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Foes
Foes

Chapter XXX

Cover illustration for Foes
Context Illustration Reading 1/55 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The caravan, having spent three days in a town the edge of the desert, set forth in the afternoon.
The caravan was a considerable one.
Three hundred camels, more than a hundred asses, went heavily laden.
Twenty men rode excellent horses; ten, poorer steeds; the company of others mounted with the merchandise or, staff in hand, strode beside.
In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.
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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.

Foes

Chapter XXX

Reading 1/55 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The caravan, having spent three days in a town the edge of the desert, set forth in the afternoon.
Line 2
The caravan was a considerable one.
Line 3
Three hundred camels, more than a hundred asses, went heavily laden.
Line 4
Twenty men rode excellent horses; ten, poorer steeds; the company of others mounted with the merchandise or, staff in hand, strode beside.
Line 5
In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.

Learner Dictionary

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

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading “The caravan, having spent three days in a town the edge of the desert, set forth in the afternoon.”

Beside preposition US /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading “Twenty men rode excellent horses; ten, poorer steeds; the company of others mounted with the merchandise or, staff in hand, strode beside.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Twenty men rode excellent horses; ten, poorer steeds; the company of others mounted with the merchandise or, staff in hand, strode beside.”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “The caravan, having spent three days in a town the edge of the desert, set forth in the afternoon.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The caravan was a considerable one.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Three hundred camels, more than a hundred asses, went heavily laden.”

All words in this reading · 64

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 caravan, having spent three days in a town the edge of the desert, set forth in the afternoon.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading The caravan, having spent three days in a town the edge of the desert, set forth in the afternoon.

apprehended

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

From this reading In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.

asses

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

From this reading Three hundred camels, more than a hundred asses, went heavily laden.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.

bands

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

From this reading In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.

became

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

From this reading In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.

besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading Twenty men rode excellent horses; ten, poorer steeds; the company of others mounted with the merchandise or, staff in hand, strode beside.

camels

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

From this reading Three hundred camels, more than a hundred asses, went heavily laden.

caravan

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

From this reading The caravan, having spent three days in a town the edge of the desert, set forth in the afternoon.

compact

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

From this reading In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.

company

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

From this reading Twenty men rode excellent horses; ten, poorer steeds; the company of others mounted with the merchandise or, staff in hand, strode beside.

considerable

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

From this reading The caravan was a considerable one.

dangers

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

From this reading In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.

days

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

From this reading The caravan, having spent three days in a town the edge of the desert, set forth in the afternoon.

desert

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

From this reading The caravan, having spent three days in a town the edge of the desert, set forth in the afternoon.

edge

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

From this reading The caravan, having spent three days in a town the edge of the desert, set forth in the afternoon.

excellent

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

From this reading Twenty men rode excellent horses; ten, poorer steeds; the company of others mounted with the merchandise or, staff in hand, strode beside.

forth

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

From this reading The caravan, having spent three days in a town the edge of the desert, set forth in the afternoon.

hand

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

From this reading Twenty men rode excellent horses; ten, poorer steeds; the company of others mounted with the merchandise or, staff in hand, strode beside.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading The caravan, having spent three days in a town the edge of the desert, set forth in the afternoon.

heavily

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

From this reading Three hundred camels, more than a hundred asses, went heavily laden.

horses

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

From this reading Twenty men rode excellent horses; ten, poorer steeds; the company of others mounted with the merchandise or, staff in hand, strode beside.

hundred

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

From this reading Three hundred camels, more than a hundred asses, went heavily laden.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The caravan, having spent three days in a town the edge of the desert, set forth in the afternoon.

laden

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

From this reading Three hundred camels, more than a hundred asses, went heavily laden.

lagging

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

From this reading In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.

men

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

From this reading Twenty men rode excellent horses; ten, poorer steeds; the company of others mounted with the merchandise or, staff in hand, strode beside.

merchandise

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

From this reading Twenty men rode excellent horses; ten, poorer steeds; the company of others mounted with the merchandise or, staff in hand, strode beside.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.

more

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

From this reading Three hundred camels, more than a hundred asses, went heavily laden.

mounted

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

From this reading Twenty men rode excellent horses; ten, poorer steeds; the company of others mounted with the merchandise or, staff in hand, strode beside.

occurred

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

From this reading In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The caravan, having spent three days in a town the edge of the desert, set forth in the afternoon.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The caravan was a considerable one.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Twenty men rode excellent horses; ten, poorer steeds; the company of others mounted with the merchandise or, staff in hand, strode beside.

other

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

From this reading In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.

others

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

From this reading Twenty men rode excellent horses; ten, poorer steeds; the company of others mounted with the merchandise or, staff in hand, strode beside.

out

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

From this reading In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.

poorer

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

From this reading Twenty men rode excellent horses; ten, poorer steeds; the company of others mounted with the merchandise or, staff in hand, strode beside.

rear

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

From this reading In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.

robber

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

From this reading In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.

rode

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

From this reading Twenty men rode excellent horses; ten, poorer steeds; the company of others mounted with the merchandise or, staff in hand, strode beside.

safe

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

From this reading In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.

set

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

From this reading The caravan, having spent three days in a town the edge of the desert, set forth in the afternoon.

spent

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

From this reading The caravan, having spent three days in a town the edge of the desert, set forth in the afternoon.

staff

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

From this reading Twenty men rode excellent horses; ten, poorer steeds; the company of others mounted with the merchandise or, staff in hand, strode beside.

steeds

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

From this reading Twenty men rode excellent horses; ten, poorer steeds; the company of others mounted with the merchandise or, staff in hand, strode beside.

stretches

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

From this reading In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.

stringing

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

From this reading In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.

strode

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

From this reading Twenty men rode excellent horses; ten, poorer steeds; the company of others mounted with the merchandise or, staff in hand, strode beside.

ten

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

From this reading Twenty men rode excellent horses; ten, poorer steeds; the company of others mounted with the merchandise or, staff in hand, strode beside.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Three hundred camels, more than a hundred asses, went heavily laden.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The caravan, having spent three days in a town the edge of the desert, set forth in the afternoon.

things

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

From this reading In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.

three

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

From this reading The caravan, having spent three days in a town the edge of the desert, set forth in the afternoon.

town

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

From this reading The caravan, having spent three days in a town the edge of the desert, set forth in the afternoon.

Twenty

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

From this reading Twenty men rode excellent horses; ten, poorer steeds; the company of others mounted with the merchandise or, staff in hand, strode beside.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The caravan was a considerable one.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Three hundred camels, more than a hundred asses, went heavily laden.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading In safe stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended things became compact.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Twenty men rode excellent horses; ten, poorer steeds; the company of others mounted with the merchandise or, staff in hand, strode beside.