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After London
After London

Chapter XIV

Cover illustration for After London
Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.
The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.
There was no scenery whatever.
Aurora had selected the Antigone.
There were not many dramatists from whom to choose, for so many English writers, once famous, had dropped out of knowledge and disappeared.
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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.

After London

Chapter XIV

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.
Line 2
The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.
Line 3
There was no scenery whatever.
Line 4
Aurora had selected the Antigone.
Line 5
There were not many dramatists from whom to choose, for so many English writers, once famous, had dropped out of knowledge and disappeared.

Learner Dictionary

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

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.”

Below preposition US /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading “The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.”

Choose noun US /choose/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There were not many dramatists from whom to choose, for so many English writers, once famous, had dropped out of knowledge and disappeared.”

Disappeared noun US /ˈdisappeared/

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

From this reading “There were not many dramatists from whom to choose, for so many English writers, once famous, had dropped out of knowledge and disappeared.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There were not many dramatists from whom to choose, for so many English writers, once famous, had dropped out of knowledge and disappeared.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.”

Stockade noun US /ˈstockade/

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

From this reading “The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.”

Whatever determiner US /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading “There was no scenery whatever.”

All words in this reading · 74

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 FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

actors

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

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

air

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

From this reading THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

Antigone

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

From this reading Aurora had selected the Antigone.

appeared

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

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

arbour

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

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.

Aurora

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

From this reading Aurora had selected the Antigone.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

box-hedge

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

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

choosenounUS /choose/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There were not many dramatists from whom to choose, for so many English writers, once famous, had dropped out of knowledge and disappeared.

day

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

From this reading THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.

disappearednounUS /ˈdisappeared/

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

From this reading There were not many dramatists from whom to choose, for so many English writers, once famous, had dropped out of knowledge and disappeared.

drama

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

From this reading THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.

dramatists

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

From this reading There were not many dramatists from whom to choose, for so many English writers, once famous, had dropped out of knowledge and disappeared.

dropped

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

From this reading There were not many dramatists from whom to choose, for so many English writers, once famous, had dropped out of knowledge and disappeared.

English

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

From this reading There were not many dramatists from whom to choose, for so many English writers, once famous, had dropped out of knowledge and disappeared.

famous

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

From this reading There were not many dramatists from whom to choose, for so many English writers, once famous, had dropped out of knowledge and disappeared.

FEAST

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

From this reading THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There were not many dramatists from whom to choose, for so many English writers, once famous, had dropped out of knowledge and disappeared.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.

gardens

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

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

green

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

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Aurora had selected the Antigone.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.

inner

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

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

issuing

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

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

knowledge

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

From this reading There were not many dramatists from whom to choose, for so many English writers, once famous, had dropped out of knowledge and disappeared.

many

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

From this reading There were not many dramatists from whom to choose, for so many English writers, once famous, had dropped out of knowledge and disappeared.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading There was no scenery whatever.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading There were not many dramatists from whom to choose, for so many English writers, once famous, had dropped out of knowledge and disappeared.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

off

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

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

once

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

From this reading There were not many dramatists from whom to choose, for so many English writers, once famous, had dropped out of knowledge and disappeared.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.

other

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

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

out

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

From this reading There were not many dramatists from whom to choose, for so many English writers, once famous, had dropped out of knowledge and disappeared.

passing

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

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

performed

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

From this reading THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.

sat

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

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

scenery

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

From this reading There was no scenery whatever.

selected

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

From this reading Aurora had selected the Antigone.

side

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

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

slope

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

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading There were not many dramatists from whom to choose, for so many English writers, once famous, had dropped out of knowledge and disappeared.

Sophocles

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

From this reading THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.

spectators

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

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

stockadenounUS /ˈstockade/

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

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

ten

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

From this reading THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.

terrace

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

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.

theatre

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

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

There

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

From this reading There was no scenery whatever.

thick

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

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

tier

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

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading There were not many dramatists from whom to choose, for so many English writers, once famous, had dropped out of knowledge and disappeared.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

wall

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

From this reading The theatre was in the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade; the spectators sat on the slope, tier above tier; the actors appeared upon a green terrace below, issuing from an arbour and passing off behind a thick box-hedge on the other side of the terrace.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading There were not many dramatists from whom to choose, for so many English writers, once famous, had dropped out of knowledge and disappeared.

whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading There was no scenery whatever.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading There were not many dramatists from whom to choose, for so many English writers, once famous, had dropped out of knowledge and disappeared.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE FEAST At ten in the morning next day the feast began with a drama from Sophocles, which was performed in the open air.

writers

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

From this reading There were not many dramatists from whom to choose, for so many English writers, once famous, had dropped out of knowledge and disappeared.