Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Anne Feversham
Anne Feversham

Chapter XXXIII

Cover illustration for Anne Feversham
Context Illustration Reading 1/42 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.
But not by word, deed or gesture did he claim the estate of an equal.
He was William Shakespeare, the play-actor, and she was Elizabeth Tudor, the conqueror of Spain.
But the kingdom of the mind is no Venetian oligarchy.
Those who speak the same language are all made free of it.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Anne Feversham

Chapter XXXIII

Reading 1/42 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.
Line 2
But not by word, deed or gesture did he claim the estate of an equal.
Line 3
He was William Shakespeare, the play-actor, and she was Elizabeth Tudor, the conqueror of Spain.
Line 4
But the kingdom of the mind is no Venetian oligarchy.
Line 5
Those who speak the same language are all made free of it.

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 “IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.”

Free adjective US /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading “Those who speak the same language are all made free of it.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But the kingdom of the mind is no Venetian oligarchy.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Those who speak the same language are all made free of it.”

Sovereign adjective US /ˈsɑːv.rən/

Possessing supreme or ultimate power; autonomous and commanding.

From this reading “IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.”

Speak noun US /speak/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Those who speak the same language are all made free of it.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading “Those who speak the same language are all made free of it.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.”

All words in this reading · 72

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 IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

airs

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

all

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

From this reading Those who speak the same language are all made free of it.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading But not by word, deed or gesture did he claim the estate of an equal.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Those who speak the same language are all made free of it.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But not by word, deed or gesture did he claim the estate of an equal.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

claim

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

From this reading But not by word, deed or gesture did he claim the estate of an equal.

conqueror

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

From this reading He was William Shakespeare, the play-actor, and she was Elizabeth Tudor, the conqueror of Spain.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

deed

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

From this reading But not by word, deed or gesture did he claim the estate of an equal.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading But not by word, deed or gesture did he claim the estate of an equal.

Elizabeth

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

From this reading He was William Shakespeare, the play-actor, and she was Elizabeth Tudor, the conqueror of Spain.

equal

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

From this reading But not by word, deed or gesture did he claim the estate of an equal.

estate

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

From this reading But not by word, deed or gesture did he claim the estate of an equal.

extended

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

fashion

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

fellow

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

few

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

freeadjectiveUS /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading Those who speak the same language are all made free of it.

gesture

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

From this reading But not by word, deed or gesture did he claim the estate of an equal.

graces

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading But not by word, deed or gesture did he claim the estate of an equal.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

homely

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading But the kingdom of the mind is no Venetian oligarchy.

ITpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

kingdom

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

From this reading But the kingdom of the mind is no Venetian oligarchy.

language

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

From this reading Those who speak the same language are all made free of it.

made

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

From this reading Those who speak the same language are all made free of it.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But the kingdom of the mind is no Venetian oligarchy.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading But the kingdom of the mind is no Venetian oligarchy.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But not by word, deed or gesture did he claim the estate of an equal.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

oligarchy

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

From this reading But the kingdom of the mind is no Venetian oligarchy.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

place

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

play-actor

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

From this reading He was William Shakespeare, the play-actor, and she was Elizabeth Tudor, the conqueror of Spain.

presence

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

pretensions

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

rarely

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

respect

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Those who speak the same language are all made free of it.

seated

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

seen

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

Shakespeare

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

From this reading He was William Shakespeare, the play-actor, and she was Elizabeth Tudor, the conqueror of Spain.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

sovereignadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːv.rən/

Possessing supreme or ultimate power; autonomous and commanding.

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

Spain

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

From this reading He was William Shakespeare, the play-actor, and she was Elizabeth Tudor, the conqueror of Spain.

speak

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

From this reading Those who speak the same language are all made free of it.

spectacle

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

ThosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading Those who speak the same language are all made free of it.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

treated

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

Tudor

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

From this reading He was William Shakespeare, the play-actor, and she was Elizabeth Tudor, the conqueror of Spain.

Venetian

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

From this reading But the kingdom of the mind is no Venetian oligarchy.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Those who speak the same language are all made free of it.

William

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

From this reading He was William Shakespeare, the play-actor, and she was Elizabeth Tudor, the conqueror of Spain.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading IT was such a spectacle as could rarely have been seen in that place, this homely fellow without airs or graces or pretensions to fashion, seated in the presence of his sovereign and treated by her with a respect she extended to few.

word

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

From this reading But not by word, deed or gesture did he claim the estate of an equal.