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A Rent In A Cloud
A Rent In A Cloud

Chapter X · A Daybreak Beside the Rhine

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Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.
“We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.
“What grand things these great plains are, traversed by a fine river, and spreading away to a far distant horizon.
What a sense of freedom they inspire; how suggestive they are of liberty; don’t you feel that?”
“I think I see them coming,” said the other.
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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 Rent In A Cloud

Chapter X · A Daybreak Beside the Rhine

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

Line 1
THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.
Line 2
“We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.
Line 3
“What grand things these great plains are, traversed by a fine river, and spreading away to a far distant horizon.
Line 4
What a sense of freedom they inspire; how suggestive they are of liberty; don’t you feel that?”
Line 5
“I think I see them coming,” said the other.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading ““We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.”

Beside preposition US /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading “THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.”

Distant adjective US /ˈdɪstənt/

not friendly or close

From this reading ““What grand things these great plains are, traversed by a fine river, and spreading away to a far distant horizon.”

Fine noun US /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““What grand things these great plains are, traversed by a fine river, and spreading away to a far distant horizon.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““What grand things these great plains are, traversed by a fine river, and spreading away to a far distant horizon.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.”

Liberty noun US /ˈlɪb.ər.ti/

The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.

From this reading “What a sense of freedom they inspire; how suggestive they are of liberty; don’t you feel that?””

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

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

From this reading ““What grand things these great plains are, traversed by a fine river, and spreading away to a far distant horizon.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““I think I see them coming,” said the other.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.”

All words in this reading · 98

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 day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

abreast

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

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

admit

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

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

away

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

From this reading “What grand things these great plains are, traversed by a fine river, and spreading away to a far distant horizon.

Barnard

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

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

Basle

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

breaking

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading “What grand things these great plains are, traversed by a fine river, and spreading away to a far distant horizon.

Calvert

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

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

careless

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

carriage

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

coming

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

From this reading “I think I see them coming,” said the other.

converse

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

day

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

descending

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/

not friendly or close

From this reading “What grand things these great plains are, traversed by a fine river, and spreading away to a far distant horizon.

don't

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

From this reading What a sense of freedom they inspire; how suggestive they are of liberty; don’t you feel that?”

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

early

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

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

easy

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

far

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

From this reading “What grand things these great plains are, traversed by a fine river, and spreading away to a far distant horizon.

feel

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

From this reading What a sense of freedom they inspire; how suggestive they are of liberty; don’t you feel that?”

fields

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

finenounUS /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “What grand things these great plains are, traversed by a fine river, and spreading away to a far distant horizon.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

flat

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

freedom

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

From this reading What a sense of freedom they inspire; how suggestive they are of liberty; don’t you feel that?”

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

fully

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

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

grand

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

From this reading “What grand things these great plains are, traversed by a fine river, and spreading away to a far distant horizon.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “What grand things these great plains are, traversed by a fine river, and spreading away to a far distant horizon.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

high

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

horizon

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

From this reading “What grand things these great plains are, traversed by a fine river, and spreading away to a far distant horizon.

hour

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

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

how

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

From this reading What a sense of freedom they inspire; how suggestive they are of liberty; don’t you feel that?”

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

inspire

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

From this reading What a sense of freedom they inspire; how suggestive they are of liberty; don’t you feel that?”

just

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

lead

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

libertynounUS /ˈlɪb.ər.ti/

The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.

From this reading What a sense of freedom they inspire; how suggestive they are of liberty; don’t you feel that?”

men

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

narrow

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

other

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

path

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

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

paths

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

plains

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

From this reading “What grand things these great plains are, traversed by a fine river, and spreading away to a far distant horizon.

Rhine

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

river

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

From this reading “What grand things these great plains are, traversed by a fine river, and spreading away to a far distant horizon.

road

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

said

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

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

say

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

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

see

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

From this reading “I think I see them coming,” said the other.

sense

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

From this reading What a sense of freedom they inspire; how suggestive they are of liberty; don’t you feel that?”

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

slowly

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

spreading

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

From this reading “What grand things these great plains are, traversed by a fine river, and spreading away to a far distant horizon.

suggestive

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

From this reading What a sense of freedom they inspire; how suggestive they are of liberty; don’t you feel that?”

talking

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading “I think I see them coming,” said the other.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

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

From this reading “What grand things these great plains are, traversed by a fine river, and spreading away to a far distant horizon.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading What a sense of freedom they inspire; how suggestive they are of liberty; don’t you feel that?”

things

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

From this reading “What grand things these great plains are, traversed by a fine river, and spreading away to a far distant horizon.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I think I see them coming,” said the other.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

tone

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

traversed

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

From this reading “What grand things these great plains are, traversed by a fine river, and spreading away to a far distant horizon.

two

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

walked

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

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

walking

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “We are early, Barnard, I should say; fully half an hour before our time,” said Calvert, as he walked on first, for the path did not admit of two abreast.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “What grand things these great plains are, traversed by a fine river, and spreading away to a far distant horizon.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

wide

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

From this reading THE day was just breaking over that wide flat beside the Rhine at Basle, as two men, descending from a carriage on the high road, took one of the narrow paths which lead through the fields, walking slowly, and talking to each other in the careless tone of easy converse.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading What a sense of freedom they inspire; how suggestive they are of liberty; don’t you feel that?”