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The Dove in the Eagle's Nest
The Dove in the Eagle's Nest

Chapter III · The Flotsam and Jetsam of the Debateable Ford

Cover illustration for The Dove in the Eagle's Nest
Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
LIFE in Schloss Adlerstein was little less intolerable than Christina’s imagination had depicted it.
It was entirely devoid of all the graces of chivalry, and its squalor and coarseness, magnified into absurdity by haughtiness and violence, were almost inconceivable.
Fortunately for her, the inmates of the castle resided almost wholly below stairs in the hall and kitchen, and in some dismal dens in the thickness of their walls.
The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.
No one else wished to inhabit it.
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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 Dove in the Eagle's Nest

Chapter III · The Flotsam and Jetsam of the Debateable Ford

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
LIFE in Schloss Adlerstein was little less intolerable than Christina’s imagination had depicted it.
Line 2
It was entirely devoid of all the graces of chivalry, and its squalor and coarseness, magnified into absurdity by haughtiness and violence, were almost inconceivable.
Line 3
Fortunately for her, the inmates of the castle resided almost wholly below stairs in the hall and kitchen, and in some dismal dens in the thickness of their walls.
Line 4
The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.
Line 5
No one else wished to inhabit it.

Learner Dictionary

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

Below preposition US /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading “Fortunately for her, the inmates of the castle resided almost wholly below stairs in the hall and kitchen, and in some dismal dens in the thickness of their walls.”

Born noun US /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.”

Entirely noun US /ˈentirely/

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

From this reading “It was entirely devoid of all the graces of chivalry, and its squalor and coarseness, magnified into absurdity by haughtiness and violence, were almost inconceivable.”

Everybody pronoun US /ˈevribɑːdi/

every person

From this reading “The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.”

Except preposition US /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading “The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.”

LIFE noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “LIFE in Schloss Adlerstein was little less intolerable than Christina’s imagination had depicted it.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “LIFE in Schloss Adlerstein was little less intolerable than Christina’s imagination had depicted it.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “No one else wished to inhabit it.”

Thither adverb US /ˈðɪθɜːr/

an old word meaning “to that place”

From this reading “The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.”

All words in this reading · 88

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

absurdity

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

From this reading It was entirely devoid of all the graces of chivalry, and its squalor and coarseness, magnified into absurdity by haughtiness and violence, were almost inconceivable.

Adlerstein

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

From this reading LIFE in Schloss Adlerstein was little less intolerable than Christina’s imagination had depicted it.

all

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

From this reading It was entirely devoid of all the graces of chivalry, and its squalor and coarseness, magnified into absurdity by haughtiness and violence, were almost inconceivable.

almost

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

From this reading It was entirely devoid of all the graces of chivalry, and its squalor and coarseness, magnified into absurdity by haughtiness and violence, were almost inconceivable.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was entirely devoid of all the graces of chivalry, and its squalor and coarseness, magnified into absurdity by haughtiness and violence, were almost inconceivable.

bear

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

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading Fortunately for her, the inmates of the castle resided almost wholly below stairs in the hall and kitchen, and in some dismal dens in the thickness of their walls.

bornnounUS /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It was entirely devoid of all the graces of chivalry, and its squalor and coarseness, magnified into absurdity by haughtiness and violence, were almost inconceivable.

castle

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

From this reading Fortunately for her, the inmates of the castle resided almost wholly below stairs in the hall and kitchen, and in some dismal dens in the thickness of their walls.

chamber

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

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

chivalry

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

From this reading It was entirely devoid of all the graces of chivalry, and its squalor and coarseness, magnified into absurdity by haughtiness and violence, were almost inconceivable.

Christina's

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

From this reading LIFE in Schloss Adlerstein was little less intolerable than Christina’s imagination had depicted it.

coarseness

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

From this reading It was entirely devoid of all the graces of chivalry, and its squalor and coarseness, magnified into absurdity by haughtiness and violence, were almost inconceivable.

confusion

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

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

defence

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

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

dens

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

From this reading Fortunately for her, the inmates of the castle resided almost wholly below stairs in the hall and kitchen, and in some dismal dens in the thickness of their walls.

depicted

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

From this reading LIFE in Schloss Adlerstein was little less intolerable than Christina’s imagination had depicted it.

devoid

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

From this reading It was entirely devoid of all the graces of chivalry, and its squalor and coarseness, magnified into absurdity by haughtiness and violence, were almost inconceivable.

died

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

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

dignity

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

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

dismal

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

From this reading Fortunately for her, the inmates of the castle resided almost wholly below stairs in the hall and kitchen, and in some dismal dens in the thickness of their walls.

else

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

From this reading No one else wished to inhabit it.

entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/

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

From this reading It was entirely devoid of all the graces of chivalry, and its squalor and coarseness, magnified into absurdity by haughtiness and violence, were almost inconceivable.

Ermentrude

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

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

escaped

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

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/

every person

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Fortunately for her, the inmates of the castle resided almost wholly below stairs in the hall and kitchen, and in some dismal dens in the thickness of their walls.

