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Zicci: A Tale — Complete
Zicci: A Tale — Complete

Chapter IV

Cover illustration for Zicci: A Tale — Complete
Context Illustration Reading 1/5 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The palace of Zicci was among the noblest in Naples.
It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.
He ascended the vast staircase, and entered the rooms reserved for his private hours.
They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.
Zicci seemed to know everything that books can teach; yet of books themselves he spoke and thought with the most profound contempt.
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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.

Zicci: A Tale — Complete

Chapter IV

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

Line 1
The palace of Zicci was among the noblest in Naples.
Line 2
It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.
Line 3
He ascended the vast staircase, and entered the rooms reserved for his private hours.
Line 4
They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.
Line 5
Zicci seemed to know everything that books can teach; yet of books themselves he spoke and thought with the most profound contempt.

Learner Dictionary

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

Among preposition US /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading “The palace of Zicci was among the noblest in Naples.”

Books noun US /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading “They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.”

Everything pronoun US /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading “Zicci seemed to know everything that books can teach; yet of books themselves he spoke and thought with the most profound contempt.”

Except preposition US /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading “They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Zicci seemed to know everything that books can teach; yet of books themselves he spoke and thought with the most profound contempt.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.”

Remarkable noun US /ˈremarkable/

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

From this reading “They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Zicci seemed to know everything that books can teach; yet of books themselves he spoke and thought with the most profound contempt.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.”

Splendor noun US /ˈsplen.dər/

Magnificent and splendid appearance; grandeur and brilliance.

From this reading “They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.”

Themselves pronoun US /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading “Zicci seemed to know everything that books can teach; yet of books themselves he spoke and thought with the most profound contempt.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Zicci seemed to know everything that books can teach; yet of books themselves he spoke and thought with the most profound contempt.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Zicci seemed to know everything that books can teach; yet of books themselves he spoke and thought with the most profound contempt.”

All words in this reading · 76

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

absence

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

From this reading They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading The palace of Zicci was among the noblest in Naples.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.

antique

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

From this reading It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.

ascended

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

From this reading He ascended the vast staircase, and entered the rooms reserved for his private hours.

booksnounUS /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Zicci seemed to know everything that books can teach; yet of books themselves he spoke and thought with the most profound contempt.

contempt

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

From this reading Zicci seemed to know everything that books can teach; yet of books themselves he spoke and thought with the most profound contempt.

dismantled

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

From this reading It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.

entered

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

From this reading He ascended the vast staircase, and entered the rooms reserved for his private hours.

everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading Zicci seemed to know everything that books can teach; yet of books themselves he spoke and thought with the most profound contempt.

exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He ascended the vast staircase, and entered the rooms reserved for his private hours.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.

generally

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

From this reading They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He ascended the vast staircase, and entered the rooms reserved for his private hours.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He ascended the vast staircase, and entered the rooms reserved for his private hours.

hours

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

From this reading He ascended the vast staircase, and entered the rooms reserved for his private hours.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The palace of Zicci was among the noblest in Naples.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Zicci seemed to know everything that books can teach; yet of books themselves he spoke and thought with the most profound contempt.

learned

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

From this reading They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.

luxury

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

From this reading They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.

men

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

From this reading They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.

most

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

From this reading Zicci seemed to know everything that books can teach; yet of books themselves he spoke and thought with the most profound contempt.

namely

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

From this reading They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.

Naples

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

From this reading The palace of Zicci was among the noblest in Naples.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.

noblest

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

From this reading The palace of Zicci was among the noblest in Naples.

Norman

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

From this reading It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The palace of Zicci was among the noblest in Naples.

old

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

From this reading It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.

palace

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

From this reading The palace of Zicci was among the noblest in Naples.

private

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

From this reading He ascended the vast staircase, and entered the rooms reserved for his private hours.

prize

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

From this reading They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.

profound

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

From this reading Zicci seemed to know everything that books can teach; yet of books themselves he spoke and thought with the most profound contempt.

races

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

From this reading It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.

remarkablenounUS /ˈremarkable/

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

From this reading They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.

reputed

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

From this reading They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.

reserved

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

From this reading He ascended the vast staircase, and entered the rooms reserved for his private hours.

rooms

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

From this reading He ascended the vast staircase, and entered the rooms reserved for his private hours.

ruined

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

From this reading It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Zicci seemed to know everything that books can teach; yet of books themselves he spoke and thought with the most profound contempt.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.

Spaniard

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

From this reading It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.

splendornounUS /ˈsplen.dər/

Magnificent and splendid appearance; grandeur and brilliance.

From this reading They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.

spoke

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

From this reading Zicci seemed to know everything that books can teach; yet of books themselves he spoke and thought with the most profound contempt.

staircase

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

From this reading He ascended the vast staircase, and entered the rooms reserved for his private hours.

stands

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

From this reading It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.

streets

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

From this reading It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.

teach

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

From this reading Zicci seemed to know everything that books can teach; yet of books themselves he spoke and thought with the most profound contempt.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Zicci seemed to know everything that books can teach; yet of books themselves he spoke and thought with the most profound contempt.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The palace of Zicci was among the noblest in Naples.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading Zicci seemed to know everything that books can teach; yet of books themselves he spoke and thought with the most profound contempt.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Zicci seemed to know everything that books can teach; yet of books themselves he spoke and thought with the most profound contempt.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Zicci seemed to know everything that books can teach; yet of books themselves he spoke and thought with the most profound contempt.

vanished

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

From this reading It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.

vast

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

From this reading He ascended the vast staircase, and entered the rooms reserved for his private hours.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The palace of Zicci was among the noblest in Naples.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It still stands, though ruined and dismantled, in one of those antique streets from which the old races of the Norman and the Spaniard have long since vanished.

wise

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

From this reading They were no wise remarkable except for their luxury and splendor, and the absence of what men so learned as Zicci was reputed, generally prize, namely, books.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Zicci seemed to know everything that books can teach; yet of books themselves he spoke and thought with the most profound contempt.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Zicci seemed to know everything that books can teach; yet of books themselves he spoke and thought with the most profound contempt.

Zicci

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

From this reading The palace of Zicci was among the noblest in Naples.