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Temporal Power: A Study in Supremacy
Temporal Power: A Study in Supremacy

Chapter II

Cover illustration for Temporal Power: A Study in Supremacy
Context Illustration Reading 1/42 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A NATION OR A CHURCH?
An approaching step echoing on the marble terrace warned him that he was no longer alone.
He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.
“Time’s up, is it, Roger?” he queried lightly,--then as the equerry bowed in respectful silence--“And yet I have scarcely glanced at these papers!
All the same, I have not been idle--I have been thinking.”
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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.

Temporal Power: A Study in Supremacy

Chapter II

Reading 1/42 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A NATION OR A CHURCH?
Line 2
An approaching step echoing on the marble terrace warned him that he was no longer alone.
Line 3
He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.
Line 4
“Time’s up, is it, Roger?” he queried lightly,--then as the equerry bowed in respectful silence--“And yet I have scarcely glanced at these papers!
Line 5
All the same, I have not been idle--I have been thinking.”

Learner Dictionary

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

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “An approaching step echoing on the marble terrace warned him that he was no longer alone.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “All the same, I have not been idle--I have been thinking.””

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading ““Time’s up, is it, Roger?” he queried lightly,--then as the equerry bowed in respectful silence--“And yet I have scarcely glanced at these papers!”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “All the same, I have not been idle--I have been thinking.””

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

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

From this reading ““Time’s up, is it, Roger?” he queried lightly,--then as the equerry bowed in respectful silence--“And yet I have scarcely glanced at these papers!”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.”

Step noun US /step/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “An approaching step echoing on the marble terrace warned him that he was no longer alone.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading ““Time’s up, is it, Roger?” he queried lightly,--then as the equerry bowed in respectful silence--“And yet I have scarcely glanced at these papers!”

Thinking noun US /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “All the same, I have not been idle--I have been thinking.””

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading ““Time’s up, is it, Roger?” he queried lightly,--then as the equerry bowed in respectful silence--“And yet I have scarcely glanced at these papers!”

All words in this reading · 77

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 A NATION OR A CHURCH?

All

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

From this reading All the same, I have not been idle--I have been thinking.”

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading An approaching step echoing on the marble terrace warned him that he was no longer alone.

AndeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading An approaching step echoing on the marble terrace warned him that he was no longer alone.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

approaching

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

From this reading An approaching step echoing on the marble terrace warned him that he was no longer alone.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading All the same, I have not been idle--I have been thinking.”

bowed

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

From this reading “Time’s up, is it, Roger?” he queried lightly,--then as the equerry bowed in respectful silence--“And yet I have scarcely glanced at these papers!

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

CHURCH

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

From this reading A NATION OR A CHURCH?

de

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

deeply

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

documents

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

echoing

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

From this reading An approaching step echoing on the marble terrace warned him that he was no longer alone.

engrossed

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

equerry

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

favourite

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

feigned

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

friend

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

glanced

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

From this reading “Time’s up, is it, Roger?” he queried lightly,--then as the equerry bowed in respectful silence--“And yet I have scarcely glanced at these papers!

greeted

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Time’s up, is it, Roger?” he queried lightly,--then as the equerry bowed in respectful silence--“And yet I have scarcely glanced at these papers!

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading An approaching step echoing on the marble terrace warned him that he was no longer alone.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading An approaching step echoing on the marble terrace warned him that he was no longer alone.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “Time’s up, is it, Roger?” he queried lightly,--then as the equerry bowed in respectful silence--“And yet I have scarcely glanced at these papers!

idle

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

From this reading All the same, I have not been idle--I have been thinking.”

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

intimate

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

intruder

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “Time’s up, is it, Roger?” he queried lightly,--then as the equerry bowed in respectful silence--“And yet I have scarcely glanced at these papers!

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

Launay

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

lightly

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

From this reading “Time’s up, is it, Roger?” he queried lightly,--then as the equerry bowed in respectful silence--“And yet I have scarcely glanced at these papers!

longer

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

From this reading An approaching step echoing on the marble terrace warned him that he was no longer alone.

marble

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

From this reading An approaching step echoing on the marble terrace warned him that he was no longer alone.

NATION

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

From this reading A NATION OR A CHURCH?

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading An approaching step echoing on the marble terrace warned him that he was no longer alone.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading All the same, I have not been idle--I have been thinking.”

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading An approaching step echoing on the marble terrace warned him that he was no longer alone.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

ORconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading A NATION OR A CHURCH?

papers

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

From this reading “Time’s up, is it, Roger?” he queried lightly,--then as the equerry bowed in respectful silence--“And yet I have scarcely glanced at these papers!

perceived

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

personal

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

perusing

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

queried

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

From this reading “Time’s up, is it, Roger?” he queried lightly,--then as the equerry bowed in respectful silence--“And yet I have scarcely glanced at these papers!

ready

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

reseated

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

respectful

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

From this reading “Time’s up, is it, Roger?” he queried lightly,--then as the equerry bowed in respectful silence--“And yet I have scarcely glanced at these papers!

Roger

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading All the same, I have not been idle--I have been thinking.”

scarcely

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

From this reading “Time’s up, is it, Roger?” he queried lightly,--then as the equerry bowed in respectful silence--“And yet I have scarcely glanced at these papers!

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

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

From this reading “Time’s up, is it, Roger?” he queried lightly,--then as the equerry bowed in respectful silence--“And yet I have scarcely glanced at these papers!

Sir

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

smile

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

soon

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

stepnounUS /step/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading An approaching step echoing on the marble terrace warned him that he was no longer alone.

terrace

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

From this reading An approaching step echoing on the marble terrace warned him that he was no longer alone.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading An approaching step echoing on the marble terrace warned him that he was no longer alone.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading An approaching step echoing on the marble terrace warned him that he was no longer alone.

then

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

From this reading “Time’s up, is it, Roger?” he queried lightly,--then as the equerry bowed in respectful silence--“And yet I have scarcely glanced at these papers!

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “Time’s up, is it, Roger?” he queried lightly,--then as the equerry bowed in respectful silence--“And yet I have scarcely glanced at these papers!

thinkingnounUS /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading All the same, I have not been idle--I have been thinking.”

Time's

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

From this reading “Time’s up, is it, Roger?” he queried lightly,--then as the equerry bowed in respectful silence--“And yet I have scarcely glanced at these papers!

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

up

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

From this reading “Time’s up, is it, Roger?” he queried lightly,--then as the equerry bowed in respectful silence--“And yet I have scarcely glanced at these papers!

various

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

warned

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

From this reading An approaching step echoing on the marble terrace warned him that he was no longer alone.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading An approaching step echoing on the marble terrace warned him that he was no longer alone.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

writing-table

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

From this reading He reseated himself at his writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intruder as soon as he perceived who it was,--one Sir Roger de Launay, his favourite equerry and intimate personal friend.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Time’s up, is it, Roger?” he queried lightly,--then as the equerry bowed in respectful silence--“And yet I have scarcely glanced at these papers!