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Mark Tidd's Citadel
Mark Tidd's Citadel

Chapter XIV

Cover illustration for Mark Tidd's Citadel
Context Illustration Reading 1/36 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Our supper was a little late that night, but it tasted all the better for that.
Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.
When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.
There wasn’t any moon, but there were seven million stars, which only made it seem blacker than it was.
Outside the circle where our fires threw light you couldn’t see any more than as if you were trying to look through a black curtain.
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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.

Mark Tidd's Citadel

Chapter XIV

Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Our supper was a little late that night, but it tasted all the better for that.
Line 2
Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.
Line 3
When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.
Line 4
There wasn’t any moon, but there were seven million stars, which only made it seem blacker than it was.
Line 5
Outside the circle where our fires threw light you couldn’t see any more than as if you were trying to look through a black curtain.

Learner Dictionary

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

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.”

Fool noun US /fool/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.”

Insisted verb US /ɪnˈsɪstɪd/

demanded something firmly

From this reading “Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Our supper was a little late that night, but it tasted all the better for that.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Outside the circle where our fires threw light you couldn’t see any more than as if you were trying to look through a black curtain.”

Outside noun US /ˈoutside/

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

From this reading “Outside the circle where our fires threw light you couldn’t see any more than as if you were trying to look through a black curtain.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.”

Somebody pronoun US /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/

a person, without saying who

From this reading “Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “Outside the circle where our fires threw light you couldn’t see any more than as if you were trying to look through a black curtain.”

All words in this reading · 83

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 Our supper was a little late that night, but it tasted all the better for that.

all

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

From this reading Our supper was a little late that night, but it tasted all the better for that.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.

any

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

From this reading There wasn’t any moon, but there were seven million stars, which only made it seem blacker than it was.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Outside the circle where our fires threw light you couldn’t see any more than as if you were trying to look through a black curtain.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.

ate

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

From this reading Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.

BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.

better

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

From this reading Our supper was a little late that night, but it tasted all the better for that.

black

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

From this reading Outside the circle where our fires threw light you couldn’t see any more than as if you were trying to look through a black curtain.

blacker

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

From this reading There wasn’t any moon, but there were seven million stars, which only made it seem blacker than it was.

building

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

From this reading Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.

business

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

From this reading When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Our supper was a little late that night, but it tasted all the better for that.

circle

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

From this reading Outside the circle where our fires threw light you couldn’t see any more than as if you were trying to look through a black curtain.

couldn't

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

From this reading Outside the circle where our fires threw light you couldn’t see any more than as if you were trying to look through a black curtain.

country

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

From this reading Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.

curtain

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

From this reading Outside the circle where our fires threw light you couldn’t see any more than as if you were trying to look through a black curtain.

dark

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

From this reading When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.

darkness

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

From this reading When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.

doesn't

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

From this reading When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.

down

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

From this reading When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.

enemy's

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

From this reading Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.

eyes

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

From this reading Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.

fires

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

From this reading Outside the circle where our fires threw light you couldn’t see any more than as if you were trying to look through a black curtain.

first-quality

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

From this reading When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.

foolnounUS /fool/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Our supper was a little late that night, but it tasted all the better for that.

gets

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

From this reading When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Outside the circle where our fires threw light you couldn’t see any more than as if you were trying to look through a black curtain.

insistedverbUS /ɪnˈsɪstɪd/

demanded something firmly

From this reading Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Our supper was a little late that night, but it tasted all the better for that.

just

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

From this reading When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.

keeping

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

From this reading Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.

Lake

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

From this reading When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.

late

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

From this reading Our supper was a little late that night, but it tasted all the better for that.

light

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

From this reading Outside the circle where our fires threw light you couldn’t see any more than as if you were trying to look through a black curtain.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Our supper was a little late that night, but it tasted all the better for that.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Outside the circle where our fires threw light you couldn’t see any more than as if you were trying to look through a black curtain.

made

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

From this reading There wasn’t any moon, but there were seven million stars, which only made it seem blacker than it was.

Mark

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

From this reading Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.

million

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

From this reading There wasn’t any moon, but there were seven million stars, which only made it seem blacker than it was.

minute

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

From this reading Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.

moon

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

From this reading There wasn’t any moon, but there were seven million stars, which only made it seem blacker than it was.

more

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

From this reading Outside the circle where our fires threw light you couldn’t see any more than as if you were trying to look through a black curtain.

night

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

From this reading Our supper was a little late that night, but it tasted all the better for that.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.

only

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

From this reading There wasn’t any moon, but there were seven million stars, which only made it seem blacker than it was.

OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Our supper was a little late that night, but it tasted all the better for that.

out

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

From this reading When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.

OutsidenounUS /ˈoutside/

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

From this reading Outside the circle where our fires threw light you couldn’t see any more than as if you were trying to look through a black curtain.

Ravona

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

From this reading When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.

see

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

From this reading Outside the circle where our fires threw light you couldn’t see any more than as if you were trying to look through a black curtain.

seem

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

From this reading There wasn’t any moon, but there were seven million stars, which only made it seem blacker than it was.

seven

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

From this reading There wasn’t any moon, but there were seven million stars, which only made it seem blacker than it was.

somebodypronounUS /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/

a person, without saying who

From this reading Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.

stars

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

From this reading There wasn’t any moon, but there were seven million stars, which only made it seem blacker than it was.

supper

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

From this reading Our supper was a little late that night, but it tasted all the better for that.

tasted

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

From this reading Our supper was a little late that night, but it tasted all the better for that.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading There wasn’t any moon, but there were seven million stars, which only made it seem blacker than it was.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Our supper was a little late that night, but it tasted all the better for that.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Our supper was a little late that night, but it tasted all the better for that.

There

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

From this reading There wasn’t any moon, but there were seven million stars, which only made it seem blacker than it was.

threw

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

From this reading Outside the circle where our fires threw light you couldn’t see any more than as if you were trying to look through a black curtain.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading Outside the circle where our fires threw light you couldn’t see any more than as if you were trying to look through a black curtain.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.

trying

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

From this reading Outside the circle where our fires threw light you couldn’t see any more than as if you were trying to look through a black curtain.

turns

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

From this reading When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.

two

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

From this reading Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Our supper was a little late that night, but it tasted all the better for that.

wasn't

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

From this reading There wasn’t any moon, but there were seven million stars, which only made it seem blacker than it was.

watch-fires

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

From this reading Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Before we ate, Mark insisted on our building the two watch-fires, and somebody was keeping his eyes on the enemy’s country every minute.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading There wasn’t any moon, but there were seven million stars, which only made it seem blacker than it was.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Outside the circle where our fires threw light you couldn’t see any more than as if you were trying to look through a black curtain.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading There wasn’t any moon, but there were seven million stars, which only made it seem blacker than it was.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading When it gets dark at Lake Ravona it doesn’t just fool around with it; it gets right down to business and turns out first-quality darkness.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Outside the circle where our fires threw light you couldn’t see any more than as if you were trying to look through a black curtain.