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The Kingmakers
The Kingmakers

Chapter XXII

Cover illustration for The Kingmakers
Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.
His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.
“Come!” he said again, as Madame Ghita made no move.
“But I do not understand!” she protested.
“I have had enough of it!” said the prince, and he filled himself a glass of champagne and gulped it down.
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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 XXII

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

Line 1
A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.
Line 2
His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.
Line 3
“Come!” he said again, as Madame Ghita made no move.
Line 4
“But I do not understand!” she protested.
Line 5
“I have had enough of it!” said the prince, and he filled himself a glass of champagne and gulped it down.

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 ““Come!” he said again, as Madame Ghita made no move.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Come!” he said again, as Madame Ghita made no move.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading ““I have had enough of it!” said the prince, and he filled himself a glass of champagne and gulped it down.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading ““I have had enough of it!” said the prince, and he filled himself a glass of champagne and gulped it down.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.”

Strangely noun US /ˈstrangely/

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

From this reading “His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.”

Understand noun US /understand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““But I do not understand!” she protested.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.”

All words in this reading · 81

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 A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Come!” he said again, as Madame Ghita made no move.

air

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

From this reading His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

asking

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

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.

boats

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

From this reading His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.

burned

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

From this reading His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “But I do not understand!” she protested.

champagne

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

From this reading “I have had enough of it!” said the prince, and he filled himself a glass of champagne and gulped it down.

ComenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Come!” he said again, as Madame Ghita made no move.

DECISION

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

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

defiant

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

From this reading His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.

desperate

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

From this reading His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading “But I do not understand!” she protested.

down

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

From this reading “I have had enough of it!” said the prince, and he filled himself a glass of champagne and gulped it down.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

enough

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

From this reading “I have had enough of it!” said the prince, and he filled himself a glass of champagne and gulped it down.

eyes

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

From this reading His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.

face

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

From this reading His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.

filled

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

From this reading “I have had enough of it!” said the prince, and he filled himself a glass of champagne and gulped it down.

forth

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

From this reading His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.

gaze

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

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

Ghita

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

From this reading “Come!” he said again, as Madame Ghita made no move.

glass

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

From this reading “I have had enough of it!” said the prince, and he filled himself a glass of champagne and gulped it down.

gulped

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

From this reading “I have had enough of it!” said the prince, and he filled himself a glass of champagne and gulped it down.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “I have had enough of it!” said the prince, and he filled himself a glass of champagne and gulped it down.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “I have had enough of it!” said the prince, and he filled himself a glass of champagne and gulped it down.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “But I do not understand!” she protested.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

instant

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

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “I have had enough of it!” said the prince, and he filled himself a glass of champagne and gulped it down.

lingering

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

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

longer

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

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

Madame

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

From this reading “Come!” he said again, as Madame Ghita made no move.

made

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

From this reading “Come!” he said again, as Madame Ghita made no move.

man

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

From this reading His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.

moment's

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

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

move

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

From this reading “Come!” he said again, as Madame Ghita made no move.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading “Come!” he said again, as Madame Ghita made no move.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading “But I do not understand!” she protested.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

others

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

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

prince

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

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

protested

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

From this reading “But I do not understand!” she protested.

reckless

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

From this reading His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.

said

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

From this reading “Come!” he said again, as Madame Ghita made no move.

Selden

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

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “But I do not understand!” she protested.

shining

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

From this reading His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

some

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

From this reading His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.

started

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

From this reading His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.

strangelynounUS /ˈstrangely/

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

From this reading His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.

stupefied

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

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

There

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

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

triumphantly

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

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

turn

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

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

understandnounUS /understand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But I do not understand!” she protested.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

venture

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

From this reading His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading His eyes were shining strangely, and there was something defiant in his face, something reckless in his air, as of a man who had started forth upon some desperate venture and burned his boats behind him.

WOMAN'S

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

From this reading A WOMAN’S DECISION There was a moment’s stupefied silence, while the prince looked triumphantly at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering upon Selden an instant longer than upon the others, as though asking what he did there.