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A Thorny Path — Volume 10
A Thorny Path — Volume 10

Chapter II

Cover illustration for A Thorny Path — Volume 10
Context Illustration Reading 1/93 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.
The high-priest of Serapis, several soothsayers of the temple, Aristides, the new head of the night-watch, and other "friends" of the monarch had accompanied him thus far.
But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.
The deputation of citizens, who had come to apologize to Caesar for the annoying occurrences in the Circus, had been told to wait till the exorcisms were over.
Alexander would have preferred to hold aloof from the others, but no one here seemed to think ill of him for his thoughtless behavior.
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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 Thorny Path — Volume 10

Chapter II

Reading 1/93 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.
Line 2
The high-priest of Serapis, several soothsayers of the temple, Aristides, the new head of the night-watch, and other "friends" of the monarch had accompanied him thus far.
Line 3
But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.
Line 4
The deputation of citizens, who had come to apologize to Caesar for the annoying occurrences in the Circus, had been told to wait till the exorcisms were over.
Line 5
Alexander would have preferred to hold aloof from the others, but no one here seemed to think ill of him for his thoughtless behavior.

Learner Dictionary

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

Alexander noun US /ˈalexander/

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

From this reading “While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The deputation of citizens, who had come to apologize to Caesar for the annoying occurrences in the Circus, had been told to wait till the exorcisms were over.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Alexander would have preferred to hold aloof from the others, but no one here seemed to think ill of him for his thoughtless behavior.”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Alexander would have preferred to hold aloof from the others, but no one here seemed to think ill of him for his thoughtless behavior.”

Magician noun US /məˈdʒɪʃ.ən/

A practitioner of magic and ancient arcane arts, often wielding deception and powerful spells.

From this reading “But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “The deputation of citizens, who had come to apologize to Caesar for the annoying occurrences in the Circus, had been told to wait till the exorcisms were over.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Alexander would have preferred to hold aloof from the others, but no one here seemed to think ill of him for his thoughtless behavior.”

Several noun US /ˈseveral/

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

From this reading “The high-priest of Serapis, several soothsayers of the temple, Aristides, the new head of the night-watch, and other "friends" of the monarch had accompanied him thus far.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Alexander would have preferred to hold aloof from the others, but no one here seemed to think ill of him for his thoughtless behavior.”

Till preposition US /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The deputation of citizens, who had come to apologize to Caesar for the annoying occurrences in the Circus, had been told to wait till the exorcisms were over.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “Alexander would have preferred to hold aloof from the others, but no one here seemed to think ill of him for his thoughtless behavior.”

All words in this reading · 97

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 While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

accompanied

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

From this reading The high-priest of Serapis, several soothsayers of the temple, Aristides, the new head of the night-watch, and other "friends" of the monarch had accompanied him thus far.

admittance

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

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

Alexander

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

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

aloof

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

From this reading Alexander would have preferred to hold aloof from the others, but no one here seemed to think ill of him for his thoughtless behavior.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The high-priest of Serapis, several soothsayers of the temple, Aristides, the new head of the night-watch, and other "friends" of the monarch had accompanied him thus far.

annoying

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

From this reading The deputation of citizens, who had come to apologize to Caesar for the annoying occurrences in the Circus, had been told to wait till the exorcisms were over.

apartments

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

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

apologize

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

From this reading The deputation of citizens, who had come to apologize to Caesar for the annoying occurrences in the Circus, had been told to wait till the exorcisms were over.

Aristides

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

From this reading The high-priest of Serapis, several soothsayers of the temple, Aristides, the new head of the night-watch, and other "friends" of the monarch had accompanied him thus far.

audience-rooms

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

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

behavior

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

From this reading Alexander would have preferred to hold aloof from the others, but no one here seemed to think ill of him for his thoughtless behavior.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

Caesar

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

From this reading The deputation of citizens, who had come to apologize to Caesar for the annoying occurrences in the Circus, had been told to wait till the exorcisms were over.

call

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

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

Caracalla

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

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

charge

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

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

Circus

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

From this reading The deputation of citizens, who had come to apologize to Caesar for the annoying occurrences in the Circus, had been told to wait till the exorcisms were over.

citizens

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

From this reading The deputation of citizens, who had come to apologize to Caesar for the annoying occurrences in the Circus, had been told to wait till the exorcisms were over.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The deputation of citizens, who had come to apologize to Caesar for the annoying occurrences in the Circus, had been told to wait till the exorcisms were over.

dark

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

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

declared

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

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

deputation

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

From this reading The deputation of citizens, who had come to apologize to Caesar for the annoying occurrences in the Circus, had been told to wait till the exorcisms were over.

emperor

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

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

Euryale

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

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

exorcisms

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

From this reading The deputation of citizens, who had come to apologize to Caesar for the annoying occurrences in the Circus, had been told to wait till the exorcisms were over.

far

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

From this reading The high-priest of Serapis, several soothsayers of the temple, Aristides, the new head of the night-watch, and other "friends" of the monarch had accompanied him thus far.

few

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

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

followers

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

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

friends

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

From this reading The high-priest of Serapis, several soothsayers of the temple, Aristides, the new head of the night-watch, and other "friends" of the monarch had accompanied him thus far.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Alexander would have preferred to hold aloof from the others, but no one here seemed to think ill of him for his thoughtless behavior.

