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The Great White Queen
The Great White Queen

Chapter X

Cover illustration for The Great White Queen
Context Illustration Reading 1/18 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
ZOMARA.
IN darkness and anxiety I remained alone for many days in the foul subterranean prison.
Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?
Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.
I became sick with anxiety, and at last felt that I must abandon all hope of again seeing him.
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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 Great White Queen

Chapter X

Reading 1/18 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
ZOMARA.
Line 2
IN darkness and anxiety I remained alone for many days in the foul subterranean prison.
Line 3
Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?
Line 4
Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.
Line 5
I became sick with anxiety, and at last felt that I must abandon all hope of again seeing him.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I became sick with anxiety, and at last felt that I must abandon all hope of again seeing him.”

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “IN darkness and anxiety I remained alone for many days in the foul subterranean prison.”

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I became sick with anxiety, and at last felt that I must abandon all hope of again seeing him.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “I became sick with anxiety, and at last felt that I must abandon all hope of again seeing him.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.”

Remained noun US /ˈremained/

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

From this reading “IN darkness and anxiety I remained alone for many days in the foul subterranean prison.”

Repeated noun US /repeated/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?”

Seeing noun US /seeing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I became sick with anxiety, and at last felt that I must abandon all hope of again seeing him.”

Subterranean adjective US /ˌsʌb.təˈreɪ.ni.ən/

Existing, occurring, or done under the earth's surface.

From this reading “IN darkness and anxiety I remained alone for many days in the foul subterranean prison.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.”

Wondered noun US /wondered/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?”

All words in this reading · 75

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 Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

abandon

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

From this reading I became sick with anxiety, and at last felt that I must abandon all hope of again seeing him.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I became sick with anxiety, and at last felt that I must abandon all hope of again seeing him.

all

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

From this reading I became sick with anxiety, and at last felt that I must abandon all hope of again seeing him.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading IN darkness and anxiety I remained alone for many days in the foul subterranean prison.

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading IN darkness and anxiety I remained alone for many days in the foul subterranean prison.

answer

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

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

anxiety

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

From this reading IN darkness and anxiety I remained alone for many days in the foul subterranean prison.

any

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

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I became sick with anxiety, and at last felt that I must abandon all hope of again seeing him.

became

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

From this reading I became sick with anxiety, and at last felt that I must abandon all hope of again seeing him.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?

black

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

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

came

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

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

darkness

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

From this reading IN darkness and anxiety I remained alone for many days in the foul subterranean prison.

day

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

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

days

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

From this reading IN darkness and anxiety I remained alone for many days in the foul subterranean prison.

deigning

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

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

depart

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

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

felt

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

From this reading I became sick with anxiety, and at last felt that I must abandon all hope of again seeing him.

fiendish

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

From this reading Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?

food

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

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

footsteps

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

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading IN darkness and anxiety I remained alone for many days in the foul subterranean prison.

foul

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

From this reading IN darkness and anxiety I remained alone for many days in the foul subterranean prison.

friend

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

From this reading Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?

gaolers

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

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

give

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

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?

hand

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

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

hapless

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

From this reading Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading I became sick with anxiety, and at last felt that I must abandon all hope of again seeing him.

hope

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

From this reading I became sick with anxiety, and at last felt that I must abandon all hope of again seeing him.

Hour

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

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading IN darkness and anxiety I remained alone for many days in the foul subterranean prison.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading IN darkness and anxiety I remained alone for many days in the foul subterranean prison.

inflicted

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

From this reading Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?

injuries

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

From this reading Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I became sick with anxiety, and at last felt that I must abandon all hope of again seeing him.

listening

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

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

many

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

From this reading IN darkness and anxiety I remained alone for many days in the foul subterranean prison.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

meagre

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

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading I became sick with anxiety, and at last felt that I must abandon all hope of again seeing him.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

once

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

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

only

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

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?

prison

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

From this reading IN darkness and anxiety I remained alone for many days in the foul subterranean prison.

questions

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

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

ration

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

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

remainednounUS /ˈremained/

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

From this reading IN darkness and anxiety I remained alone for many days in the foul subterranean prison.

repeatednounUS /repeated/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?

seeing

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

From this reading I became sick with anxiety, and at last felt that I must abandon all hope of again seeing him.

shuffling

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

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

sick

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

From this reading I became sick with anxiety, and at last felt that I must abandon all hope of again seeing him.

slave

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

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

subterraneanadjectiveUS /ˌsʌb.təˈreɪ.ni.ən/

Existing, occurring, or done under the earth's surface.

From this reading IN darkness and anxiety I remained alone for many days in the foul subterranean prison.

succumbed

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

From this reading Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I became sick with anxiety, and at last felt that I must abandon all hope of again seeing him.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading IN darkness and anxiety I remained alone for many days in the foul subterranean prison.

there

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

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?

tortures

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

From this reading Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?

waited

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

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I became sick with anxiety, and at last felt that I must abandon all hope of again seeing him.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Hour by hour I waited, listening to the shuffling footsteps of my gaolers, but only once a day there came a black slave to hand me my meagre ration of food and depart without deigning to give answer to any of my questions.

wonderednounUS /wondered/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Had the fiendish tortures been repeated upon my hapless friend, I wondered; or had he succumbed to the injuries already inflicted?

ZOMARA

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

From this reading ZOMARA.