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A Royal Prisoner
A Royal Prisoner

Chapter I

Cover illustration for A Royal Prisoner
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"After all, why not celebrate?
It's the last day of the year and it won't come again for twelve months."
It was close upon midnight.
Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.
He had drowsed through the evening and at the first opportunity had managed to slip away quickly.
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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 Royal Prisoner

Chapter I

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

Line 1
"After all, why not celebrate?
Line 2
It's the last day of the year and it won't come again for twelve months."
Line 3
It was close upon midnight.
Line 4
Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.
Line 5
He had drowsed through the evening and at the first opportunity had managed to slip away quickly.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “"After all, why not celebrate?”

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It's the last day of the year and it won't come again for twelve months."”

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It's the last day of the year and it won't come again for twelve months."”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had drowsed through the evening and at the first opportunity had managed to slip away quickly.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It's the last day of the year and it won't come again for twelve months."”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading “Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “He had drowsed through the evening and at the first opportunity had managed to slip away quickly.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “It was close upon midnight.”

All words in this reading · 63

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 Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

affairs

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading "After all, why not celebrate?

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It's the last day of the year and it won't come again for twelve months."

all

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

From this reading "After all, why not celebrate?

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It's the last day of the year and it won't come again for twelve months."

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

away

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

From this reading He had drowsed through the evening and at the first opportunity had managed to slip away quickly.

banquet

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

boulevard

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

Capitale

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

celebrate

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

From this reading "After all, why not celebrate?

close

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

From this reading It was close upon midnight.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It's the last day of the year and it won't come again for twelve months."

day

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

From this reading It's the last day of the year and it won't come again for twelve months."

deadly

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

drowsed

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

From this reading He had drowsed through the evening and at the first opportunity had managed to slip away quickly.

evening

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

From this reading He had drowsed through the evening and at the first opportunity had managed to slip away quickly.

Fandor

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had drowsed through the evening and at the first opportunity had managed to slip away quickly.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It's the last day of the year and it won't come again for twelve months."

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

guests

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

interminable

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It's the last day of the year and it won't come again for twelve months."

It's

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

From this reading It's the last day of the year and it won't come again for twelve months."

Jerome

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

just

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

La

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It's the last day of the year and it won't come again for twelve months."

listen

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

managed

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

From this reading He had drowsed through the evening and at the first opportunity had managed to slip away quickly.

midnight

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

From this reading It was close upon midnight.

months

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

From this reading It's the last day of the year and it won't come again for twelve months."

newspaper

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "After all, why not celebrate?

obliged

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It's the last day of the year and it won't come again for twelve months."

official

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

opportunity

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

From this reading He had drowsed through the evening and at the first opportunity had managed to slip away quickly.

popular

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

quickly

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

From this reading He had drowsed through the evening and at the first opportunity had managed to slip away quickly.

reporter

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

slip

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

From this reading He had drowsed through the evening and at the first opportunity had managed to slip away quickly.

speeches

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

strolling

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It's the last day of the year and it won't come again for twelve months."

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading He had drowsed through the evening and at the first opportunity had managed to slip away quickly.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

twelve

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

From this reading It's the last day of the year and it won't come again for twelve months."

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading It was close upon midnight.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was close upon midnight.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Jerome Fandor, reporter on the popular newspaper, _La Capitale_, was strolling along the boulevard; he had just come from a banquet, one of those official and deadly affairs at which the guests are obliged to listen to interminable speeches.

why

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

From this reading "After all, why not celebrate?

won't

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

From this reading It's the last day of the year and it won't come again for twelve months."

year

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

From this reading It's the last day of the year and it won't come again for twelve months."