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Off on a Comet! A Journey Through Planetary Space
Off on a Comet! A Journey Through Planetary Space

Chapter XII · A Royal Salute

Cover illustration for Off on a Comet! A Journey Through Planetary Space
Context Illustration Reading 1/24 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.
“I was afraid you would,” replied Major Oliphant, looking intently at the chess-board.
Such was the way in which a long silence was broken on the morning of the 17th of February by the old calendar.
Another day elapsed before another move was made.
It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.
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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.

Off on a Comet! A Journey Through Planetary Space

Chapter XII · A Royal Salute

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.
Line 2
“I was afraid you would,” replied Major Oliphant, looking intently at the chess-board.
Line 3
Such was the way in which a long silence was broken on the morning of the 17th of February by the old calendar.
Line 4
Another day elapsed before another move was made.
Line 5
It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

Learner Dictionary

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

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “Another day elapsed before another move was made.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Another day elapsed before another move was made.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.”

Broken noun US /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Such was the way in which a long silence was broken on the morning of the 17th of February by the old calendar.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Such was the way in which a long silence was broken on the morning of the 17th of February by the old calendar.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Such was the way in which a long silence was broken on the morning of the 17th of February by the old calendar.”

Replied noun US /replied/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““I was afraid you would,” replied Major Oliphant, looking intently at the chess-board.”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “Such was the way in which a long silence was broken on the morning of the 17th of February by the old calendar.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading ““Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.”

Step noun US /step/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading ““I was afraid you would,” replied Major Oliphant, looking intently at the chess-board.”

All words in this reading · 79

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

17th

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

From this reading Such was the way in which a long silence was broken on the morning of the 17th of February by the old calendar.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading “Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.

afraid

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

From this reading “I was afraid you would,” replied Major Oliphant, looking intently at the chess-board.

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

AnothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading Another day elapsed before another move was made.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading “Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading “I was afraid you would,” replied Major Oliphant, looking intently at the chess-board.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Another day elapsed before another move was made.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

bishop

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

From this reading “Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.

brokennounUS /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Such was the way in which a long silence was broken on the morning of the 17th of February by the old calendar.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Such was the way in which a long silence was broken on the morning of the 17th of February by the old calendar.

calendar

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

From this reading Such was the way in which a long silence was broken on the morning of the 17th of February by the old calendar.

chess-board

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

From this reading “I was afraid you would,” replied Major Oliphant, looking intently at the chess-board.

Colonel

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

From this reading “Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.

consider

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

From this reading “Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.

consideration

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

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

day

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

From this reading Another day elapsed before another move was made.

deliberate

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

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

elapsed

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

From this reading Another day elapsed before another move was made.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

evening

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

From this reading “Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.

fact

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

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

fearful

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

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

February

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

From this reading Such was the way in which a long silence was broken on the morning of the 17th of February by the old calendar.

game

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

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading “Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading “Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Such was the way in which a long silence was broken on the morning of the 17th of February by the old calendar.

intently

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

From this reading “I was afraid you would,” replied Major Oliphant, looking intently at the chess-board.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

lasted

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

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Such was the way in which a long silence was broken on the morning of the 17th of February by the old calendar.

looking

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

From this reading “I was afraid you would,” replied Major Oliphant, looking intently at the chess-board.

made

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

From this reading “Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.

major

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

From this reading “Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.

making

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

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

mature

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

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

months

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

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Such was the way in which a long silence was broken on the morning of the 17th of February by the old calendar.

most

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

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

move

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

From this reading “Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.

Murphy

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

From this reading “Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.

now

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

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Such was the way in which a long silence was broken on the morning of the 17th of February by the old calendar.

old

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

From this reading Such was the way in which a long silence was broken on the morning of the 17th of February by the old calendar.

Oliphant

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

From this reading “I was afraid you would,” replied Major Oliphant, looking intently at the chess-board.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Such was the way in which a long silence was broken on the morning of the 17th of February by the old calendar.

only

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

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

players

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

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

previous

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

From this reading “Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.

protracted

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

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

repliednounUS /replied/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I was afraid you would,” replied Major Oliphant, looking intently at the chess-board.

said

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

From this reading “Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading Such was the way in which a long silence was broken on the morning of the 17th of February by the old calendar.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

some

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

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

stepnounUS /step/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

SuchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Such was the way in which a long silence was broken on the morning of the 17th of February by the old calendar.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.

taken

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

From this reading “Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.

taking

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

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.

Then

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

From this reading “Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.

twentieth

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

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading “I was afraid you would,” replied Major Oliphant, looking intently at the chess-board.

way

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

From this reading Such was the way in which a long silence was broken on the morning of the 17th of February by the old calendar.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Such was the way in which a long silence was broken on the morning of the 17th of February by the old calendar.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading It was a protracted game; it had, in fact, already lasted some months--the players being so deliberate, and so fearful of taking a step without the most mature consideration, that even now they were only making the twentieth move.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “I was afraid you would,” replied Major Oliphant, looking intently at the chess-board.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “I was afraid you would,” replied Major Oliphant, looking intently at the chess-board.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Then I take your bishop, major,” said Colonel Murphy, as he made a move that he had taken since the previous evening to consider.