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The Kingmakers
The Kingmakers

Chapter X

Cover illustration for The Kingmakers
Context Illustration Reading 1/44 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.
“It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.
Selden saw with some astonishment that it was indeed the same young Davis whom he had met at the Sporting Club the night before.
Why should the king invite these Americans to dinner?
And especially why should he welcome them so warmly--with such graciousness combined with patriarchal dignity?
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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 Kingmakers

Chapter X

Reading 1/44 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.
Line 2
“It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.
Line 3
Selden saw with some astonishment that it was indeed the same young Davis whom he had met at the Sporting Club the night before.
Line 4
Why should the king invite these Americans to dinner?
Line 5
And especially why should he welcome them so warmly--with such graciousness combined with patriarchal dignity?

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Selden saw with some astonishment that it was indeed the same young Davis whom he had met at the Sporting Club the night before.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading ““It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.”

Forward noun US /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading ““It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.”

Remained noun US /ˈremained/

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

From this reading ““It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Selden saw with some astonishment that it was indeed the same young Davis whom he had met at the Sporting Club the night before.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “Why should the king invite these Americans to dinner?”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading ““It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.”

All words in this reading · 79

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

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

admiration

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

Americans

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

From this reading Why should the king invite these Americans to dinner?

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

arrivals

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

astonishment

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

From this reading Selden saw with some astonishment that it was indeed the same young Davis whom he had met at the Sporting Club the night before.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Selden saw with some astonishment that it was indeed the same young Davis whom he had met at the Sporting Club the night before.

baron

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

From this reading “It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Selden saw with some astonishment that it was indeed the same young Davis whom he had met at the Sporting Club the night before.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.

BOMB

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

BURSTS

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

Club

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

From this reading Selden saw with some astonishment that it was indeed the same young Davis whom he had met at the Sporting Club the night before.

combined

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

From this reading And especially why should he welcome them so warmly--with such graciousness combined with patriarchal dignity?

conscious

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

Davis

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

From this reading “It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.

dignity

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

From this reading And especially why should he welcome them so warmly--with such graciousness combined with patriarchal dignity?

dinner

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

From this reading Why should the king invite these Americans to dinner?

distinct

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

especially

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

From this reading And especially why should he welcome them so warmly--with such graciousness combined with patriarchal dignity?

explained

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

From this reading “It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

forwardnounUS /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

graciousness

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

From this reading And especially why should he welcome them so warmly--with such graciousness combined with patriarchal dignity?

greetings

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

From this reading “It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading “It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.

hasten

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading “It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.

indeed

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

From this reading Selden saw with some astonishment that it was indeed the same young Davis whom he had met at the Sporting Club the night before.

invite

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

From this reading Why should the king invite these Americans to dinner?

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.

king

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

From this reading Why should the king invite these Americans to dinner?

king's

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

From this reading “It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.

liking

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

M

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

From this reading “It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.

man

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

meet

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

met

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

From this reading Selden saw with some astonishment that it was indeed the same young Davis whom he had met at the Sporting Club the night before.

moment

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

From this reading “It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.

monarch

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

mother

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

From this reading “It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.

new

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

night

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

From this reading Selden saw with some astonishment that it was indeed the same young Davis whom he had met at the Sporting Club the night before.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

old

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.

patriarchal

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

From this reading And especially why should he welcome them so warmly--with such graciousness combined with patriarchal dignity?

remainednounUS /ˈremained/

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

From this reading “It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Selden saw with some astonishment that it was indeed the same young Davis whom he had met at the Sporting Club the night before.

saw

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

From this reading Selden saw with some astonishment that it was indeed the same young Davis whom he had met at the Sporting Club the night before.

Selden

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Why should the king invite these Americans to dinner?

sister

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

From this reading “It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading And especially why should he welcome them so warmly--with such graciousness combined with patriarchal dignity?

some

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

From this reading Selden saw with some astonishment that it was indeed the same young Davis whom he had met at the Sporting Club the night before.

Sporting

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

From this reading Selden saw with some astonishment that it was indeed the same young Davis whom he had met at the Sporting Club the night before.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading And especially why should he welcome them so warmly--with such graciousness combined with patriarchal dignity?

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Selden saw with some astonishment that it was indeed the same young Davis whom he had met at the Sporting Club the night before.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading And especially why should he welcome them so warmly--with such graciousness combined with patriarchal dignity?

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Why should the king invite these Americans to dinner?

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

two

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.

warmly

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

From this reading And especially why should he welcome them so warmly--with such graciousness combined with patriarchal dignity?

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

watched

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

welcome

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

From this reading And especially why should he welcome them so warmly--with such graciousness combined with patriarchal dignity?

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading “It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading “It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Selden saw with some astonishment that it was indeed the same young Davis whom he had met at the Sporting Club the night before.

Why

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

From this reading Why should the king invite these Americans to dinner?

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading “It is M. Davis, with his mother and his sister,” explained the baron, who had remained behind a moment until the king’s greetings were over.

women

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

From this reading THE BOMB BURSTS Selden was conscious of a distinct liking and admiration for the old monarch as he watched him hasten forward to meet the new arrivals, two women and a man.

young

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

From this reading Selden saw with some astonishment that it was indeed the same young Davis whom he had met at the Sporting Club the night before.