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When I Was Czar
When I Was Czar

Chapter XXXI · At the Eleventh Hour

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Context Illustration Reading 1/51 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It was instantly clear that we had to face a situation fraught with many awkward complications.
We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.
Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:
“I have sent for doctors and my chief; you will, of course, remain here.”
“You mean we are under arrest?”
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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.

When I Was Czar

Chapter XXXI · At the Eleventh Hour

Reading 1/51 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It was instantly clear that we had to face a situation fraught with many awkward complications.
Line 2
We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.
Line 3
Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:
Line 4
“I have sent for doctors and my chief; you will, of course, remain here.”
Line 5
“You mean we are under arrest?”

Learner Dictionary

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

Course noun US /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““I have sent for doctors and my chief; you will, of course, remain here.””

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading ““I have sent for doctors and my chief; you will, of course, remain here.””

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““I have sent for doctors and my chief; you will, of course, remain here.””

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:”

Sudden noun US /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.”

All words in this reading · 81

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 It was instantly clear that we had to face a situation fraught with many awkward complications.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

appeared

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

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading “You mean we are under arrest?”

arrest

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

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

awkward

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

From this reading It was instantly clear that we had to face a situation fraught with many awkward complications.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

caused

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

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

chief

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

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

clear

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

From this reading It was instantly clear that we had to face a situation fraught with many awkward complications.

collapse

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

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

complications

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

From this reading It was instantly clear that we had to face a situation fraught with many awkward complications.

couch

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

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

coursenounUS /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I have sent for doctors and my chief; you will, of course, remain here.”

curtly

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

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

doctors

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

From this reading “I have sent for doctors and my chief; you will, of course, remain here.”

doors

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

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

doubt

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

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

face

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

From this reading It was instantly clear that we had to face a situation fraught with many awkward complications.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “I have sent for doctors and my chief; you will, of course, remain here.”

fraught

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

From this reading It was instantly clear that we had to face a situation fraught with many awkward complications.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It was instantly clear that we had to face a situation fraught with many awkward complications.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “I have sent for doctors and my chief; you will, of course, remain here.”

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

Helga

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

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I have sent for doctors and my chief; you will, of course, remain here.”

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

instantly

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

From this reading It was instantly clear that we had to face a situation fraught with many awkward complications.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was instantly clear that we had to face a situation fraught with many awkward complications.

Kalkov's

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

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

laid

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

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

leaving

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

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

lifted

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

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

many

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

From this reading It was instantly clear that we had to face a situation fraught with many awkward complications.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

mean

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

From this reading “You mean we are under arrest?”

men

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

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “I have sent for doctors and my chief; you will, of course, remain here.”

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

orders

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

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

others

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

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

prevent

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

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

Prince

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

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

remain

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

From this reading “I have sent for doctors and my chief; you will, of course, remain here.”

said

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

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

searched

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

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

sent

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

From this reading “I have sent for doctors and my chief; you will, of course, remain here.”

situation

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

From this reading It was instantly clear that we had to face a situation fraught with many awkward complications.

some

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

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

suspected

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

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was instantly clear that we had to face a situation fraught with many awkward complications.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

three

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

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was instantly clear that we had to face a situation fraught with many awkward complications.

Two

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

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

very

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

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was instantly clear that we had to face a situation fraught with many awkward complications.

way

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

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading It was instantly clear that we had to face a situation fraught with many awkward complications.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading We were under arrest by Prince Kalkov’s orders, and his men left us in no doubt that both Helga and I were suspected of having caused in some way the sudden collapse.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Two of them stood by the doors to prevent our leaving, and the others lifted the Prince and laid him on a couch; and one of these three--he who had searched me and appeared to be the chief of them--said very curtly:

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading “I have sent for doctors and my chief; you will, of course, remain here.”

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was instantly clear that we had to face a situation fraught with many awkward complications.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “I have sent for doctors and my chief; you will, of course, remain here.”