future

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

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The high-priest of Serapis, several soothsayers of the temple, Aristides, the new head of the night-watch, and other "friends" of the monarch had accompanied him thus far.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Alexander would have preferred to hold aloof from the others, but no one here seemed to think ill of him for his thoughtless behavior.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

head

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

From this reading The high-priest of Serapis, several soothsayers of the temple, Aristides, the new head of the night-watch, and other "friends" of the monarch had accompanied him thus far.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Alexander would have preferred to hold aloof from the others, but no one here seemed to think ill of him for his thoughtless behavior.

high-priest

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

From this reading The high-priest of Serapis, several soothsayers of the temple, Aristides, the new head of the night-watch, and other "friends" of the monarch had accompanied him thus far.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Alexander would have preferred to hold aloof from the others, but no one here seemed to think ill of him for his thoughtless behavior.

hold

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

From this reading Alexander would have preferred to hold aloof from the others, but no one here seemed to think ill of him for his thoughtless behavior.

ill

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

From this reading Alexander would have preferred to hold aloof from the others, but no one here seemed to think ill of him for his thoughtless behavior.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

innermost

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

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

lady

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

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

lamp

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

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

magiciannounUS /məˈdʒɪʃ.ən/

A practitioner of magic and ancient arcane arts, often wielding deception and powerful spells.

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

monarch

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

From this reading The high-priest of Serapis, several soothsayers of the temple, Aristides, the new head of the night-watch, and other "friends" of the monarch had accompanied him thus far.

narrow

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

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

new

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

From this reading The high-priest of Serapis, several soothsayers of the temple, Aristides, the new head of the night-watch, and other "friends" of the monarch had accompanied him thus far.

night-watch

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

From this reading The high-priest of Serapis, several soothsayers of the temple, Aristides, the new head of the night-watch, and other "friends" of the monarch had accompanied him thus far.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Alexander would have preferred to hold aloof from the others, but no one here seemed to think ill of him for his thoughtless behavior.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

occurrences

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

From this reading The deputation of citizens, who had come to apologize to Caesar for the annoying occurrences in the Circus, had been told to wait till the exorcisms were over.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

ordered

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

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

other

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

From this reading The high-priest of Serapis, several soothsayers of the temple, Aristides, the new head of the night-watch, and other "friends" of the monarch had accompanied him thus far.

others

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

From this reading Alexander would have preferred to hold aloof from the others, but no one here seemed to think ill of him for his thoughtless behavior.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading The deputation of citizens, who had come to apologize to Caesar for the annoying occurrences in the Circus, had been told to wait till the exorcisms were over.

permitted

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

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

praetorians

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

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

preceded

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

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

prefect

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

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

preferred

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

From this reading Alexander would have preferred to hold aloof from the others, but no one here seemed to think ill of him for his thoughtless behavior.

presence

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

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Alexander would have preferred to hold aloof from the others, but no one here seemed to think ill of him for his thoughtless behavior.

Serapion

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

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

Serapis

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

From this reading The high-priest of Serapis, several soothsayers of the temple, Aristides, the new head of the night-watch, and other "friends" of the monarch had accompanied him thus far.

several

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

From this reading The high-priest of Serapis, several soothsayers of the temple, Aristides, the new head of the night-watch, and other "friends" of the monarch had accompanied him thus far.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

soothsayers

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

From this reading The high-priest of Serapis, several soothsayers of the temple, Aristides, the new head of the night-watch, and other "friends" of the monarch had accompanied him thus far.

spirits

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

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

staircase

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

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

temple

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

From this reading The high-priest of Serapis, several soothsayers of the temple, Aristides, the new head of the night-watch, and other "friends" of the monarch had accompanied him thus far.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Alexander would have preferred to hold aloof from the others, but no one here seemed to think ill of him for his thoughtless behavior.

thoughtless

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

From this reading Alexander would have preferred to hold aloof from the others, but no one here seemed to think ill of him for his thoughtless behavior.

thus

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

From this reading The high-priest of Serapis, several soothsayers of the temple, Aristides, the new head of the night-watch, and other "friends" of the monarch had accompanied him thus far.

tillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The deputation of citizens, who had come to apologize to Caesar for the annoying occurrences in the Circus, had been told to wait till the exorcisms were over.

trusty

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

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

up

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

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

wait

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

From this reading The deputation of citizens, who had come to apologize to Caesar for the annoying occurrences in the Circus, had been told to wait till the exorcisms were over.

waited

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

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But admittance to the innermost apartments had not been permitted, for Caracalla had ordered the magician Serapion to call up spirits before him, and was having the future declared to him in the presence of the prefect of the praetorians and a few other trusty followers.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The deputation of citizens, who had come to apologize to Caesar for the annoying occurrences in the Circus, had been told to wait till the exorcisms were over.

WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The deputation of citizens, who had come to apologize to Caesar for the annoying occurrences in the Circus, had been told to wait till the exorcisms were over.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Alexander would have preferred to hold aloof from the others, but no one here seemed to think ill of him for his thoughtless behavior.

young

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

From this reading While the lady Euryale preceded her young charge with a lamp up a narrow, dark staircase, Alexander waited in one of the audience-rooms till the emperor should call him.