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Oak Openings
Oak Openings

Chapter XXIV

Cover illustration for Oak Openings
Context Illustration Reading 1/59 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
For thou wert born of woman!
Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.
But thee, a soft and naked child, Thy mother undefiled, In the rude manger laid to rest From off her virgin breast.
The blood of the bee-hunter curdled in his veins as he listened to Peter's business-like and direct manner of treating this terrible subject.
Putting the most favorable view on his situation, it was frightful to look on.
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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.

Oak Openings

Chapter XXIV

Reading 1/59 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
For thou wert born of woman!
Line 2
Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.
Line 3
But thee, a soft and naked child, Thy mother undefiled, In the rude manger laid to rest From off her virgin breast.
Line 4
The blood of the bee-hunter curdled in his veins as he listened to Peter's business-like and direct manner of treating this terrible subject.
Line 5
Putting the most favorable view on his situation, it was frightful to look on.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.”

Blood noun US /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The blood of the bee-hunter curdled in his veins as he listened to Peter's business-like and direct manner of treating this terrible subject.”

Born noun US /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For thou wert born of woman!”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.”

Didst auxiliary verb US /dɪdst/

an old form of “did”, used with “thou”

From this reading “Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Putting the most favorable view on his situation, it was frightful to look on.”

Rest noun US /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But thee, a soft and naked child, Thy mother undefiled, In the rude manger laid to rest From off her virgin breast.”

Terrible noun US /ˈterrible/

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

From this reading “The blood of the bee-hunter curdled in his veins as he listened to Peter's business-like and direct manner of treating this terrible subject.”

Thee pronoun US /ðiː/

an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person

From this reading “Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.”

Thou pronoun US /ðaʊ/

an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person

From this reading “For thou wert born of woman!”

Thy determiner US /ðaɪ/

an old word for “your”, speaking to one person

From this reading “Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.”

Wert auxiliary verb US /wɜːrt/

an old form of “were”, used with “thou”

From this reading “For thou wert born of woman!”

All words in this reading · 75

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 But thee, a soft and naked child, Thy mother undefiled, In the rude manger laid to rest From off her virgin breast.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

array

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

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The blood of the bee-hunter curdled in his veins as he listened to Peter's business-like and direct manner of treating this terrible subject.

bee-hunter

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

From this reading The blood of the bee-hunter curdled in his veins as he listened to Peter's business-like and direct manner of treating this terrible subject.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

bloodnounUS /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The blood of the bee-hunter curdled in his veins as he listened to Peter's business-like and direct manner of treating this terrible subject.

bornnounUS /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For thou wert born of woman!

breast

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

From this reading But thee, a soft and naked child, Thy mother undefiled, In the rude manger laid to rest From off her virgin breast.

burnt

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

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

business-like

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

From this reading The blood of the bee-hunter curdled in his veins as he listened to Peter's business-like and direct manner of treating this terrible subject.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But thee, a soft and naked child, Thy mother undefiled, In the rude manger laid to rest From off her virgin breast.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

child

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

From this reading But thee, a soft and naked child, Thy mother undefiled, In the rude manger laid to rest From off her virgin breast.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

curdled

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

From this reading The blood of the bee-hunter curdled in his veins as he listened to Peter's business-like and direct manner of treating this terrible subject.

didstauxiliary verbUS /dɪdst/

an old form of “did”, used with “thou”

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

direct

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

From this reading The blood of the bee-hunter curdled in his veins as he listened to Peter's business-like and direct manner of treating this terrible subject.

dread

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

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

favorable

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

From this reading Putting the most favorable view on his situation, it was frightful to look on.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For thou wert born of woman!

frightful

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

From this reading Putting the most favorable view on his situation, it was frightful to look on.

