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Edinburgh: Picturesque Notes
Edinburgh: Picturesque Notes

Chapter I · Introductory

Cover illustration for Edinburgh: Picturesque Notes
Context Illustration Reading 1/13 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The ancient and famous metropolis of the North sits overlooking a windy estuary from the slope and summit of three hills.
No situation could be more commanding for the head city of a kingdom; none better chosen for noble prospects.
From her tall precipice and terraced gardens she looks far and wide on the sea and broad champaigns.
To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.
But Edinburgh pays cruelly for her high seat in one of the vilest climates under heaven.
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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.

Edinburgh: Picturesque Notes

Chapter I · Introductory

Reading 1/13 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The ancient and famous metropolis of the North sits overlooking a windy estuary from the slope and summit of three hills.
Line 2
No situation could be more commanding for the head city of a kingdom; none better chosen for noble prospects.
Line 3
From her tall precipice and terraced gardens she looks far and wide on the sea and broad champaigns.
Line 4
To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.
Line 5
But Edinburgh pays cruelly for her high seat in one of the vilest climates under heaven.

Learner Dictionary

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

Ancient adjective US /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading “The ancient and famous metropolis of the North sits overlooking a windy estuary from the slope and summit of three hills.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “No situation could be more commanding for the head city of a kingdom; none better chosen for noble prospects.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.”

None pronoun US /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading “No situation could be more commanding for the head city of a kingdom; none better chosen for noble prospects.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “But Edinburgh pays cruelly for her high seat in one of the vilest climates under heaven.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “But Edinburgh pays cruelly for her high seat in one of the vilest climates under heaven.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.”

All words in this reading · 85

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 ancient and famous metropolis of the North sits overlooking a windy estuary from the slope and summit of three hills.

all

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

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading The ancient and famous metropolis of the North sits overlooking a windy estuary from the slope and summit of three hills.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The ancient and famous metropolis of the North sits overlooking a windy estuary from the slope and summit of three hills.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

away

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

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading No situation could be more commanding for the head city of a kingdom; none better chosen for noble prospects.

Ben

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

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

better

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

From this reading No situation could be more commanding for the head city of a kingdom; none better chosen for noble prospects.

broad

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

From this reading From her tall precipice and terraced gardens she looks far and wide on the sea and broad champaigns.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But Edinburgh pays cruelly for her high seat in one of the vilest climates under heaven.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

carse

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

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

catch

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

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

champaigns

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

From this reading From her tall precipice and terraced gardens she looks far and wide on the sea and broad champaigns.

chosen

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

From this reading No situation could be more commanding for the head city of a kingdom; none better chosen for noble prospects.

city

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

From this reading No situation could be more commanding for the head city of a kingdom; none better chosen for noble prospects.

climates

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

From this reading But Edinburgh pays cruelly for her high seat in one of the vilest climates under heaven.

commanding

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

From this reading No situation could be more commanding for the head city of a kingdom; none better chosen for noble prospects.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading No situation could be more commanding for the head city of a kingdom; none better chosen for noble prospects.

cruelly

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

From this reading But Edinburgh pays cruelly for her high seat in one of the vilest climates under heaven.

east

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

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

Edinburgh

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

From this reading But Edinburgh pays cruelly for her high seat in one of the vilest climates under heaven.

estuary

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

From this reading The ancient and famous metropolis of the North sits overlooking a windy estuary from the slope and summit of three hills.

expands

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

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

famous

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

From this reading The ancient and famous metropolis of the North sits overlooking a windy estuary from the slope and summit of three hills.

far

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

From this reading From her tall precipice and terraced gardens she looks far and wide on the sea and broad champaigns.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

Firth

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

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading No situation could be more commanding for the head city of a kingdom; none better chosen for noble prospects.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The ancient and famous metropolis of the North sits overlooking a windy estuary from the slope and summit of three hills.

gardens

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

From this reading From her tall precipice and terraced gardens she looks far and wide on the sea and broad champaigns.

