seek hospitality in.

ninety-seven

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

From this reading It was very simple: you discounted a statement ninety-seven per cent; the rest was fact.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading MORGAN LE FAY If knights errant were to be believed, not all castles were desirable places to seek hospitality in.

Now

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

From this reading Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.

out

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

From this reading Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.

own

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

From this reading As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.

perprepositionUS /pɜːr/

for each

From this reading It was very simple: you discounted a statement ninety-seven per cent; the rest was fact.

persons

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

From this reading As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.

places

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

From this reading MORGAN LE FAY If knights errant were to be believed, not all castles were desirable places to seek hospitality in.

pleasednounUS /ˈpleased/

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

From this reading So I was pleased when I saw in the distance a horseman making the bottom turn of the road that wound down from this castle.

remainednounUS /ˈremained/

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

From this reading Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.

restnounUS /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was very simple: you discounted a statement ninety-seven per cent; the rest was fact.

ringing

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

From this reading Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.

road

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

From this reading So I was pleased when I saw in the distance a horseman making the bottom turn of the road that wound down from this castle.

saw

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

From this reading So I was pleased when I saw in the distance a horseman making the bottom turn of the road that wound down from this castle.

scaled

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

From this reading As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.

seek

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

From this reading MORGAN LE FAY If knights errant were to be believed, not all castles were desirable places to seek hospitality in.

sensible

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

From this reading Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.

simple

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

From this reading It was very simple: you discounted a statement ninety-seven per cent; the rest was fact.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So I was pleased when I saw in the distance a horseman making the bottom turn of the road that wound down from this castle.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.

standards

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

From this reading As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.

statement

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

From this reading It was very simple: you discounted a statement ninety-seven per cent; the rest was fact.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading MORGAN LE FAY If knights errant were to be believed, not all castles were desirable places to seek hospitality in.

truth

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

From this reading As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.

turn

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

From this reading So I was pleased when I saw in the distance a horseman making the bottom turn of the road that wound down from this castle.

veracity

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

From this reading As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.

very

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

From this reading It was very simple: you discounted a statement ninety-seven per cent; the rest was fact.

warders

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

From this reading Now after making this allowance, the truth remained that if I could find out something about a castle before ringing the door-bell--I mean hailing the warders--it was the sensible thing to do.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was very simple: you discounted a statement ninety-seven per cent; the rest was fact.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading MORGAN LE FAY If knights errant were to be believed, not all castles were desirable places to seek hospitality in.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading So I was pleased when I saw in the distance a horseman making the bottom turn of the road that wound down from this castle.

wound

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

From this reading So I was pleased when I saw in the distance a horseman making the bottom turn of the road that wound down from this castle.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading As a matter of fact, knights errant were _not_ persons to be believed--that is, measured by modern standards of veracity; yet, measured by the standards of their own time, and scaled accordingly, you got the truth.