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The Midnight Queen
The Midnight Queen

Chapter XI

Cover illustration for The Midnight Queen
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
In an instant all was confusion.
Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.
No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.
The queen had sprung from her royal seat, and stood with her bright lips parted, and her brighter eyes dilating in speechless wonder.
The bench, with the judge at their head, had followed her example, and stood staring with all their might, looking, truth to tell, as much startled by the sudden apparition as the fair sex.
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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 Midnight Queen

Chapter XI

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
In an instant all was confusion.
Line 2
Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.
Line 3
No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.
Line 4
The queen had sprung from her royal seat, and stood with her bright lips parted, and her brighter eyes dilating in speechless wonder.
Line 5
The bench, with the judge at their head, had followed her example, and stood staring with all their might, looking, truth to tell, as much startled by the sudden apparition as the fair sex.

Learner Dictionary

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

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.”

Chorus noun US /ˈkɔrəs/

a group singing together

From this reading “Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.”

Drew noun US /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.”

Everybody pronoun US /ˈevribɑːdi/

every person

From this reading “Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.”

Expect verb US /ɪkˈspekt/

to think that something will happen

From this reading “Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.”

Fair noun US /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The bench, with the judge at their head, had followed her example, and stood staring with all their might, looking, truth to tell, as much startled by the sudden apparition as the fair sex.”

Gentlemen noun US /gentlemen/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.”

Seeing noun US /seeing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.”

Sudden noun US /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The bench, with the judge at their head, had followed her example, and stood staring with all their might, looking, truth to tell, as much startled by the sudden apparition as the fair sex.”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The bench, with the judge at their head, had followed her example, and stood staring with all their might, looking, truth to tell, as much startled by the sudden apparition as the fair sex.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.”

All words in this reading · 86

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 Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

all

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

From this reading In an instant all was confusion.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading In an instant all was confusion.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

apparition

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

From this reading The bench, with the judge at their head, had followed her example, and stood staring with all their might, looking, truth to tell, as much startled by the sudden apparition as the fair sex.

army

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

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The bench, with the judge at their head, had followed her example, and stood staring with all their might, looking, truth to tell, as much startled by the sudden apparition as the fair sex.

battalion

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

From this reading No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.

bench

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

From this reading The bench, with the judge at their head, had followed her example, and stood staring with all their might, looking, truth to tell, as much startled by the sudden apparition as the fair sex.

bright

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

From this reading The queen had sprung from her royal seat, and stood with her bright lips parted, and her brighter eyes dilating in speechless wonder.

brighter

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

From this reading The queen had sprung from her royal seat, and stood with her bright lips parted, and her brighter eyes dilating in speechless wonder.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The bench, with the judge at their head, had followed her example, and stood staring with all their might, looking, truth to tell, as much startled by the sudden apparition as the fair sex.

chorusnounUS /ˈkɔrəs/

a group singing together

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

closed

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

From this reading No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.

confusion

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

From this reading In an instant all was confusion.

dilating

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

From this reading The queen had sprung from her royal seat, and stood with her bright lips parted, and her brighter eyes dilating in speechless wonder.

drewnounUS /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

drop

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

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

EverybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/

every person

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

example

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

From this reading The bench, with the judge at their head, had followed her example, and stood staring with all their might, looking, truth to tell, as much startled by the sudden apparition as the fair sex.

expectverbUS /ɪkˈspekt/

to think that something will happen

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

eyes

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

From this reading The queen had sprung from her royal seat, and stood with her bright lips parted, and her brighter eyes dilating in speechless wonder.

fairnounUS /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The bench, with the judge at their head, had followed her example, and stood staring with all their might, looking, truth to tell, as much startled by the sudden apparition as the fair sex.

feet

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

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

followed

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

From this reading No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.

forlorn

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

From this reading No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

gentlemennounUS /gentlemen/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

grace

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

From this reading No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The queen had sprung from her royal seat, and stood with her bright lips parted, and her brighter eyes dilating in speechless wonder.

head

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

From this reading The bench, with the judge at their head, had followed her example, and stood staring with all their might, looking, truth to tell, as much startled by the sudden apparition as the fair sex.

heart

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

From this reading No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading The queen had sprung from her royal seat, and stood with her bright lips parted, and her brighter eyes dilating in speechless wonder.

hope

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

From this reading No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In an instant all was confusion.

instant

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

From this reading In an instant all was confusion.

intruder

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

From this reading No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.

judge

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

From this reading The bench, with the judge at their head, had followed her example, and stood staring with all their might, looking, truth to tell, as much startled by the sudden apparition as the fair sex.

ladies

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

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

lips

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

From this reading The queen had sprung from her royal seat, and stood with her bright lips parted, and her brighter eyes dilating in speechless wonder.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

looking

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

From this reading The bench, with the judge at their head, had followed her example, and stood staring with all their might, looking, truth to tell, as much startled by the sudden apparition as the fair sex.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

much

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

From this reading The bench, with the judge at their head, had followed her example, and stood staring with all their might, looking, truth to tell, as much startled by the sudden apparition as the fair sex.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.

other

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

From this reading No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.

parted

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

From this reading The queen had sprung from her royal seat, and stood with her bright lips parted, and her brighter eyes dilating in speechless wonder.

queen

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

From this reading The queen had sprung from her royal seat, and stood with her bright lips parted, and her brighter eyes dilating in speechless wonder.

royal

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

From this reading The queen had sprung from her royal seat, and stood with her bright lips parted, and her brighter eyes dilating in speechless wonder.

seat

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

From this reading The queen had sprung from her royal seat, and stood with her bright lips parted, and her brighter eyes dilating in speechless wonder.

see

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

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

seeing

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

From this reading No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.

sex

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

From this reading The bench, with the judge at their head, had followed her example, and stood staring with all their might, looking, truth to tell, as much startled by the sudden apparition as the fair sex.

shrieked

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

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

sky

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

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

speechless

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

From this reading The queen had sprung from her royal seat, and stood with her bright lips parted, and her brighter eyes dilating in speechless wonder.

sprang

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

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

sprung

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

From this reading The queen had sprung from her royal seat, and stood with her bright lips parted, and her brighter eyes dilating in speechless wonder.

staring

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

From this reading The bench, with the judge at their head, had followed her example, and stood staring with all their might, looking, truth to tell, as much startled by the sudden apparition as the fair sex.

startled

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

From this reading The bench, with the judge at their head, had followed her example, and stood staring with all their might, looking, truth to tell, as much startled by the sudden apparition as the fair sex.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The bench, with the judge at their head, had followed her example, and stood staring with all their might, looking, truth to tell, as much startled by the sudden apparition as the fair sex.

swords

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

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

swore

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

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The bench, with the judge at their head, had followed her example, and stood staring with all their might, looking, truth to tell, as much startled by the sudden apparition as the fair sex.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.

truth

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

From this reading The bench, with the judge at their head, had followed her example, and stood staring with all their might, looking, truth to tell, as much startled by the sudden apparition as the fair sex.

unceremonious

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

From this reading No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading In an instant all was confusion.

whole

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

From this reading Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The queen had sprung from her royal seat, and stood with her bright lips parted, and her brighter eyes dilating in speechless wonder.

wonder

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

From this reading The queen had sprung from her royal seat, and stood with her bright lips parted, and her brighter eyes dilating in speechless wonder.