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading But thee, a soft and naked child, Thy mother undefiled, In the rude manger laid to rest From off her virgin breast.

gloom

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

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The blood of the bee-hunter curdled in his veins as he listened to Peter's business-like and direct manner of treating this terrible subject.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading But thee, a soft and naked child, Thy mother undefiled, In the rude manger laid to rest From off her virgin breast.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The blood of the bee-hunter curdled in his veins as he listened to Peter's business-like and direct manner of treating this terrible subject.

Holiest

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

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

indignation

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

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Putting the most favorable view on his situation, it was frightful to look on.

laid

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

From this reading But thee, a soft and naked child, Thy mother undefiled, In the rude manger laid to rest From off her virgin breast.

listened

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

From this reading The blood of the bee-hunter curdled in his veins as he listened to Peter's business-like and direct manner of treating this terrible subject.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Putting the most favorable view on his situation, it was frightful to look on.

manger

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

From this reading But thee, a soft and naked child, Thy mother undefiled, In the rude manger laid to rest From off her virgin breast.

manner

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

From this reading The blood of the bee-hunter curdled in his veins as he listened to Peter's business-like and direct manner of treating this terrible subject.

most

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

From this reading Putting the most favorable view on his situation, it was frightful to look on.

mother

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

From this reading But thee, a soft and naked child, Thy mother undefiled, In the rude manger laid to rest From off her virgin breast.

naked

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

From this reading But thee, a soft and naked child, Thy mother undefiled, In the rude manger laid to rest From off her virgin breast.

NorconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

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

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

NotadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

O

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

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading For thou wert born of woman!

off

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

From this reading But thee, a soft and naked child, Thy mother undefiled, In the rude manger laid to rest From off her virgin breast.

omnipotent

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

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

Peter's

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

From this reading The blood of the bee-hunter curdled in his veins as he listened to Peter's business-like and direct manner of treating this terrible subject.

Putting

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

From this reading Putting the most favorable view on his situation, it was frightful to look on.

restnounUS /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But thee, a soft and naked child, Thy mother undefiled, In the rude manger laid to rest From off her virgin breast.

road

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

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

rude

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

From this reading But thee, a soft and naked child, Thy mother undefiled, In the rude manger laid to rest From off her virgin breast.

sin

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

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

situation

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

From this reading Putting the most favorable view on his situation, it was frightful to look on.

soft

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

From this reading But thee, a soft and naked child, Thy mother undefiled, In the rude manger laid to rest From off her virgin breast.

strewed

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

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

subject

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

From this reading The blood of the bee-hunter curdled in his veins as he listened to Peter's business-like and direct manner of treating this terrible subject.

tempestuous

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

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

terriblenounUS /ˈterrible/

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

From this reading The blood of the bee-hunter curdled in his veins as he listened to Peter's business-like and direct manner of treating this terrible subject.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading But thee, a soft and naked child, Thy mother undefiled, In the rude manger laid to rest From off her virgin breast.

theepronounUS /ðiː/

an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

thoupronounUS /ðaʊ/

an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person

From this reading For thou wert born of woman!

thunders

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

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

thydeterminerUS /ðaɪ/

an old word for “your”, speaking to one person

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

treating

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

From this reading The blood of the bee-hunter curdled in his veins as he listened to Peter's business-like and direct manner of treating this terrible subject.

undefiled

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

From this reading But thee, a soft and naked child, Thy mother undefiled, In the rude manger laid to rest From off her virgin breast.

veins

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

From this reading The blood of the bee-hunter curdled in his veins as he listened to Peter's business-like and direct manner of treating this terrible subject.

view

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

From this reading Putting the most favorable view on his situation, it was frightful to look on.

virgin

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

From this reading But thee, a soft and naked child, Thy mother undefiled, In the rude manger laid to rest From off her virgin breast.

Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

way

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

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.

wertauxiliary verbUS /wɜːrt/

an old form of “were”, used with “thou”

From this reading For thou wert born of woman!

woman

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

From this reading For thou wert born of woman!

world

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

From this reading Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way.