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The Pilgrim's Shell
The Pilgrim's Shell

Chapter XIII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/42 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE EMIR'S PALACE.
The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.
Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.
The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
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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 Pilgrim's Shell

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/42 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE EMIR'S PALACE.
Line 2
The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.
Line 3
Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
Line 4
Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.
Line 5
The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.”

Several noun US /ˈseveral/

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

From this reading “The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.”

All words in this reading · 91

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 Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.

all

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

From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.

army

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

From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

bearing

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

From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.

bodies

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

Bohemond

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

From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.

bordered

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

From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.

broke

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

From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.

buried

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.

city

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

From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.

commanded

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

From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.

court-yard

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

From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.

crossed

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

From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.

Crusaders

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

From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.

days

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

From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.

debris

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

decomposition

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

dome

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

From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.

down

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

due

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

EMIR'S

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

From this reading THE EMIR'S PALACE.

engines

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

escaped

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

fallen

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

From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.

fifteen

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

From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.

formed

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

From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

heap

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

HerenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.

houses

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

From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.

interior

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

From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.

like

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

From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.

lines

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

From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.

Marhala

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

From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.

middle

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

From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.

mosque

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

From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.

murderous

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

From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.

narrow

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

From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.

odor

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.

only

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.

Orient

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

From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.

others

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

From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.

PALACE

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

From this reading THE EMIR'S PALACE.

palm

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

From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.

pestilential

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

places

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

planted

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

From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.

power

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

From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.

presented

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

Prince

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

From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.

ramparts

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

ruins

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

Saracen

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

several

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

siege

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

From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.

SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.

sinuous

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

From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.

straight

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

From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.

streets

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

From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.

surmounted

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

From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.

Taranto

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

From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.

terraces

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

From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE EMIR'S PALACE.

there

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

From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

top

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

From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.

torn

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

tree

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

From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

uniformity

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

From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.

walls

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

war

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.

whitewashed

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

From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.

windows

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

From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.