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The Time Armada
The Time Armada

Chapter XVI

Cover illustration for The Time Armada
Context Illustration Reading 1/49 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.
A second denuded him of the wide belt and narrow scabbard which had held it.
"Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"
Doug bit the words out knowing that as a defensive threat they were hopelessly impotent, but he had to know what they had done to Dot.
He had to know that even if they were to kill him within the next second.
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Speed 0.75x
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 Time Armada

Chapter XVI

Reading 1/49 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.
Line 2
A second denuded him of the wide belt and narrow scabbard which had held it.
Line 3
"Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"
Line 4
Doug bit the words out knowing that as a defensive threat they were hopelessly impotent, but he had to know what they had done to Dot.
Line 5
He had to know that even if they were to kill him within the next second.

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Doug bit the words out knowing that as a defensive threat they were hopelessly impotent, but he had to know what they had done to Dot.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had to know that even if they were to kill him within the next second.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Doug bit the words out knowing that as a defensive threat they were hopelessly impotent, but he had to know what they had done to Dot.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had to know that even if they were to kill him within the next second.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.”

Second noun US /second/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A second denuded him of the wide belt and narrow scabbard which had held it.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.”

Unless conjunction US /ənˈles/

except if; if not

From this reading “"Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"”

Whipped noun US /ˈwhipped/

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

From this reading “Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “He had to know that even if they were to kill him within the next second.”

All words in this reading · 80

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

AdeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading A second denuded him of the wide belt and narrow scabbard which had held it.

able

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

From this reading "Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

action

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

From this reading "Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading "Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

assure

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

From this reading "Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"

belt

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

From this reading A second denuded him of the wide belt and narrow scabbard which had held it.

bent

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

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

bit

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

From this reading Doug bit the words out knowing that as a defensive threat they were hopelessly impotent, but he had to know what they had done to Dot.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Doug bit the words out knowing that as a defensive threat they were hopelessly impotent, but he had to know what they had done to Dot.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"

cast

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

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

charges

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

From this reading "Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"

cite

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

From this reading "Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"

defensive

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

From this reading Doug bit the words out knowing that as a defensive threat they were hopelessly impotent, but he had to know what they had done to Dot.

denuded

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

From this reading A second denuded him of the wide belt and narrow scabbard which had held it.

Director's

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

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Doug bit the words out knowing that as a defensive threat they were hopelessly impotent, but he had to know what they had done to Dot.

Dot

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

From this reading Doug bit the words out knowing that as a defensive threat they were hopelessly impotent, but he had to know what they had done to Dot.

Doug

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

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

dress

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

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had to know that even if they were to kill him within the next second.

feet

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

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

General

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

From this reading "Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"

guards

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

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading A second denuded him of the wide belt and narrow scabbard which had held it.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Doug bit the words out knowing that as a defensive threat they were hopelessly impotent, but he had to know what they had done to Dot.

held

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

From this reading A second denuded him of the wide belt and narrow scabbard which had held it.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading A second denuded him of the wide belt and narrow scabbard which had held it.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

hopelessly

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

From this reading Doug bit the words out knowing that as a defensive threat they were hopelessly impotent, but he had to know what they had done to Dot.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He had to know that even if they were to kill him within the next second.

impotent

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

From this reading Doug bit the words out knowing that as a defensive threat they were hopelessly impotent, but he had to know what they had done to Dot.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A second denuded him of the wide belt and narrow scabbard which had held it.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

kill

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

From this reading He had to know that even if they were to kill him within the next second.

knee

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

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Doug bit the words out knowing that as a defensive threat they were hopelessly impotent, but he had to know what they had done to Dot.

knowing

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

From this reading Doug bit the words out knowing that as a defensive threat they were hopelessly impotent, but he had to know what they had done to Dot.

motionless

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

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

narrow

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

From this reading A second denuded him of the wide belt and narrow scabbard which had held it.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had to know that even if they were to kill him within the next second.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

once

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

From this reading "Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

out

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

From this reading Doug bit the words out knowing that as a defensive threat they were hopelessly impotent, but he had to know what they had done to Dot.

outrageous

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

From this reading "Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"

Prelate

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

From this reading "Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"

reported

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

From this reading "Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"

scabbard

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

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

second

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

From this reading A second denuded him of the wide belt and narrow scabbard which had held it.

Sir

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

From this reading "Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"

snapped

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

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

sword

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

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Doug bit the words out knowing that as a defensive threat they were hopelessly impotent, but he had to know what they had done to Dot.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Doug bit the words out knowing that as a defensive threat they were hopelessly impotent, but he had to know what they had done to Dot.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading "Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"

threat

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

From this reading Doug bit the words out knowing that as a defensive threat they were hopelessly impotent, but he had to know what they had done to Dot.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"

unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/

except if; if not

From this reading "Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

well-founded

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

From this reading "Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Doug bit the words out knowing that as a defensive threat they were hopelessly impotent, but he had to know what they had done to Dot.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Doug bit the words out knowing that as a defensive threat they were hopelessly impotent, but he had to know what they had done to Dot.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading A second denuded him of the wide belt and narrow scabbard which had held it.

whippednounUS /ˈwhipped/

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

From this reading Doug stood motionless as his dress sword was whipped from its scabbard, snapped across the bent knee of one of the Director's guards, and cast at his feet.

wide

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

From this reading A second denuded him of the wide belt and narrow scabbard which had held it.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading He had to know that even if they were to kill him within the next second.

words

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

From this reading Doug bit the words out knowing that as a defensive threat they were hopelessly impotent, but he had to know what they had done to Dot.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Sir, unless you are able to cite well-founded charges for this outrageous action, I can assure you it will be reported to the Prelate General at once!"