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Cease Firing
Cease Firing

Chapter XXVI · Richmond

Cover illustration for Cease Firing
Context Illustration Reading 1/44 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death, “_Good Lord, deliver us_.”
By most the words were sobbed out.
May the eighth, and the Wilderness vast in the minds of all, and fresh battle impending, now at Spottsylvania!
It was a congregation of men and women, dusky in raiment, bereaved, torn by anxieties, sick with alternating hope and fear.
Only on one’s bed at night, or here in church, could the overladen heart speak without shame or acknowledgment of weakness.
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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.

Cease Firing

Chapter XXVI · Richmond

Reading 1/44 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death, “_Good Lord, deliver us_.”
Line 2
By most the words were sobbed out.
Line 3
May the eighth, and the Wilderness vast in the minds of all, and fresh battle impending, now at Spottsylvania!
Line 4
It was a congregation of men and women, dusky in raiment, bereaved, torn by anxieties, sick with alternating hope and fear.
Line 5
Only on one’s bed at night, or here in church, could the overladen heart speak without shame or acknowledgment of weakness.

Learner Dictionary

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

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “Only on one’s bed at night, or here in church, could the overladen heart speak without shame or acknowledgment of weakness.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Only on one’s bed at night, or here in church, could the overladen heart speak without shame or acknowledgment of weakness.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “May the eighth, and the Wilderness vast in the minds of all, and fresh battle impending, now at Spottsylvania!”

Speak noun US /speak/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Only on one’s bed at night, or here in church, could the overladen heart speak without shame or acknowledgment of weakness.”

Sudden noun US /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death, “_Good Lord, deliver us_.””

Weakness noun US /ˈwiːknəs/

a lack of physical strength

From this reading “Only on one’s bed at night, or here in church, could the overladen heart speak without shame or acknowledgment of weakness.”

Wilderness noun US /ˈwɪldərnəs/

a wild area where few people live

From this reading “May the eighth, and the Wilderness vast in the minds of all, and fresh battle impending, now at Spottsylvania!”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “Only on one’s bed at night, or here in church, could the overladen heart speak without shame or acknowledgment of weakness.”

All words in this reading · 67

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 a congregation of men and women, dusky in raiment, bereaved, torn by anxieties, sick with alternating hope and fear.

acknowledgment

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

From this reading Only on one’s bed at night, or here in church, could the overladen heart speak without shame or acknowledgment of weakness.

all

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

From this reading May the eighth, and the Wilderness vast in the minds of all, and fresh battle impending, now at Spottsylvania!

alternating

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

From this reading It was a congregation of men and women, dusky in raiment, bereaved, torn by anxieties, sick with alternating hope and fear.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading “From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death, “_Good Lord, deliver us_.”

anxieties

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

From this reading It was a congregation of men and women, dusky in raiment, bereaved, torn by anxieties, sick with alternating hope and fear.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading May the eighth, and the Wilderness vast in the minds of all, and fresh battle impending, now at Spottsylvania!

battle

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

From this reading “From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death, “_Good Lord, deliver us_.”

bed

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

From this reading Only on one’s bed at night, or here in church, could the overladen heart speak without shame or acknowledgment of weakness.

bereaved

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

From this reading It was a congregation of men and women, dusky in raiment, bereaved, torn by anxieties, sick with alternating hope and fear.

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By most the words were sobbed out.

church

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

From this reading Only on one’s bed at night, or here in church, could the overladen heart speak without shame or acknowledgment of weakness.

congregation

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

From this reading It was a congregation of men and women, dusky in raiment, bereaved, torn by anxieties, sick with alternating hope and fear.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Only on one’s bed at night, or here in church, could the overladen heart speak without shame or acknowledgment of weakness.

death

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

From this reading “From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death, “_Good Lord, deliver us_.”

deliver

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

From this reading “From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death, “_Good Lord, deliver us_.”

dusky

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

From this reading It was a congregation of men and women, dusky in raiment, bereaved, torn by anxieties, sick with alternating hope and fear.

eighth

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

From this reading May the eighth, and the Wilderness vast in the minds of all, and fresh battle impending, now at Spottsylvania!

famine

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

From this reading “From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death, “_Good Lord, deliver us_.”

fear

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

From this reading It was a congregation of men and women, dusky in raiment, bereaved, torn by anxieties, sick with alternating hope and fear.

fresh

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

From this reading May the eighth, and the Wilderness vast in the minds of all, and fresh battle impending, now at Spottsylvania!

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading “From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death, “_Good Lord, deliver us_.”

GoodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death, “_Good Lord, deliver us_.”

heart

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

From this reading Only on one’s bed at night, or here in church, could the overladen heart speak without shame or acknowledgment of weakness.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Only on one’s bed at night, or here in church, could the overladen heart speak without shame or acknowledgment of weakness.

hope

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

From this reading It was a congregation of men and women, dusky in raiment, bereaved, torn by anxieties, sick with alternating hope and fear.

impending

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

From this reading May the eighth, and the Wilderness vast in the minds of all, and fresh battle impending, now at Spottsylvania!

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading May the eighth, and the Wilderness vast in the minds of all, and fresh battle impending, now at Spottsylvania!

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a congregation of men and women, dusky in raiment, bereaved, torn by anxieties, sick with alternating hope and fear.

lightning

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

From this reading “From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death, “_Good Lord, deliver us_.”

Lord

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

From this reading “From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death, “_Good Lord, deliver us_.”

Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading May the eighth, and the Wilderness vast in the minds of all, and fresh battle impending, now at Spottsylvania!

men

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

From this reading It was a congregation of men and women, dusky in raiment, bereaved, torn by anxieties, sick with alternating hope and fear.

minds

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

From this reading May the eighth, and the Wilderness vast in the minds of all, and fresh battle impending, now at Spottsylvania!

most

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

From this reading By most the words were sobbed out.

murder

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

From this reading “From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death, “_Good Lord, deliver us_.”

night

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

From this reading Only on one’s bed at night, or here in church, could the overladen heart speak without shame or acknowledgment of weakness.

now

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

From this reading May the eighth, and the Wilderness vast in the minds of all, and fresh battle impending, now at Spottsylvania!

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading May the eighth, and the Wilderness vast in the minds of all, and fresh battle impending, now at Spottsylvania!

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Only on one’s bed at night, or here in church, could the overladen heart speak without shame or acknowledgment of weakness.

one's

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

From this reading Only on one’s bed at night, or here in church, could the overladen heart speak without shame or acknowledgment of weakness.

Only

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

From this reading Only on one’s bed at night, or here in church, could the overladen heart speak without shame or acknowledgment of weakness.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Only on one’s bed at night, or here in church, could the overladen heart speak without shame or acknowledgment of weakness.

out

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

From this reading By most the words were sobbed out.

overladen

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

From this reading Only on one’s bed at night, or here in church, could the overladen heart speak without shame or acknowledgment of weakness.

pestilence

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

From this reading “From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death, “_Good Lord, deliver us_.”

plague

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

From this reading “From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death, “_Good Lord, deliver us_.”

raiment

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

From this reading It was a congregation of men and women, dusky in raiment, bereaved, torn by anxieties, sick with alternating hope and fear.

shame

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

From this reading Only on one’s bed at night, or here in church, could the overladen heart speak without shame or acknowledgment of weakness.

sick

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

From this reading It was a congregation of men and women, dusky in raiment, bereaved, torn by anxieties, sick with alternating hope and fear.

sobbed

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

From this reading By most the words were sobbed out.

speak

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

From this reading Only on one’s bed at night, or here in church, could the overladen heart speak without shame or acknowledgment of weakness.

Spottsylvania

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

From this reading May the eighth, and the Wilderness vast in the minds of all, and fresh battle impending, now at Spottsylvania!

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death, “_Good Lord, deliver us_.”

tempest

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

From this reading “From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death, “_Good Lord, deliver us_.”

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading By most the words were sobbed out.

torn

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

From this reading It was a congregation of men and women, dusky in raiment, bereaved, torn by anxieties, sick with alternating hope and fear.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death, “_Good Lord, deliver us_.”

vast

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

From this reading May the eighth, and the Wilderness vast in the minds of all, and fresh battle impending, now at Spottsylvania!

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was a congregation of men and women, dusky in raiment, bereaved, torn by anxieties, sick with alternating hope and fear.

weaknessnounUS /ˈwiːknəs/

a lack of physical strength

From this reading Only on one’s bed at night, or here in church, could the overladen heart speak without shame or acknowledgment of weakness.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading By most the words were sobbed out.

WildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/

a wild area where few people live

From this reading May the eighth, and the Wilderness vast in the minds of all, and fresh battle impending, now at Spottsylvania!

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was a congregation of men and women, dusky in raiment, bereaved, torn by anxieties, sick with alternating hope and fear.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Only on one’s bed at night, or here in church, could the overladen heart speak without shame or acknowledgment of weakness.

women

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

From this reading It was a congregation of men and women, dusky in raiment, bereaved, torn by anxieties, sick with alternating hope and fear.

words

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

From this reading By most the words were sobbed out.