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A Muramasa blade
A Muramasa blade

Chapter V

Cover illustration for A Muramasa blade
Context Illustration Reading 1/17 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Under such surroundings grew up the fairest maiden to be found in the province of Kuwana.
All who had seen her were unanimous in according this tribute to O Tetsu.
The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.
There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.
In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.
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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 Muramasa blade

Chapter V

Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Under such surroundings grew up the fairest maiden to be found in the province of Kuwana.
Line 2
All who had seen her were unanimous in according this tribute to O Tetsu.
Line 3
The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.
Line 4
There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.
Line 5
In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.

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 “There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.”

Beyond preposition US /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading “There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.”

Fair noun US /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Under such surroundings grew up the fairest maiden to be found in the province of Kuwana.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.”

Maiden noun, literary US /ˈmeɪdən/

a young woman who is not married

From this reading “Under such surroundings grew up the fairest maiden to be found in the province of Kuwana.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading “There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “Under such surroundings grew up the fairest maiden to be found in the province of Kuwana.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.”

Wondered noun US /wondered/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.”

All words in this reading · 90

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 people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.

according

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

From this reading All who had seen her were unanimous in according this tribute to O Tetsu.

All

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

From this reading All who had seen her were unanimous in according this tribute to O Tetsu.

always

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

From this reading There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Under such surroundings grew up the fairest maiden to be found in the province of Kuwana.

beautiful

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

From this reading The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.

beauty

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

From this reading There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.

birth-right

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

From this reading In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.

bright

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

From this reading In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.

coarse

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

From this reading The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.

country

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

From this reading In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.

daughters

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

From this reading There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.

delicate

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

From this reading The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.

eyes

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

From this reading In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.

fairnounUS /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.

fairest

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

From this reading Under such surroundings grew up the fairest maiden to be found in the province of Kuwana.

favored

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

From this reading There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.

feet

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

From this reading In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Under such surroundings grew up the fairest maiden to be found in the province of Kuwana.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.

gloriously

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

From this reading In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.

grafted

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

From this reading The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.

grew

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

From this reading Under such surroundings grew up the fairest maiden to be found in the province of Kuwana.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading All who had seen her were unanimous in according this tribute to O Tetsu.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading All who had seen her were unanimous in according this tribute to O Tetsu.

how

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

From this reading The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Under such surroundings grew up the fairest maiden to be found in the province of Kuwana.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.

Japan

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

From this reading There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.

knotted

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

From this reading The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.

Kuwana

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

From this reading Under such surroundings grew up the fairest maiden to be found in the province of Kuwana.

Land

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

From this reading In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.

lovely

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

From this reading The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.

maidennoun, literaryUS /ˈmeɪdən/

a young woman who is not married

From this reading Under such surroundings grew up the fairest maiden to be found in the province of Kuwana.

maidens

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

From this reading In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.

many

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

From this reading There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.

most

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

From this reading There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.

mother's

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

From this reading The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.

nations

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

From this reading There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.

nature

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

From this reading The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.

neck

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

From this reading In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.

O

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

From this reading All who had seen her were unanimous in according this tribute to O Tetsu.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Under such surroundings grew up the fairest maiden to be found in the province of Kuwana.

often

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

From this reading The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.

other

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

From this reading There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.

people

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

From this reading The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.

points

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

From this reading There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.

possessing

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

From this reading In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.

probably

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

From this reading In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.

province

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

From this reading Under such surroundings grew up the fairest maiden to be found in the province of Kuwana.

Rising

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

From this reading In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.

seem

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

From this reading In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.

seen

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

From this reading All who had seen her were unanimous in according this tribute to O Tetsu.

shining

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

From this reading In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.

spring

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

From this reading The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.

stock

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

From this reading The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Under such surroundings grew up the fairest maiden to be found in the province of Kuwana.

Sun

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

From this reading In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.

surroundings

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

From this reading Under such surroundings grew up the fairest maiden to be found in the province of Kuwana.

Tetsu

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

From this reading All who had seen her were unanimous in according this tribute to O Tetsu.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Under such surroundings grew up the fairest maiden to be found in the province of Kuwana.

There

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

From this reading There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading All who had seen her were unanimous in according this tribute to O Tetsu.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Under such surroundings grew up the fairest maiden to be found in the province of Kuwana.

tribute

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

From this reading All who had seen her were unanimous in according this tribute to O Tetsu.

unanimous

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

From this reading All who had seen her were unanimous in according this tribute to O Tetsu.

UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Under such surroundings grew up the fairest maiden to be found in the province of Kuwana.

up

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

From this reading Under such surroundings grew up the fairest maiden to be found in the province of Kuwana.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading All who had seen her were unanimous in according this tribute to O Tetsu.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading There are many points of beauty for which the daughters of Japan have always been favored beyond those of most other nations.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading All who had seen her were unanimous in according this tribute to O Tetsu.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading In no country probably will there be found so many possessing those delicate hands and feet, that gloriously beautiful neck, and those bright, shining eyes which seem to be the birth-right of the maidens of the Land of the Rising Sun.

wonderednounUS /wondered/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The people often wondered how such a beautiful, lovely being could spring from such a coarse, knotted stock, even when her mother’s fair, delicate nature was grafted upon it.