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Chapter XI

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Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.
A ray of light penetrated the mind of the dragoman and he laboured assiduously with wet fuel until he had accomplished a tin mug of coffee.
Bits of cinder floated in it, but Coleman rejoiced and was kind to the dragoman.
The night was of cruel monotony.
Afflicted by the wind and the darkness, the correspondent sat with nerves keyed high waiting to hear the pickets open fire on a night attack.
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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.

Active Service

Chapter XI

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.
Line 2
A ray of light penetrated the mind of the dragoman and he laboured assiduously with wet fuel until he had accomplished a tin mug of coffee.
Line 3
Bits of cinder floated in it, but Coleman rejoiced and was kind to the dragoman.
Line 4
The night was of cruel monotony.
Line 5
Afflicted by the wind and the darkness, the correspondent sat with nerves keyed high waiting to hear the pickets open fire on a night attack.

Learner Dictionary

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

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading “Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.”

Cruel adjective US /ˈkruːəl/

causing pain or showing no kindness

From this reading “The night was of cruel monotony.”

Hear noun US /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Afflicted by the wind and the darkness, the correspondent sat with nerves keyed high waiting to hear the pickets open fire on a night attack.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A ray of light penetrated the mind of the dragoman and he laboured assiduously with wet fuel until he had accomplished a tin mug of coffee.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “Afflicted by the wind and the darkness, the correspondent sat with nerves keyed high waiting to hear the pickets open fire on a night attack.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “A ray of light penetrated the mind of the dragoman and he laboured assiduously with wet fuel until he had accomplished a tin mug of coffee.”

Waiting noun US /ˈwaiting/

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

From this reading “Afflicted by the wind and the darkness, the correspondent sat with nerves keyed high waiting to hear the pickets open fire on a night attack.”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Afflicted by the wind and the darkness, the correspondent sat with nerves keyed high waiting to hear the pickets open fire on a night attack.”

All words in this reading · 70

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 Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

accomplished

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

From this reading A ray of light penetrated the mind of the dragoman and he laboured assiduously with wet fuel until he had accomplished a tin mug of coffee.

Afflicted

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

From this reading Afflicted by the wind and the darkness, the correspondent sat with nerves keyed high waiting to hear the pickets open fire on a night attack.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

assiduously

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

From this reading A ray of light penetrated the mind of the dragoman and he laboured assiduously with wet fuel until he had accomplished a tin mug of coffee.

attack

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

From this reading Afflicted by the wind and the darkness, the correspondent sat with nerves keyed high waiting to hear the pickets open fire on a night attack.

Bits

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

From this reading Bits of cinder floated in it, but Coleman rejoiced and was kind to the dragoman.

boulder

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Bits of cinder floated in it, but Coleman rejoiced and was kind to the dragoman.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Afflicted by the wind and the darkness, the correspondent sat with nerves keyed high waiting to hear the pickets open fire on a night attack.

ceaseless

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

cigars

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

cinder

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

From this reading Bits of cinder floated in it, but Coleman rejoiced and was kind to the dragoman.

clatter

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

coffee

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

From this reading A ray of light penetrated the mind of the dragoman and he laboured assiduously with wet fuel until he had accomplished a tin mug of coffee.

Coleman

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

correspondent

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

From this reading Afflicted by the wind and the darkness, the correspondent sat with nerves keyed high waiting to hear the pickets open fire on a night attack.

crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/

causing pain or showing no kindness

From this reading The night was of cruel monotony.

darkness

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

From this reading Afflicted by the wind and the darkness, the correspondent sat with nerves keyed high waiting to hear the pickets open fire on a night attack.

dragoman

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

From this reading A ray of light penetrated the mind of the dragoman and he laboured assiduously with wet fuel until he had accomplished a tin mug of coffee.

drizzle

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

Enveloped

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

fire

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

From this reading Afflicted by the wind and the darkness, the correspondent sat with nerves keyed high waiting to hear the pickets open fire on a night attack.

