Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Temporal Power: A Study in Supremacy
Temporal Power: A Study in Supremacy

Chapter XXVIII

Cover illustration for Temporal Power: A Study in Supremacy
Context Illustration Reading 1/81 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.
Amazement and utter stupefaction held every man for the moment paralysed.
Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.
“I _am_ the King!”
The words appeared to blaze on the air before them,--like the handwriting on the wall at Belshazzar’s feast.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 XXVIII

Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.
Line 2
Amazement and utter stupefaction held every man for the moment paralysed.
Line 3
Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.
Line 4
“I _am_ the King!”
Line 5
The words appeared to blaze on the air before them,--like the handwriting on the wall at Belshazzar’s feast.

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 “The words appeared to blaze on the air before them,--like the handwriting on the wall at Belshazzar’s feast.”

Beneath preposition US /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading “Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “Amazement and utter stupefaction held every man for the moment paralysed.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.”

Sudden noun US /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading “Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.”

All words in this reading · 69

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

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.

air

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

From this reading The words appeared to blaze on the air before them,--like the handwriting on the wall at Belshazzar’s feast.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading “I _am_ the King!”

Amazement

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

From this reading Amazement and utter stupefaction held every man for the moment paralysed.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.

appeared

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

From this reading The words appeared to blaze on the air before them,--like the handwriting on the wall at Belshazzar’s feast.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The words appeared to blaze on the air before them,--like the handwriting on the wall at Belshazzar’s feast.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The words appeared to blaze on the air before them,--like the handwriting on the wall at Belshazzar’s feast.

belched

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

From this reading Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.

Belshazzar's

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

From this reading The words appeared to blaze on the air before them,--like the handwriting on the wall at Belshazzar’s feast.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.

blaze

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

From this reading The words appeared to blaze on the air before them,--like the handwriting on the wall at Belshazzar’s feast.

bold

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

From this reading THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.

boldly

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

From this reading THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.

COMRADE

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

From this reading THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.

darkness

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

From this reading THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.

declaration

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

From this reading THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.

dense

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

From this reading THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.

effect

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

From this reading THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Amazement and utter stupefaction held every man for the moment paralysed.

feast

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

From this reading The words appeared to blaze on the air before them,--like the handwriting on the wall at Belshazzar’s feast.

feet

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

From this reading Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.

fire

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

From this reading Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.

flash

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

From this reading THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.

floods

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

From this reading Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.

FOES

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

From this reading THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Amazement and utter stupefaction held every man for the moment paralysed.

forth

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

From this reading Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.

handwriting

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

From this reading The words appeared to blaze on the air before them,--like the handwriting on the wall at Belshazzar’s feast.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.

held

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

From this reading Amazement and utter stupefaction held every man for the moment paralysed.

helplessly

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

From this reading Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.

HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “I _am_ the King!”

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.

King

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

From this reading “I _am_ the King!”

lava

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

From this reading Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.

lightning

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

From this reading THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.

like

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

From this reading The words appeared to blaze on the air before them,--like the handwriting on the wall at Belshazzar’s feast.

man

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

From this reading Amazement and utter stupefaction held every man for the moment paralysed.

moment

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

From this reading Amazement and utter stupefaction held every man for the moment paralysed.

more

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

From this reading Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The words appeared to blaze on the air before them,--like the handwriting on the wall at Belshazzar’s feast.

opened

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

From this reading Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.

paralysed

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

From this reading Amazement and utter stupefaction held every man for the moment paralysed.

rendered

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

From this reading Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.

sharp

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

From this reading THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.

speechless

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

From this reading Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.

spoken

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

From this reading THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.

startling

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

From this reading THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.

stricken

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

From this reading Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.

stupefaction

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

From this reading Amazement and utter stupefaction held every man for the moment paralysed.

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading THE COMRADE OF HIS FOES This bold declaration, boldly spoken, had the startling effect of a sudden and sharp flash of lightning in dense darkness.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The words appeared to blaze on the air before them,--like the handwriting on the wall at Belshazzar’s feast.

utter

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

From this reading Amazement and utter stupefaction held every man for the moment paralysed.

volcano

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

From this reading Had a volcano suddenly opened beneath their feet and belched forth its floods of fire and lava, it could not have rendered them more helplessly stricken and speechless.

wall

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

From this reading The words appeared to blaze on the air before them,--like the handwriting on the wall at Belshazzar’s feast.

words

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

From this reading The words appeared to blaze on the air before them,--like the handwriting on the wall at Belshazzar’s feast.