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The Secret Dispatch
The Secret Dispatch

Chapter XIX

Cover illustration for The Secret Dispatch
Context Illustration Reading 1/13 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE NIGHT OF THE 15TH SEPTEMBER.
The past day had been unusually gloomy for the season.
The sun had set in fiery clouds beyond the spires of St. Petersburg.
The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.
The wind moaned with a sullen sound past the mouths of the cannon, and whistled drearily through the deep embrasures and the loopholes for musketry in the casemates.
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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 Secret Dispatch

Chapter XIX

Reading 1/13 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE NIGHT OF THE 15TH SEPTEMBER.
Line 2
The past day had been unusually gloomy for the season.
Line 3
The sun had set in fiery clouds beyond the spires of St. Petersburg.
Line 4
The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.
Line 5
The wind moaned with a sullen sound past the mouths of the cannon, and whistled drearily through the deep embrasures and the loopholes for musketry in the casemates.

Learner Dictionary

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

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “The past day had been unusually gloomy for the season.”

Beyond preposition US /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading “The sun had set in fiery clouds beyond the spires of St. Petersburg.”

Loopholes noun US /ˈloopholes/

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

From this reading “The wind moaned with a sullen sound past the mouths of the cannon, and whistled drearily through the deep embrasures and the loopholes for musketry in the casemates.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “The wind moaned with a sullen sound past the mouths of the cannon, and whistled drearily through the deep embrasures and the loopholes for musketry in the casemates.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.”

All words in this reading · 74

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

15

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

From this reading THE NIGHT OF THE 15TH SEPTEMBER.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The past day had been unusually gloomy for the season.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading The sun had set in fiery clouds beyond the spires of St. Petersburg.

billows

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

cannon

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

From this reading The wind moaned with a sullen sound past the mouths of the cannon, and whistled drearily through the deep embrasures and the loopholes for musketry in the casemates.

casemates

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

From this reading The wind moaned with a sullen sound past the mouths of the cannon, and whistled drearily through the deep embrasures and the loopholes for musketry in the casemates.

chafed

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

clouds

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

From this reading The sun had set in fiery clouds beyond the spires of St. Petersburg.

day

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

From this reading The past day had been unusually gloomy for the season.

deep

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

From this reading The wind moaned with a sullen sound past the mouths of the cannon, and whistled drearily through the deep embrasures and the loopholes for musketry in the casemates.

drawbridge

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

drearily

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

From this reading The wind moaned with a sullen sound past the mouths of the cannon, and whistled drearily through the deep embrasures and the loopholes for musketry in the casemates.

east

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

embrasures

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

From this reading The wind moaned with a sullen sound past the mouths of the cannon, and whistled drearily through the deep embrasures and the loopholes for musketry in the casemates.

fiery

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

From this reading The sun had set in fiery clouds beyond the spires of St. Petersburg.

foam

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The past day had been unusually gloomy for the season.

fortress

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

fury

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

gloomy

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

From this reading The past day had been unusually gloomy for the season.

gurgled

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The past day had been unusually gloomy for the season.

hue

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The sun had set in fiery clouds beyond the spires of St. Petersburg.

inky

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

Ladoga

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

loopholesnounUS /ˈloopholes/

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

From this reading The wind moaned with a sullen sound past the mouths of the cannon, and whistled drearily through the deep embrasures and the loopholes for musketry in the casemates.

massive

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

moaned

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

From this reading The wind moaned with a sullen sound past the mouths of the cannon, and whistled drearily through the deep embrasures and the loopholes for musketry in the casemates.

moon

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

moss-grown

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

mouldy

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

mouths

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

From this reading The wind moaned with a sullen sound past the mouths of the cannon, and whistled drearily through the deep embrasures and the loopholes for musketry in the casemates.

musketry

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

From this reading The wind moaned with a sullen sound past the mouths of the cannon, and whistled drearily through the deep embrasures and the loopholes for musketry in the casemates.

Neva

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

NIGHT

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

From this reading THE NIGHT OF THE 15TH SEPTEMBER.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE NIGHT OF THE 15TH SEPTEMBER.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

other

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

past

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

From this reading The past day had been unusually gloomy for the season.

Petersburg

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

From this reading The sun had set in fiery clouds beyond the spires of St. Petersburg.

piers

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

rains

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

recent

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

rolled

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

round

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

season

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

From this reading The past day had been unusually gloomy for the season.

SEPTEMBER

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

From this reading THE NIGHT OF THE 15TH SEPTEMBER.

set

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

From this reading The sun had set in fiery clouds beyond the spires of St. Petersburg.

side

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

sound

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

From this reading The wind moaned with a sullen sound past the mouths of the cannon, and whistled drearily through the deep embrasures and the loopholes for musketry in the casemates.

spires

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

From this reading The sun had set in fiery clouds beyond the spires of St. Petersburg.

St

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

From this reading The sun had set in fiery clouds beyond the spires of St. Petersburg.

strong

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

sullen

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

From this reading The wind moaned with a sullen sound past the mouths of the cannon, and whistled drearily through the deep embrasures and the loopholes for musketry in the casemates.

sun

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

From this reading The sun had set in fiery clouds beyond the spires of St. Petersburg.

swollen

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

TH

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

From this reading THE NIGHT OF THE 15TH SEPTEMBER.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE NIGHT OF THE 15TH SEPTEMBER.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading The wind moaned with a sullen sound past the mouths of the cannon, and whistled drearily through the deep embrasures and the loopholes for musketry in the casemates.

unusually

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

From this reading The past day had been unusually gloomy for the season.

walls

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

waters

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

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

whistled

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

From this reading The wind moaned with a sullen sound past the mouths of the cannon, and whistled drearily through the deep embrasures and the loopholes for musketry in the casemates.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The wind moaned with a sullen sound past the mouths of the cannon, and whistled drearily through the deep embrasures and the loopholes for musketry in the casemates.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading The night was without a moon, and a strong east wind rolled the waters of Ladoga in billows of inky hue against the massive walls of the fortress in foam and fury on one side, while on the other, the waters of the Neva, swollen by recent rains, gurgled and chafed round the mouldy and moss-grown piers of the drawbridge.