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Allan Quatermain
Allan Quatermain

Chapter XVII · Before the Statue

Cover illustration for Allan Quatermain
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.
Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.
Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry.
I gave the countersign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass.
Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.
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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.

Allan Quatermain

Chapter XVII · Before the Statue

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.
Line 2
Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.
Line 3
Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry.
Line 4
I gave the countersign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass.
Line 5
Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.

Learner Dictionary

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

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.”

Dead noun US /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “I gave the countersign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.”

All words in this reading · 65

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 It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.

Also

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

From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.

bodyguard

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

From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry.

by-entrance

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

From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.

capacity

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

From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.

challenge

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

From this reading Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry.

Chamber

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

From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.

City

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

From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.

cloud

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

From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.

countersign

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

From this reading I gave the countersign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass.

Curtis

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

From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.

deadnounUS /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.

evildoers

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

From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.

fierce

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

From this reading Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry.

Frowning

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

From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.

gave

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

From this reading I gave the countersign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass.

go

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

From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.

grounded

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

From this reading I gave the countersign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.

Henry

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

From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading I gave the countersign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I gave the countersign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.

lay

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

From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading I gave the countersign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass.

like

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

From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.

man

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

From this reading I gave the countersign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass.

met

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

From this reading Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.

night

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

From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry.

officers

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

From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.

Once

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

From this reading Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.

pass

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

From this reading I gave the countersign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass.

passages

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

From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.

Queens

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

From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.

rattling

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

From this reading Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.

Secretly

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

From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.

sentry

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

From this reading Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.

Sir

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

From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.

spear

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

From this reading I gave the countersign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.

threaded

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

From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.

Throne

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

From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.

Umslopogaas

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

From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.

unquestioned

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

From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I gave the countersign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.

way

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

From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry.