Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Kingmakers
The Kingmakers

Chapter IX

Cover illustration for The Kingmakers
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.
He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.
Its perfect wording awakened in Selden fresh admiration for the supreme finish of the old diplomat, who was never at fault for the right word, the right look, the right gesture.
And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.
There was a plot, it seemed, to get the old king back on the throne.
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.

The Kingmakers

Chapter IX

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.
Line 2
He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.
Line 3
Its perfect wording awakened in Selden fresh admiration for the supreme finish of the old diplomat, who was never at fault for the right word, the right look, the right gesture.
Line 4
And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.
Line 5
There was a plot, it seemed, to get the old king back on the throne.

Learner Dictionary

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

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.”

Among preposition US /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading “He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.”

Express verb US /ɪkˈspres/

to show or communicate a feeling or idea

From this reading “And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Its perfect wording awakened in Selden fresh admiration for the supreme finish of the old diplomat, who was never at fault for the right word, the right look, the right gesture.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Its perfect wording awakened in Selden fresh admiration for the supreme finish of the old diplomat, who was never at fault for the right word, the right look, the right gesture.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Its perfect wording awakened in Selden fresh admiration for the supreme finish of the old diplomat, who was never at fault for the right word, the right look, the right gesture.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There was a plot, it seemed, to get the old king back on the throne.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.”

Tumbling noun US /ˈtumbling/

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

From this reading “A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.”

All words in this reading · 117

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

30

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

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

8

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

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

admiration

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

From this reading Its perfect wording awakened in Selden fresh admiration for the supreme finish of the old diplomat, who was never at fault for the right word, the right look, the right gesture.

afternoon's

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

Anglais

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

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

APOLOGIA

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Its perfect wording awakened in Selden fresh admiration for the supreme finish of the old diplomat, who was never at fault for the right word, the right look, the right gesture.

awaiting

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

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

awakened

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

From this reading Its perfect wording awakened in Selden fresh admiration for the supreme finish of the old diplomat, who was never at fault for the right word, the right look, the right gesture.

back

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

From this reading There was a plot, it seemed, to get the old king back on the throne.

baron

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

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

bed

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

big

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

clothes

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

compartment

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

conversation

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

corner

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

countess

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

days

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

decide

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

deductions

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

des

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

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

dinner

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

diplomat

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

From this reading Its perfect wording awakened in Selden fresh admiration for the supreme finish of the old diplomat, who was never at fault for the right word, the right look, the right gesture.

draw

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

dressed

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

endeavoured

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

evening

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

expressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/

to show or communicate a feeling or idea

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

expressing

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

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

fault

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

From this reading Its perfect wording awakened in Selden fresh admiration for the supreme finish of the old diplomat, who was never at fault for the right word, the right look, the right gesture.

feel

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

finish

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

From this reading Its perfect wording awakened in Selden fresh admiration for the supreme finish of the old diplomat, who was never at fault for the right word, the right look, the right gesture.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

fresh

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

From this reading Its perfect wording awakened in Selden fresh admiration for the supreme finish of the old diplomat, who was never at fault for the right word, the right look, the right gesture.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

gesture

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

From this reading Its perfect wording awakened in Selden fresh admiration for the supreme finish of the old diplomat, who was never at fault for the right word, the right look, the right gesture.

get

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

From this reading There was a plot, it seemed, to get the old king back on the throne.

Gloria

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

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

grist

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

guests

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

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

hour

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

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

how

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

hurtled

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

hustling

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

innumerable

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

ItsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Its perfect wording awakened in Selden fresh admiration for the supreme finish of the old diplomat, who was never at fault for the right word, the right look, the right gesture.

jump-off

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

king

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

From this reading There was a plot, it seemed, to get the old king back on the throne.

KING'S

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Its perfect wording awakened in Selden fresh admiration for the supreme finish of the old diplomat, who was never at fault for the right word, the right look, the right gesture.

middle

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

mill

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

much

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

naming

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

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

nervous

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Its perfect wording awakened in Selden fresh admiration for the supreme finish of the old diplomat, who was never at fault for the right word, the right look, the right gesture.

Nice

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

night

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

note

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

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

offensive

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

old

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

out

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

perfect

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

From this reading Its perfect wording awakened in Selden fresh admiration for the supreme finish of the old diplomat, who was never at fault for the right word, the right look, the right gesture.

place

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

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

pleasure

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

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

plot

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

From this reading There was a plot, it seemed, to get the old king back on the throne.

possible

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

presently

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

Promenade

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

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Its perfect wording awakened in Selden fresh admiration for the supreme finish of the old diplomat, who was never at fault for the right word, the right look, the right gesture.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There was a plot, it seemed, to get the old king back on the throne.

Selden

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

sense

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

settled

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

supreme

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

From this reading Its perfect wording awakened in Selden fresh admiration for the supreme finish of the old diplomat, who was never at fault for the right word, the right look, the right gesture.

tension

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

There

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

From this reading There was a plot, it seemed, to get the old king back on the throne.

throne

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

From this reading There was a plot, it seemed, to get the old king back on the throne.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

tumblingnounUS /ˈtumbling/

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

tunnels

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

used

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

Villa

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

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He had found a note from the baron awaiting him, naming 8:30 as the hour and the Villa Gloria on the Promenade des Anglais as the place, and expressing great pleasure that Selden was to be among the guests.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading And presently, alone in a compartment of the express which hurtled through innumerable tunnels towards Nice, he had settled himself in a corner and endeavoured to draw such deductions as were possible from his afternoon’s conversation with the countess, and to decide how much of it was grist for his mill.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Its perfect wording awakened in Selden fresh admiration for the supreme finish of the old diplomat, who was never at fault for the right word, the right look, the right gesture.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

witness

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

From this reading A KING’S APOLOGIA Selden dressed for dinner that evening with the same sense of nervous tension that he used to feel in the old days when tumbling out of bed and hustling into his clothes in the middle of the night to witness the jump-off of a big offensive.

word

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

From this reading Its perfect wording awakened in Selden fresh admiration for the supreme finish of the old diplomat, who was never at fault for the right word, the right look, the right gesture.

wording

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

From this reading Its perfect wording awakened in Selden fresh admiration for the supreme finish of the old diplomat, who was never at fault for the right word, the right look, the right gesture.