German

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

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

head

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

From this reading No situation could be more commanding for the head city of a kingdom; none better chosen for noble prospects.

heaven

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

From this reading But Edinburgh pays cruelly for her high seat in one of the vilest climates under heaven.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading From her tall precipice and terraced gardens she looks far and wide on the sea and broad champaigns.

high

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

From this reading But Edinburgh pays cruelly for her high seat in one of the vilest climates under heaven.

hills

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

From this reading The ancient and famous metropolis of the North sits overlooking a windy estuary from the slope and summit of three hills.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But Edinburgh pays cruelly for her high seat in one of the vilest climates under heaven.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

kingdom

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

From this reading No situation could be more commanding for the head city of a kingdom; none better chosen for noble prospects.

Ledi

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

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

lighthouse

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

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

looks

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

From this reading From her tall precipice and terraced gardens she looks far and wide on the sea and broad champaigns.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

metropolis

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

From this reading The ancient and famous metropolis of the North sits overlooking a windy estuary from the slope and summit of three hills.

more

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

From this reading No situation could be more commanding for the head city of a kingdom; none better chosen for noble prospects.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No situation could be more commanding for the head city of a kingdom; none better chosen for noble prospects.

noble

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

From this reading No situation could be more commanding for the head city of a kingdom; none better chosen for noble prospects.

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading No situation could be more commanding for the head city of a kingdom; none better chosen for noble prospects.

North

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

From this reading The ancient and famous metropolis of the North sits overlooking a windy estuary from the slope and summit of three hills.

Ocean

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

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The ancient and famous metropolis of the North sits overlooking a windy estuary from the slope and summit of three hills.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading From her tall precipice and terraced gardens she looks far and wide on the sea and broad champaigns.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading But Edinburgh pays cruelly for her high seat in one of the vilest climates under heaven.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

overlooking

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

From this reading The ancient and famous metropolis of the North sits overlooking a windy estuary from the slope and summit of three hills.

pays

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

From this reading But Edinburgh pays cruelly for her high seat in one of the vilest climates under heaven.

precipice

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

From this reading From her tall precipice and terraced gardens she looks far and wide on the sea and broad champaigns.

prospects

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

From this reading No situation could be more commanding for the head city of a kingdom; none better chosen for noble prospects.

sea

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

From this reading From her tall precipice and terraced gardens she looks far and wide on the sea and broad champaigns.

seat

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

From this reading But Edinburgh pays cruelly for her high seat in one of the vilest climates under heaven.

see

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

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading From her tall precipice and terraced gardens she looks far and wide on the sea and broad champaigns.

sits

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

From this reading The ancient and famous metropolis of the North sits overlooking a windy estuary from the slope and summit of three hills.

situation

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

From this reading No situation could be more commanding for the head city of a kingdom; none better chosen for noble prospects.

slope

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

From this reading The ancient and famous metropolis of the North sits overlooking a windy estuary from the slope and summit of three hills.

snows

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

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

spark

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

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

Stirling

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

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

summit

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

From this reading The ancient and famous metropolis of the North sits overlooking a windy estuary from the slope and summit of three hills.

sunset

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

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

tall

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

From this reading From her tall precipice and terraced gardens she looks far and wide on the sea and broad champaigns.

terraced

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

From this reading From her tall precipice and terraced gardens she looks far and wide on the sea and broad champaigns.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The ancient and famous metropolis of the North sits overlooking a windy estuary from the slope and summit of three hills.

three

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

From this reading The ancient and famous metropolis of the North sits overlooking a windy estuary from the slope and summit of three hills.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading But Edinburgh pays cruelly for her high seat in one of the vilest climates under heaven.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

vilest

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

From this reading But Edinburgh pays cruelly for her high seat in one of the vilest climates under heaven.

west

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

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.

wide

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

From this reading From her tall precipice and terraced gardens she looks far and wide on the sea and broad champaigns.

windy

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

From this reading The ancient and famous metropolis of the North sits overlooking a windy estuary from the slope and summit of three hills.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading To the east you may catch at sunset the spark of the May lighthouse, where the Firth expands into the German Ocean; and away to the west, over all the carse of Stirling, you can see the first snows upon Ben Ledi.