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

Chapter XIV

Cover illustration for Chicot the Jester
Context Illustration Reading 1/45 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HOW THE DUC D’ANJOU LEARNED THAT DIANA WAS NOT DEAD.
The month of April had arrived.
The great cathedral of Chartres was hung with white, and the king was standing barefooted in the nave.
The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.
He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.
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.

Chicot the Jester

Chapter XIV

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

Line 1
HOW THE DUC D’ANJOU LEARNED THAT DIANA WAS NOT DEAD.
Line 2
The month of April had arrived.
Line 3
The great cathedral of Chartres was hung with white, and the king was standing barefooted in the nave.
Line 4
The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.
Line 5
He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.

Learner Dictionary

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

DEAD noun US /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “HOW THE DUC D’ANJOU LEARNED THAT DIANA WAS NOT DEAD.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The great cathedral of Chartres was hung with white, and the king was standing barefooted in the nave.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.”

Heir noun US /er/

A person legally or magically entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death.

From this reading “The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.”

Standing noun US /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading “The great cathedral of Chartres was hung with white, and the king was standing barefooted in the nave.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.”

All words in this reading · 70

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 religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The great cathedral of Chartres was hung with white, and the king was standing barefooted in the nave.

April

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

From this reading The month of April had arrived.

arrived

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

From this reading The month of April had arrived.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.

barefooted

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

From this reading The great cathedral of Chartres was hung with white, and the king was standing barefooted in the nave.

cathedral

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

From this reading The great cathedral of Chartres was hung with white, and the king was standing barefooted in the nave.

ceremonies

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

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

Chartres

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

From this reading The great cathedral of Chartres was hung with white, and the king was standing barefooted in the nave.

Chicot

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

From this reading He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.

D'ANJOU

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

From this reading HOW THE DUC D’ANJOU LEARNED THAT DIANA WAS NOT DEAD.

dared

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

From this reading He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.

DEADnounUS /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading HOW THE DUC D’ANJOU LEARNED THAT DIANA WAS NOT DEAD.

DIANA

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

From this reading HOW THE DUC D’ANJOU LEARNED THAT DIANA WAS NOT DEAD.

DUC

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

From this reading HOW THE DUC D’ANJOU LEARNED THAT DIANA WAS NOT DEAD.

else

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

From this reading He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.

finishing

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

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

France

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

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

general

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

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The great cathedral of Chartres was hung with white, and the king was standing barefooted in the nave.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The month of April had arrived.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.

heard

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

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

heirnounUS /er/

A person legally or magically entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death.

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

Henri

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

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

HOW

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

From this reading HOW THE DUC D’ANJOU LEARNED THAT DIANA WAS NOT DEAD.

hung

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

From this reading The great cathedral of Chartres was hung with white, and the king was standing barefooted in the nave.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The great cathedral of Chartres was hung with white, and the king was standing barefooted in the nave.

just

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

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

king

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

From this reading The great cathedral of Chartres was hung with white, and the king was standing barefooted in the nave.

laugh

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

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

LEARNED

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

From this reading HOW THE DUC D’ANJOU LEARNED THAT DIANA WAS NOT DEAD.

midst

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

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

month

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

From this reading The month of April had arrived.

nave

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

From this reading The great cathedral of Chartres was hung with white, and the king was standing barefooted in the nave.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.

NOTadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading HOW THE DUC D’ANJOU LEARNED THAT DIANA WAS NOT DEAD.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The month of April had arrived.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.

praying

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

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

purpose

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

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

religious

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

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

round

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

From this reading He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.

see

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

From this reading He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

standingnounUS /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading The great cathedral of Chartres was hung with white, and the king was standing barefooted in the nave.

stifled

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

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.

THATconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading HOW THE DUC D’ANJOU LEARNED THAT DIANA WAS NOT DEAD.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading HOW THE DUC D’ANJOU LEARNED THAT DIANA WAS NOT DEAD.

there

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

From this reading He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.

throne

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

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

turned

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

From this reading He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.

WASauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading HOW THE DUC D’ANJOU LEARNED THAT DIANA WAS NOT DEAD.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh.

white

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

From this reading The great cathedral of Chartres was hung with white, and the king was standing barefooted in the nave.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The great cathedral of Chartres was hung with white, and the king was standing barefooted in the nave.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time.