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A Modern Aladdin
A Modern Aladdin

Chapter I

Cover illustration for A Modern Aladdin
Context Illustration Reading 1/92 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
BY HOWARD PYLE AUTHOR OF "PEPPER AND SALT" ETC.
The Comte de St. Germaine was a real historical character.
Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.
No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.
Nothing could have been more sudden than his advent.
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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.

A Modern Aladdin

Chapter I

Reading 1/92 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
BY HOWARD PYLE AUTHOR OF "PEPPER AND SALT" ETC.
Line 2
The Comte de St. Germaine was a real historical character.
Line 3
Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.
Line 4
No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.
Line 5
Nothing could have been more sudden than his advent.

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 “Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Nothing could have been more sudden than his advent.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “Nothing could have been more sudden than his advent.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Nothing could have been more sudden than his advent.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.”

None pronoun US /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading “Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “Nothing could have been more sudden than his advent.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.”

Sudden noun US /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Nothing could have been more sudden than his advent.”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading “No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.”

Whence adverb US /wens/

an old word meaning “from where”

From this reading “No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.”

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 The Comte de St. Germaine was a real historical character.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

advent

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

From this reading Nothing could have been more sudden than his advent.

adventurers

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

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

all

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

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading BY HOWARD PYLE AUTHOR OF "PEPPER AND SALT" ETC.

antecedents

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

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

appeared

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

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

AUTHOR

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

From this reading BY HOWARD PYLE AUTHOR OF "PEPPER AND SALT" ETC.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Nothing could have been more sudden than his advent.

brilliant

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

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

butterfly

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

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

BYprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading BY HOWARD PYLE AUTHOR OF "PEPPER AND SALT" ETC.

came

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

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

certain

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

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

character

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

From this reading The Comte de St. Germaine was a real historical character.

Comte

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

From this reading The Comte de St. Germaine was a real historical character.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Nothing could have been more sudden than his advent.

days

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

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

de

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

From this reading The Comte de St. Germaine was a real historical character.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

ETC

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

From this reading BY HOWARD PYLE AUTHOR OF "PEPPER AND SALT" ETC.

fascinating

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

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

flitted

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

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

gay

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

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

Germaine

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

From this reading The Comte de St. Germaine was a real historical character.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Nothing could have been more sudden than his advent.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

heaven

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

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

high

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

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

historical

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

From this reading The Comte de St. Germaine was a real historical character.

HOWARD

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

From this reading BY HOWARD PYLE AUTHOR OF "PEPPER AND SALT" ETC.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

interesting

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

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

knew

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

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

La

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

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

luridly

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

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

many

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

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

more

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

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

NothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Nothing could have been more sudden than his advent.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading BY HOWARD PYLE AUTHOR OF "PEPPER AND SALT" ETC.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

Parisian

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

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

PEPPER

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

From this reading BY HOWARD PYLE AUTHOR OF "PEPPER AND SALT" ETC.

polished

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

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

Pompadour

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

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

PYLE

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

From this reading BY HOWARD PYLE AUTHOR OF "PEPPER AND SALT" ETC.

quasi

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

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

real

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

From this reading The Comte de St. Germaine was a real historical character.

reflection

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

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

SALT

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

From this reading BY HOWARD PYLE AUTHOR OF "PEPPER AND SALT" ETC.

shine

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

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

somewhat

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

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

St

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

From this reading The Comte de St. Germaine was a real historical character.

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Nothing could have been more sudden than his advent.

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

surface

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

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The Comte de St. Germaine was a real historical character.

there

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

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

transiently

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

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

two

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

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

volatile

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

From this reading Of all the many adventurers brilliant and volatile that flitted across the polished surface of Parisian life during the gay butterfly days of La Pompadour, none was more interesting, none left a more fascinating reflection, than he.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The Comte de St. Germaine was a real historical character.

whenceadverbUS /wens/

an old word meaning “from where”

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.

year

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

From this reading No one knew who he was, no one knew his antecedents, no one knew whence he came, but there he suddenly appeared, to shine transiently and somewhat luridly for a year or two in a certain heaven of quasi high life.