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A Dash for a Throne
A Dash for a Throne

Chapter XXIX

Cover illustration for A Dash for a Throne
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
COUNT VON RUDLOFF The effect of my announcement was supreme.
I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.
The Kaiser was the first to speak.
"You have amazed me.
I know you now, but I did not.
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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 Dash for a Throne

Chapter XXIX

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
COUNT VON RUDLOFF The effect of my announcement was supreme.
Line 2
I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.
Line 3
The Kaiser was the first to speak.
Line 4
"You have amazed me.
Line 5
I know you now, but I did not.

Learner Dictionary

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

Confidential adjective US /ˌkɑnfəˈdɛnʃəl/

spoken privately and not for general knowledge

From this reading “I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The Kaiser was the first to speak.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “"You have amazed me.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I know you now, but I did not.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.”

Speak noun US /speak/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The Kaiser was the first to speak.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.”

All words in this reading · 48

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

adviser

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

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

affected

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

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

amazed

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

From this reading "You have amazed me.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

announcement

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

From this reading COUNT VON RUDLOFF The effect of my announcement was supreme.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I know you now, but I did not.

confidentialadjectiveUS /ˌkɑnfəˈdɛnʃəl/

spoken privately and not for general knowledge

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

COUNT

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

From this reading COUNT VON RUDLOFF The effect of my announcement was supreme.

critical

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

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

deeply

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

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading I know you now, but I did not.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

effect

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

From this reading COUNT VON RUDLOFF The effect of my announcement was supreme.

Emperor

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

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The Kaiser was the first to speak.

gazing

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

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "You have amazed me.

head

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

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

Kaiser

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

From this reading The Kaiser was the first to speak.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I know you now, but I did not.

looks

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

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

meet

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

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

moments

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

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading COUNT VON RUDLOFF The effect of my announcement was supreme.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

now

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

From this reading I know you now, but I did not.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading COUNT VON RUDLOFF The effect of my announcement was supreme.

old

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

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

raise

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

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

RUDLOFF

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

From this reading COUNT VON RUDLOFF The effect of my announcement was supreme.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

speak

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

From this reading The Kaiser was the first to speak.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

supreme

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

From this reading COUNT VON RUDLOFF The effect of my announcement was supreme.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading COUNT VON RUDLOFF The effect of my announcement was supreme.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

VON

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

From this reading COUNT VON RUDLOFF The effect of my announcement was supreme.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading COUNT VON RUDLOFF The effect of my announcement was supreme.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading I myself was deeply affected, and in the moments of critical silence during which the Emperor and his old confidential adviser stood gazing at me I could not raise my head to meet their looks.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "You have amazed me.