Fortunately

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

From this reading Fortunately for her, the inmates of the castle resided almost wholly below stairs in the hall and kitchen, and in some dismal dens in the thickness of their walls.

graces

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

From this reading It was entirely devoid of all the graces of chivalry, and its squalor and coarseness, magnified into absurdity by haughtiness and violence, were almost inconceivable.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

habitation

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

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading LIFE in Schloss Adlerstein was little less intolerable than Christina’s imagination had depicted it.

hall

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

From this reading Fortunately for her, the inmates of the castle resided almost wholly below stairs in the hall and kitchen, and in some dismal dens in the thickness of their walls.

haughtiness

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

From this reading It was entirely devoid of all the graces of chivalry, and its squalor and coarseness, magnified into absurdity by haughtiness and violence, were almost inconceivable.

height

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

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Fortunately for her, the inmates of the castle resided almost wholly below stairs in the hall and kitchen, and in some dismal dens in the thickness of their walls.

house

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

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

imagination

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

From this reading LIFE in Schloss Adlerstein was little less intolerable than Christina’s imagination had depicted it.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading LIFE in Schloss Adlerstein was little less intolerable than Christina’s imagination had depicted it.

inconceivable

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

From this reading It was entirely devoid of all the graces of chivalry, and its squalor and coarseness, magnified into absurdity by haughtiness and violence, were almost inconceivable.

inhabit

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

From this reading No one else wished to inhabit it.

inmates

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

From this reading Fortunately for her, the inmates of the castle resided almost wholly below stairs in the hall and kitchen, and in some dismal dens in the thickness of their walls.

intended

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

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading It was entirely devoid of all the graces of chivalry, and its squalor and coarseness, magnified into absurdity by haughtiness and violence, were almost inconceivable.

intolerable

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

From this reading LIFE in Schloss Adlerstein was little less intolerable than Christina’s imagination had depicted it.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading LIFE in Schloss Adlerstein was little less intolerable than Christina’s imagination had depicted it.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading It was entirely devoid of all the graces of chivalry, and its squalor and coarseness, magnified into absurdity by haughtiness and violence, were almost inconceivable.

keep

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

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

kitchen

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

From this reading Fortunately for her, the inmates of the castle resided almost wholly below stairs in the hall and kitchen, and in some dismal dens in the thickness of their walls.

less

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

From this reading LIFE in Schloss Adlerstein was little less intolerable than Christina’s imagination had depicted it.

LIFEnounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading LIFE in Schloss Adlerstein was little less intolerable than Christina’s imagination had depicted it.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading LIFE in Schloss Adlerstein was little less intolerable than Christina’s imagination had depicted it.

magnified

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

From this reading It was entirely devoid of all the graces of chivalry, and its squalor and coarseness, magnified into absurdity by haughtiness and violence, were almost inconceivable.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No one else wished to inhabit it.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was entirely devoid of all the graces of chivalry, and its squalor and coarseness, magnified into absurdity by haughtiness and violence, were almost inconceivable.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading No one else wished to inhabit it.

oppressive

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

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

otherwise

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

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

quietness

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

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

rather

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

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

resided

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

From this reading Fortunately for her, the inmates of the castle resided almost wholly below stairs in the hall and kitchen, and in some dismal dens in the thickness of their walls.

sake

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

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

Schloss

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

From this reading LIFE in Schloss Adlerstein was little less intolerable than Christina’s imagination had depicted it.

some

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

From this reading Fortunately for her, the inmates of the castle resided almost wholly below stairs in the hall and kitchen, and in some dismal dens in the thickness of their walls.

squalor

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

From this reading It was entirely devoid of all the graces of chivalry, and its squalor and coarseness, magnified into absurdity by haughtiness and violence, were almost inconceivable.

stairs

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

From this reading Fortunately for her, the inmates of the castle resided almost wholly below stairs in the hall and kitchen, and in some dismal dens in the thickness of their walls.

state-bed

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

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading LIFE in Schloss Adlerstein was little less intolerable than Christina’s imagination had depicted it.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It was entirely devoid of all the graces of chivalry, and its squalor and coarseness, magnified into absurdity by haughtiness and violence, were almost inconceivable.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Fortunately for her, the inmates of the castle resided almost wholly below stairs in the hall and kitchen, and in some dismal dens in the thickness of their walls.

thickness

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

From this reading Fortunately for her, the inmates of the castle resided almost wholly below stairs in the hall and kitchen, and in some dismal dens in the thickness of their walls.

thitheradverbUS /ˈðɪθɜːr/

an old word meaning “to that place”

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

unable

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

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

upper

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

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

used

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

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

violence

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

From this reading It was entirely devoid of all the graces of chivalry, and its squalor and coarseness, magnified into absurdity by haughtiness and violence, were almost inconceivable.

walls

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

From this reading Fortunately for her, the inmates of the castle resided almost wholly below stairs in the hall and kitchen, and in some dismal dens in the thickness of their walls.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading LIFE in Schloss Adlerstein was little less intolerable than Christina’s imagination had depicted it.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading It was entirely devoid of all the graces of chivalry, and its squalor and coarseness, magnified into absurdity by haughtiness and violence, were almost inconceivable.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.

wholly

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

From this reading Fortunately for her, the inmates of the castle resided almost wholly below stairs in the hall and kitchen, and in some dismal dens in the thickness of their walls.

wished

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

From this reading No one else wished to inhabit it.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The height of the keep was intended for dignity and defence, rather than for habitation; and the upper chamber, with its great state-bed, where everybody of the house of Adlerstein was born and died, was not otherwise used, except when Ermentrude, unable to bear the oppressive confusion below stairs, had escaped thither for quietness’ sake.