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The Abbatial Crosier
The Abbatial Crosier

Chapter XIII

Cover illustration for The Abbatial Crosier
Context Illustration Reading 1/19 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE MOUSE-TRAP.
Dawn was about to succeed the night in which Broute-Saule was killed by Berthoald.
Profoundly asleep and with his hands pinioned behind his back, the young chief lay upon the floor of Meroflede's bedchamber.
Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.
Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.
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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.

The Abbatial Crosier

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/19 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE MOUSE-TRAP.
Line 2
Dawn was about to succeed the night in which Broute-Saule was killed by Berthoald.
Line 3
Profoundly asleep and with his hands pinioned behind his back, the young chief lay upon the floor of Meroflede's bedchamber.
Line 4
Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.
Line 5
Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Dawn was about to succeed the night in which Broute-Saule was killed by Berthoald.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “Profoundly asleep and with his hands pinioned behind his back, the young chief lay upon the floor of Meroflede's bedchamber.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “Profoundly asleep and with his hands pinioned behind his back, the young chief lay upon the floor of Meroflede's bedchamber.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Profoundly asleep and with his hands pinioned behind his back, the young chief lay upon the floor of Meroflede's bedchamber.”

Whence adverb US /wens/

an old word meaning “from where”

From this reading “Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.”

All words in this reading · 78

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 Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

abbess

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

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Dawn was about to succeed the night in which Broute-Saule was killed by Berthoald.

almost

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

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Profoundly asleep and with his hands pinioned behind his back, the young chief lay upon the floor of Meroflede's bedchamber.

approaching

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

From this reading Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.

asleep

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

From this reading Profoundly asleep and with his hands pinioned behind his back, the young chief lay upon the floor of Meroflede's bedchamber.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.

back

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

From this reading Profoundly asleep and with his hands pinioned behind his back, the young chief lay upon the floor of Meroflede's bedchamber.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.

bedchamber

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

From this reading Profoundly asleep and with his hands pinioned behind his back, the young chief lay upon the floor of Meroflede's bedchamber.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Profoundly asleep and with his hands pinioned behind his back, the young chief lay upon the floor of Meroflede's bedchamber.

Berthoald

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

From this reading Dawn was about to succeed the night in which Broute-Saule was killed by Berthoald.

black

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

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

Broute-Saule

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

From this reading Dawn was about to succeed the night in which Broute-Saule was killed by Berthoald.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Dawn was about to succeed the night in which Broute-Saule was killed by Berthoald.

chief

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

From this reading Profoundly asleep and with his hands pinioned behind his back, the young chief lay upon the floor of Meroflede's bedchamber.

cloak

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

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.

Dawn

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

From this reading Dawn was about to succeed the night in which Broute-Saule was killed by Berthoald.

day

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

From this reading Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.

distance

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

From this reading Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.

east

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

From this reading Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.

face

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

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

floor

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

From this reading Profoundly asleep and with his hands pinioned behind his back, the young chief lay upon the floor of Meroflede's bedchamber.

hair

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

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

hand

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

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading Profoundly asleep and with his hands pinioned behind his back, the young chief lay upon the floor of Meroflede's bedchamber.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Profoundly asleep and with his hands pinioned behind his back, the young chief lay upon the floor of Meroflede's bedchamber.

holding

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

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

horizon

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

From this reading Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Dawn was about to succeed the night in which Broute-Saule was killed by Berthoald.

intently

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

From this reading Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.

killed

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

From this reading Dawn was about to succeed the night in which Broute-Saule was killed by Berthoald.

lay

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

From this reading Profoundly asleep and with his hands pinioned behind his back, the young chief lay upon the floor of Meroflede's bedchamber.

Leaning

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

From this reading Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.

lighted

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

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

looking

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

From this reading Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.

loose

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

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

Meroflede's

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

From this reading Profoundly asleep and with his hands pinioned behind his back, the young chief lay upon the floor of Meroflede's bedchamber.

MOUSE-TRAP

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

From this reading THE MOUSE-TRAP.

night

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

From this reading Dawn was about to succeed the night in which Broute-Saule was killed by Berthoald.

now

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

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Profoundly asleep and with his hands pinioned behind his back, the young chief lay upon the floor of Meroflede's bedchamber.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.

pale

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

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

pinioned

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

From this reading Profoundly asleep and with his hands pinioned behind his back, the young chief lay upon the floor of Meroflede's bedchamber.

proceeded

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

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

Profoundly

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

From this reading Profoundly asleep and with his hands pinioned behind his back, the young chief lay upon the floor of Meroflede's bedchamber.

reached

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

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

red

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

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

rosin

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

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

seen

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

From this reading Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.

sill

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

From this reading Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.

succeed

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

From this reading Dawn was about to succeed the night in which Broute-Saule was killed by Berthoald.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE MOUSE-TRAP.

thick

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

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

three

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

From this reading Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.

times

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

From this reading Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.

tinted

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

From this reading Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Dawn was about to succeed the night in which Broute-Saule was killed by Berthoald.

torch

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

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Profoundly asleep and with his hands pinioned behind his back, the young chief lay upon the floor of Meroflede's bedchamber.

veiled

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

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Dawn was about to succeed the night in which Broute-Saule was killed by Berthoald.

waved

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

From this reading Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.

whenceadverbUS /wens/

an old word meaning “from where”

From this reading Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Dawn was about to succeed the night in which Broute-Saule was killed by Berthoald.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading Leaning over the sill whence the horizon could be seen at a distance, the abbess waved her torch three times, while intently looking towards the east which began to be tinted with the approaching day.

window

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

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Profoundly asleep and with his hands pinioned behind his back, the young chief lay upon the floor of Meroflede's bedchamber.

Wrapped

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

From this reading Wrapped in a black cloak, her face pale and half veiled by her now loose thick red hair that almost reached the floor, the abbess proceeded to the window, holding in her hand a lighted torch of rosin.

young

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

From this reading Profoundly asleep and with his hands pinioned behind his back, the young chief lay upon the floor of Meroflede's bedchamber.