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The Refugees: A Tale of Two Continents
The Refugees: A Tale of Two Continents

Chapter XII

Cover illustration for The Refugees: A Tale of Two Continents
Context Illustration Reading 1/24 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE KING HAS IDEAS.
The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.
Suddenly there came a gentle tap at the door, and there was the woman who was in his thoughts, standing in the twilight before him.
He sprang to his feet and held out his hands with a smile which would have reassured her had she doubted his constancy.
"Francoise!
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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 Refugees: A Tale of Two Continents

Chapter XII

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE KING HAS IDEAS.
Line 2
The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.
Line 3
Suddenly there came a gentle tap at the door, and there was the woman who was in his thoughts, standing in the twilight before him.
Line 4
He sprang to his feet and held out his hands with a smile which would have reassured her had she doubted his constancy.
Line 5
"Francoise!

Learner Dictionary

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

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Suddenly there came a gentle tap at the door, and there was the woman who was in his thoughts, standing in the twilight before him.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “He sprang to his feet and held out his hands with a smile which would have reassured her had she doubted his constancy.”

HAS auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading “THE KING HAS IDEAS.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “He sprang to his feet and held out his hands with a smile which would have reassured her had she doubted his constancy.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.”

Reassured verb US /ˌriːəˈʃʊrd/

made less worried or afraid

From this reading “He sprang to his feet and held out his hands with a smile which would have reassured her had she doubted his constancy.”

Remained noun US /ˈremained/

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

From this reading “The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.”

Standing noun US /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading “Suddenly there came a gentle tap at the door, and there was the woman who was in his thoughts, standing in the twilight before him.”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading “Suddenly there came a gentle tap at the door, and there was the woman who was in his thoughts, standing in the twilight before him.”

Twilight noun US /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/

the dim light before night or sunrise

From this reading “Suddenly there came a gentle tap at the door, and there was the woman who was in his thoughts, standing in the twilight before him.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “He sprang to his feet and held out his hands with a smile which would have reassured her had she doubted his constancy.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.”

All words in this reading · 64

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 Suddenly there came a gentle tap at the door, and there was the woman who was in his thoughts, standing in the twilight before him.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Suddenly there came a gentle tap at the door, and there was the woman who was in his thoughts, standing in the twilight before him.

away

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Suddenly there came a gentle tap at the door, and there was the woman who was in his thoughts, standing in the twilight before him.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

cabinet

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

came

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

From this reading Suddenly there came a gentle tap at the door, and there was the woman who was in his thoughts, standing in the twilight before him.

carry

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

constancy

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

From this reading He sprang to his feet and held out his hands with a smile which would have reassured her had she doubted his constancy.

door

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

From this reading Suddenly there came a gentle tap at the door, and there was the woman who was in his thoughts, standing in the twilight before him.

doubted

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

From this reading He sprang to his feet and held out his hands with a smile which would have reassured her had she doubted his constancy.

feet

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

From this reading He sprang to his feet and held out his hands with a smile which would have reassured her had she doubted his constancy.

Francoise

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

From this reading "Francoise!

gentle

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

From this reading Suddenly there came a gentle tap at the door, and there was the woman who was in his thoughts, standing in the twilight before him.

gloomy

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading He sprang to his feet and held out his hands with a smile which would have reassured her had she doubted his constancy.

HASauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading THE KING HAS IDEAS.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He sprang to his feet and held out his hands with a smile which would have reassured her had she doubted his constancy.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

held

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

From this reading He sprang to his feet and held out his hands with a smile which would have reassured her had she doubted his constancy.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading He sprang to his feet and held out his hands with a smile which would have reassured her had she doubted his constancy.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Suddenly there came a gentle tap at the door, and there was the woman who was in his thoughts, standing in the twilight before him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

IDEAS

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

From this reading THE KING HAS IDEAS.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

KING

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

From this reading THE KING HAS IDEAS.

means

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

opposition

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

out

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

pondering

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

purpose

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

reassuredverbUS /ˌriːəˈʃʊrd/

made less worried or afraid

From this reading He sprang to his feet and held out his hands with a smile which would have reassured her had she doubted his constancy.

remainednounUS /ˈremained/

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading He sprang to his feet and held out his hands with a smile which would have reassured her had she doubted his constancy.

smile

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

From this reading He sprang to his feet and held out his hands with a smile which would have reassured her had she doubted his constancy.

smooth

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

somewhat

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

sprang

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

From this reading He sprang to his feet and held out his hands with a smile which would have reassured her had she doubted his constancy.

standingnounUS /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading Suddenly there came a gentle tap at the door, and there was the woman who was in his thoughts, standing in the twilight before him.

strenuous

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

SuddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading Suddenly there came a gentle tap at the door, and there was the woman who was in his thoughts, standing in the twilight before him.

tap

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

From this reading Suddenly there came a gentle tap at the door, and there was the woman who was in his thoughts, standing in the twilight before him.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE KING HAS IDEAS.

there

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

From this reading Suddenly there came a gentle tap at the door, and there was the woman who was in his thoughts, standing in the twilight before him.

thoughts

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/

the dim light before night or sunrise

From this reading Suddenly there came a gentle tap at the door, and there was the woman who was in his thoughts, standing in the twilight before him.

universal

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Suddenly there came a gentle tap at the door, and there was the woman who was in his thoughts, standing in the twilight before him.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Suddenly there came a gentle tap at the door, and there was the woman who was in his thoughts, standing in the twilight before him.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He sprang to his feet and held out his hands with a smile which would have reassured her had she doubted his constancy.

woman

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

From this reading Suddenly there came a gentle tap at the door, and there was the woman who was in his thoughts, standing in the twilight before him.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading He sprang to his feet and held out his hands with a smile which would have reassured her had she doubted his constancy.

wrapped

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

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts, and pondering over the means by which he might carry out his purpose and yet smooth away the opposition which seemed to be so strenuous and so universal.