floated

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

From this reading Bits of cinder floated in it, but Coleman rejoiced and was kind to the dragoman.

fuel

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

From this reading A ray of light penetrated the mind of the dragoman and he laboured assiduously with wet fuel until he had accomplished a tin mug of coffee.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading A ray of light penetrated the mind of the dragoman and he laboured assiduously with wet fuel until he had accomplished a tin mug of coffee.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

hearnounUS /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Afflicted by the wind and the darkness, the correspondent sat with nerves keyed high waiting to hear the pickets open fire on a night attack.

high

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

From this reading Afflicted by the wind and the darkness, the correspondent sat with nerves keyed high waiting to hear the pickets open fire on a night attack.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Bits of cinder floated in it, but Coleman rejoiced and was kind to the dragoman.

keyed

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

From this reading Afflicted by the wind and the darkness, the correspondent sat with nerves keyed high waiting to hear the pickets open fire on a night attack.

kind

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

From this reading Bits of cinder floated in it, but Coleman rejoiced and was kind to the dragoman.

laboured

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

From this reading A ray of light penetrated the mind of the dragoman and he laboured assiduously with wet fuel until he had accomplished a tin mug of coffee.

lee

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

light

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

From this reading A ray of light penetrated the mind of the dragoman and he laboured assiduously with wet fuel until he had accomplished a tin mug of coffee.

listened

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

macintosh

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A ray of light penetrated the mind of the dragoman and he laboured assiduously with wet fuel until he had accomplished a tin mug of coffee.

monotony

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

From this reading The night was of cruel monotony.

moodily

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

mug

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

From this reading A ray of light penetrated the mind of the dragoman and he laboured assiduously with wet fuel until he had accomplished a tin mug of coffee.

nerves

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

From this reading Afflicted by the wind and the darkness, the correspondent sat with nerves keyed high waiting to hear the pickets open fire on a night attack.

night

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

From this reading The night was of cruel monotony.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

old

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Afflicted by the wind and the darkness, the correspondent sat with nerves keyed high waiting to hear the pickets open fire on a night attack.

penetrated

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

From this reading A ray of light penetrated the mind of the dragoman and he laboured assiduously with wet fuel until he had accomplished a tin mug of coffee.

pickets

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

From this reading Afflicted by the wind and the darkness, the correspondent sat with nerves keyed high waiting to hear the pickets open fire on a night attack.

ray

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

From this reading A ray of light penetrated the mind of the dragoman and he laboured assiduously with wet fuel until he had accomplished a tin mug of coffee.

rejoiced

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

From this reading Bits of cinder floated in it, but Coleman rejoiced and was kind to the dragoman.

sat

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

smoked

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

spent

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

tin

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

From this reading A ray of light penetrated the mind of the dragoman and he laboured assiduously with wet fuel until he had accomplished a tin mug of coffee.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

tongues

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading A ray of light penetrated the mind of the dragoman and he laboured assiduously with wet fuel until he had accomplished a tin mug of coffee.

waiting

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

From this reading Afflicted by the wind and the darkness, the correspondent sat with nerves keyed high waiting to hear the pickets open fire on a night attack.

walls

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

From this reading Coleman spent a long afternoon in the drizzle Enveloped in his macintosh he sat on a boulder in the lee of one of the old walls and moodily smoked cigars and listened to the ceaseless clatter of tongues.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Bits of cinder floated in it, but Coleman rejoiced and was kind to the dragoman.

wet

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

From this reading A ray of light penetrated the mind of the dragoman and he laboured assiduously with wet fuel until he had accomplished a tin mug of coffee.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Afflicted by the wind and the darkness, the correspondent sat with nerves keyed high waiting to hear the pickets open fire on a night attack.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A ray of light penetrated the mind of the dragoman and he laboured assiduously with wet fuel until he had accomplished a tin mug of coffee.