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Dick Whittington and His Cat
Dick Whittington and His Cat

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8, section 1: But long they waited, and longer still, With muckle doubt and pain. And woe were his mother's and brother's hearts, For he came not back again. Now when they had waited and waited
Context Illustration Reading 1/88 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
But long they waited, and longer still, With muckle doubt and pain.
And woe were his mother's and brother's hearts, For he came not back again.
Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.
But at first his mother the Queen said:
"Not so!
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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.

Dick Whittington and His Cat

Chapter VIII

Reading 1/88 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
But long they waited, and longer still, With muckle doubt and pain.
Line 2
And woe were his mother's and brother's hearts, For he came not back again.
Line 3
Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.
Line 4
But at first his mother the Queen said:
Line 5
"Not so!
/nɑːt soʊ/

Learner Dictionary

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

long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But long they waited, and longer still, With muckle doubt and pain.”

Collocations
But longA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
long theyA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
All words in this reading · 68

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 Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And woe were his mother's and brother's hearts, For he came not back again.

all

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

also

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading But long they waited, and longer still, With muckle doubt and pain.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading But at first his mother the Queen said:

back

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

From this reading And woe were his mother's and brother's hearts, For he came not back again.

beloved

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

besought

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

best

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

bravest

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

brother's

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

From this reading And woe were his mother's and brother's hearts, For he came not back again.

brothers

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

Burd

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But long they waited, and longer still, With muckle doubt and pain.

came

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

From this reading And woe were his mother's and brother's hearts, For he came not back again.

Childe

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

danger

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

Dark

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

death

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

dismay

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

doubt

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

From this reading But long they waited, and longer still, With muckle doubt and pain.

Elfland

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But at first his mother the Queen said:

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading And woe were his mother's and brother's hearts, For he came not back again.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

go

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading And woe were his mother's and brother's hearts, For he came not back again.

hearts

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

From this reading And woe were his mother's and brother's hearts, For he came not back again.

Helen's

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading And woe were his mother's and brother's hearts, For he came not back again.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But long they waited, and longer still, With muckle doubt and pain.

longer

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

From this reading But long they waited, and longer still, With muckle doubt and pain.

mother

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

mother's

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

From this reading And woe were his mother's and brother's hearts, For he came not back again.

muckle

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

From this reading But long they waited, and longer still, With muckle doubt and pain.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading And woe were his mother's and brother's hearts, For he came not back again.

Now

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

pain

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

From this reading But long they waited, and longer still, With muckle doubt and pain.

Queen

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

From this reading But at first his mother the Queen said:

quest

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

Rowland

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

said

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

From this reading But at first his mother the Queen said:

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "Not so!

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But long they waited, and longer still, With muckle doubt and pain.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading But long they waited, and longer still, With muckle doubt and pain.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

Tower

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

waited

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

From this reading But long they waited, and longer still, With muckle doubt and pain.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading And woe were his mother's and brother's hearts, For he came not back again.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading But long they waited, and longer still, With muckle doubt and pain.

woe

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

From this reading And woe were his mother's and brother's hearts, For he came not back again.

youngest

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

From this reading Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither death nor danger could dismay him.