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A Monk of Cruta
A Monk of Cruta

Chapter XXXIII

Cover illustration for A Monk of Cruta
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.
Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.
Paul, who stood on the captain's bridge of his yacht, uttered a little cry of admiration as they sailed out from the shadows of the huge rock, and fell into a rude semicircle across the bay.
"What colouring one sees in these southern waters!" he remarked.
"Did you notice the glinting light on those sails?"
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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 Monk of Cruta

Chapter XXXIII

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.
Line 2
Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.
Line 3
Paul, who stood on the captain's bridge of his yacht, uttered a little cry of admiration as they sailed out from the shadows of the huge rock, and fell into a rude semicircle across the bay.
Line 4
"What colouring one sees in these southern waters!" he remarked.
Line 5
"Did you notice the glinting light on those sails?"

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “Paul, who stood on the captain's bridge of his yacht, uttered a little cry of admiration as they sailed out from the shadows of the huge rock, and fell into a rude semicircle across the bay.”

Appearance noun US /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading “"THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.”

Different noun US /ˈdifferent/

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

From this reading “"THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.”

LIFE noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “"What colouring one sees in these southern waters!" he remarked.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.”

SHORT adjective US /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading “"THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Paul, who stood on the captain's bridge of his yacht, uttered a little cry of admiration as they sailed out from the shadows of the huge rock, and fell into a rude semicircle across the bay.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “"What colouring one sees in these southern waters!" he remarked.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “"Did you notice the glinting light on those sails?"”

Uttered noun US /ˈuttered/

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

From this reading “Paul, who stood on the captain's bridge of his yacht, uttered a little cry of admiration as they sailed out from the shadows of the huge rock, and fell into a rude semicircle across the bay.”

All words in this reading · 81

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 DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Paul, who stood on the captain's bridge of his yacht, uttered a little cry of admiration as they sailed out from the shadows of the huge rock, and fell into a rude semicircle across the bay.

admiration

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

From this reading Paul, who stood on the captain's bridge of his yacht, uttered a little cry of admiration as they sailed out from the shadows of the huge rock, and fell into a rude semicircle across the bay.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.

bay

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

From this reading Paul, who stood on the captain's bridge of his yacht, uttered a little cry of admiration as they sailed out from the shadows of the huge rock, and fell into a rude semicircle across the bay.

bridge

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

From this reading Paul, who stood on the captain's bridge of his yacht, uttered a little cry of admiration as they sailed out from the shadows of the huge rock, and fell into a rude semicircle across the bay.

brown

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

From this reading Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.

captain's

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

From this reading Paul, who stood on the captain's bridge of his yacht, uttered a little cry of admiration as they sailed out from the shadows of the huge rock, and fell into a rude semicircle across the bay.

close

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

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

colouring

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

From this reading "What colouring one sees in these southern waters!" he remarked.

cry

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

From this reading Paul, who stood on the captain's bridge of his yacht, uttered a little cry of admiration as they sailed out from the shadows of the huge rock, and fell into a rude semicircle across the bay.

DAWN

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

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

deck

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

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

Didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading "Did you notice the glinting light on those sails?"

differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/

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

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

dying

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

From this reading Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.

English

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

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

examination

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

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

fast

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

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

fell

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

From this reading Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.

fishing

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

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

gleamed

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

From this reading Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.

glinting

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

From this reading "Did you notice the glinting light on those sails?"

graceful

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

From this reading Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.

group

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

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.

harbour

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

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "What colouring one sees in these southern waters!" he remarked.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Paul, who stood on the captain's bridge of his yacht, uttered a little cry of admiration as they sailed out from the shadows of the huge rock, and fell into a rude semicircle across the bay.

homely-looking

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

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

huge

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

From this reading Paul, who stood on the captain's bridge of his yacht, uttered a little cry of admiration as they sailed out from the shadows of the huge rock, and fell into a rude semicircle across the bay.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Paul, who stood on the captain's bridge of his yacht, uttered a little cry of admiration as they sailed out from the shadows of the huge rock, and fell into a rude semicircle across the bay.

LIFEnounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

light

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

From this reading "Did you notice the glinting light on those sails?"

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.

nearing

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

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

notice

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

From this reading "Did you notice the glinting light on those sails?"

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "What colouring one sees in these southern waters!" he remarked.

out

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

From this reading Paul, who stood on the captain's bridge of his yacht, uttered a little cry of admiration as they sailed out from the shadows of the huge rock, and fell into a rude semicircle across the bay.

outline

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

From this reading Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.

Paul

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

From this reading Paul, who stood on the captain's bridge of his yacht, uttered a little cry of admiration as they sailed out from the shadows of the huge rock, and fell into a rude semicircle across the bay.

presented

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

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

purple

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

From this reading Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.

remarked

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

From this reading "What colouring one sees in these southern waters!" he remarked.

rock

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

From this reading Paul, who stood on the captain's bridge of his yacht, uttered a little cry of admiration as they sailed out from the shadows of the huge rock, and fell into a rude semicircle across the bay.

rose

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

From this reading Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.

rude

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

From this reading Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.

sailed

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

From this reading Paul, who stood on the captain's bridge of his yacht, uttered a little cry of admiration as they sailed out from the shadows of the huge rock, and fell into a rude semicircle across the bay.

sails

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

From this reading Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.

sees

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

From this reading "What colouring one sees in these southern waters!" he remarked.

semicircle

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

From this reading Paul, who stood on the captain's bridge of his yacht, uttered a little cry of admiration as they sailed out from the shadows of the huge rock, and fell into a rude semicircle across the bay.

shadows

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

From this reading Paul, who stood on the captain's bridge of his yacht, uttered a little cry of admiration as they sailed out from the shadows of the huge rock, and fell into a rude semicircle across the bay.

shapely

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

From this reading Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.

SHORTadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

smacks

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

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

southern

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

From this reading "What colouring one sees in these southern waters!" he remarked.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Paul, who stood on the captain's bridge of his yacht, uttered a little cry of admiration as they sailed out from the shadows of the huge rock, and fell into a rude semicircle across the bay.

sunlight

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

From this reading Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.

SWEET

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

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading "What colouring one sees in these southern waters!" he remarked.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading "Did you notice the glinting light on those sails?"

uncleanly

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

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

utterednounUS /ˈuttered/

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

From this reading Paul, who stood on the captain's bridge of his yacht, uttered a little cry of admiration as they sailed out from the shadows of the huge rock, and fell into a rude semicircle across the bay.

very

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

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

waters

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

From this reading "What colouring one sees in these southern waters!" he remarked.

waves

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

From this reading Their brown sails had gleamed purple in the dying sunlight, and their rude outline seemed graceful and shapely as they rose and fell on the long waves.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "What colouring one sees in these southern waters!" he remarked.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Paul, who stood on the captain's bridge of his yacht, uttered a little cry of admiration as they sailed out from the shadows of the huge rock, and fell into a rude semicircle across the bay.

yacht

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

From this reading "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" The little group of fishing smacks, homely-looking and uncleanly, on close examination, presented a very different appearance from the deck of the English yacht fast nearing the harbour.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Did you notice the glinting light on those sails?"