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Under Two Flags
Under Two Flags

Chapter VIII

Cover illustration for Under Two Flags
Context Illustration Reading 1/37 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A STAG HUNT AU CLAIR DE LA LUNE.
“Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.
“You don't mean it.
Never let it ooze out, Beauty; you'll ruin your reputation!”
Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.
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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.

Under Two Flags

Chapter VIII

Reading 1/37 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A STAG HUNT AU CLAIR DE LA LUNE.
Line 2
“Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.
Line 3
“You don't mean it.
Line 4
Never let it ooze out, Beauty; you'll ruin your reputation!”
Line 5
Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.

Learner Dictionary

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

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading ““Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading ““Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading ““Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading ““Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “Never let it ooze out, Beauty; you'll ruin your reputation!””

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Never let it ooze out, Beauty; you'll ruin your reputation!””

Thinking noun US /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.”

All words in this reading · 77

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 STAG HUNT AU CLAIR DE LA LUNE.

almost

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

From this reading Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.

amused

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

From this reading Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

any

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

From this reading Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.

AU

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

From this reading A STAG HUNT AU CLAIR DE LA LUNE.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.

Beauty

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

From this reading Never let it ooze out, Beauty; you'll ruin your reputation!”

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

Cavalry

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

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

Cecil

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

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

chargers

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

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

CLAIR

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

From this reading A STAG HUNT AU CLAIR DE LA LUNE.

DE

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

From this reading A STAG HUNT AU CLAIR DE LA LUNE.

don't

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

From this reading “You don't mean it.

FirstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.

four

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

From this reading Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

full

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

From this reading Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

harness

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

From this reading Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.

homeward

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

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

hours

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

From this reading Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.

Household

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

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

HUNT

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

From this reading A STAG HUNT AU CLAIR DE LA LUNE.

I've

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

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “You don't mean it.

LA

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

From this reading A STAG HUNT AU CLAIR DE LA LUNE.

languidly

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

From this reading Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.

laughed

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

From this reading Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Never let it ooze out, Beauty; you'll ruin your reputation!”

LifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

line

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

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

LUNE

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

From this reading A STAG HUNT AU CLAIR DE LA LUNE.

mean

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

From this reading “You don't mean it.

mellowly

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

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

musingly

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

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

NevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Never let it ooze out, Beauty; you'll ruin your reputation!”

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

ooze

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

From this reading Never let it ooze out, Beauty; you'll ruin your reputation!”

out

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

From this reading Never let it ooze out, Beauty; you'll ruin your reputation!”

paced

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

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

plying

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

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

power

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

From this reading Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.

rear

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

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

reputation

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

From this reading Never let it ooze out, Beauty; you'll ruin your reputation!”

ruin

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

From this reading Never let it ooze out, Beauty; you'll ruin your reputation!”

said

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

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

Scrubs

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

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

Seraph

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

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

STAG

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

From this reading A STAG HUNT AU CLAIR DE LA LUNE.

stretching

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

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

sun

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

From this reading Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.

taken

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

From this reading Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

thinkingnounUS /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.

together

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

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

very

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

From this reading Cecil laughed a little, very languidly; to have been in the sun for four hours, in full harness, had almost taken out of him any power to be amused at anything.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading “Seraph--I've been thinking,” said Cecil musingly, as they paced homeward together from the Scrubs, with the long line of the First Life stretching before and behind their chargers, and the hands of the Household Cavalry plying mellowly in their rear.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “You don't mean it.

you'll

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

From this reading Never let it ooze out, Beauty; you'll ruin your reputation!”

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Never let it ooze out, Beauty; you'll ruin your reputation!”