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Angel Esquire
Angel Esquire

Chapter V

Cover illustration for Angel Esquire
Context Illustration Reading 1/45 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.
He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.
High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
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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.

Angel Esquire

Chapter V

Reading 1/45 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.
Line 2
He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.
Line 3
High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
Line 4
He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
Line 5
But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.

Learner Dictionary

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

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.”

Center noun US /ˈsɛn.tər/

The middle point or core of an area.

From this reading “He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.”

All words in this reading · 61

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 High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.

bare

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

From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.

base

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

From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.

beautiful

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

From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.

big

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

From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.

blazed

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

From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.

building

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

From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.

centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/

The middle point or core of an area.

From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.

chairs

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

From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.

criss-crossed

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

From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.

CRYPTOGRAM

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

From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.

Deposit

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

From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.

dome

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

From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.

dozen

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

From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.

electrolier

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

From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.

encased

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

From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.

floor

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

From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.

framework

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

From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.

granite

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

From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.

GreatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.

hall

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

From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.

head

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

From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.

High

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

From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.

hundred

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

From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.

lights

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

From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.

marble-tiled

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

From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.

Mr

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

From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.

ornate

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

From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.

paced

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

From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.

pedestal

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

From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.

placed

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

From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.

semicircle

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

From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.

shadows

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

From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.

Spedding

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

From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.

steel

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

From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.

suspended

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

From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.

towered

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

From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.

unfurnished

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

From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.

up

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

From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.

watch

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

From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.