Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05
An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05 is here in full — 172 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
During these events Nitetis had been sitting alone in her house on the hanging-gardens, absorbed in the saddest thoughts.
To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.
Most of the inhabitants of the harem saw her to-day for the first time, and instead of raising their eyes to heaven, had fixed them on her during the ceremony.
The inquisitive, malevolent gaze of her rivals, and the loud music resounding from the city, disquieted and distracted her mind.
Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05 is here in full — 172 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
During these events Nitetis had been sitting alone in her house on the hanging-gardens, absorbed in the saddest thoughts.
Line 2
To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.
Line 3
Most of the inhabitants of the harem saw her to-day for the first time, and instead of raising their eyes to heaven, had fixed them on her during the ceremony.
Line 4
The inquisitive, malevolent gaze of her rivals, and the loud music resounding from the city, disquieted and distracted her mind.
Line 5
Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.
/hɜːr θɔːts rɪˈvɜːrtɪd ˈpeɪnfəli tuː ðə ˈsɑːləm ˈsʌltri ˈstɪlnəs ʌv ðə dʒaɪˈɡæntɪk ˈtempəlz ɪn hɜːr ˈneɪtɪv lænd wer ʃiː hæd ˈwɜːrʃəpt ðə ɡɑːdz ʌv hɜːr ˈtʃaɪldhʊd soʊ ˈɜːrnəstli æt ðə saɪd ʌv hɜːr ˈmʌðər ənd ˈsɪstər ənd mʌtʃ æz ʃiː lɔːŋd dʒʌst ɑːn ðɪs deɪ tuː preɪ fɔːr ˈblesɪŋz ɑːn hɜːr bɪˈlʌvd kɪŋ ɔːl hɜːr ˈefərts wɜːr ɪn veɪn ʃiː kʊd ərˈaʊz noʊ dɪˈvoʊʃənəl ˈfiːlɪŋ/

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

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

arouse verb US /ərˈaʊz/

call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)

From this reading “Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.”

devotional adjective US /dɪˈvoʊʃənəl/

relating to worship

From this reading “Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.”

harem noun US /ˈherəm/

living quarters reserved for wives and concubines and female relatives in a Muslim household

From this reading “Most of the inhabitants of the harem saw her to-day for the first time, and instead of raising their eyes to heaven, had fixed them on her during the ceremony.”

malevolent adjective US /məˈlevələnt/

wishing or appearing to wish evil to others; arising from intense ill will or hatred

From this reading “The inquisitive, malevolent gaze of her rivals, and the loud music resounding from the city, disquieted and distracted her mind.”

resounding adjective US /riˈsaʊndɪŋ/

characterized by resonance

From this reading “The inquisitive, malevolent gaze of her rivals, and the loud music resounding from the city, disquieted and distracted her mind.”

reverted verb US /rɪˈvɜːrtɪd/

past form of “revert” — go back to a previous state

From this reading “Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.”

saddest adjective US /ˈsædəst/

superlative of “sad” — experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness

From this reading “During these events Nitetis had been sitting alone in her house on the hanging-gardens, absorbed in the saddest thoughts.”

sultry adjective US /ˈsʌltri/

sexually exciting or gratifying

From this reading “Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.”

All words in this reading · 107

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

absorbedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbd/

giving or marked by complete attention to

From this reading During these events Nitetis had been sitting alone in her house on the hanging-gardens, absorbed in the saddest thoughts.

airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading During these events Nitetis had been sitting alone in her house on the hanging-gardens, absorbed in the saddest thoughts.

amidstprepositionUS /əˈmɪdst/

in the middle of; surrounded by

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

arouseverbUS /ərˈaʊz/

call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading During these events Nitetis had been sitting alone in her house on the hanging-gardens, absorbed in the saddest thoughts.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

belovedadjectiveUS /bɪˈlʌvd/

dearly loved

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

blessingsnounUS /ˈblesɪŋz/

plural of “blessing” — the formal act of approving

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

ceremonynounUS /ˈserəmoʊni/

a formal event performed on a special occasion

From this reading Most of the inhabitants of the harem saw her to-day for the first time, and instead of raising their eyes to heaven, had fixed them on her during the ceremony.

childhoodnounUS /ˈtʃaɪldhʊd/

the time of person's life when they are a child

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

citynounUS /ˈsɪti/

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading The inquisitive, malevolent gaze of her rivals, and the loud music resounding from the city, disquieted and distracted her mind.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

devotionaladjectiveUS /dɪˈvoʊʃənəl/

relating to worship

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

disquietedadjective

afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief

From this reading The inquisitive, malevolent gaze of her rivals, and the loud music resounding from the city, disquieted and distracted her mind.

distractedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstræktəd/

having the attention diverted especially because of anxiety

From this reading The inquisitive, malevolent gaze of her rivals, and the loud music resounding from the city, disquieted and distracted her mind.

DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading During these events Nitetis had been sitting alone in her house on the hanging-gardens, absorbed in the saddest thoughts.

earnestlyadverbUS /ˈɜːrnəstli/

in a serious manner

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

earsnounUS /ɪrz/

plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

effortsnounUS /ˈefərts/

plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

eventsnounUS /ɪˈvents/

plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading During these events Nitetis had been sitting alone in her house on the hanging-gardens, absorbed in the saddest thoughts.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading Most of the inhabitants of the harem saw her to-day for the first time, and instead of raising their eyes to heaven, had fixed them on her during the ceremony.

feelingnounUS /ˈfiːlɪŋ/

the experiencing of affective and emotional states

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

fire-altars

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

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

fixedadjectiveUS /fɪkst/

(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value

From this reading Most of the inhabitants of the harem saw her to-day for the first time, and instead of raising their eyes to heaven, had fixed them on her during the ceremony.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The inquisitive, malevolent gaze of her rivals, and the loud music resounding from the city, disquieted and distracted her mind.

gazenounUS /ɡeɪz/

a long fixed look

From this reading The inquisitive, malevolent gaze of her rivals, and the loud music resounding from the city, disquieted and distracted her mind.

generaladjectiveUS /ˈdʒenərəl/

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

giganticadjectiveUS /dʒaɪˈɡæntɪk/

so exceedingly large or extensive as to suggest a giant or mammoth

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

godsnounUS /ɡɑːdz/

plural of “god” — the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading During these events Nitetis had been sitting alone in her house on the hanging-gardens, absorbed in the saddest thoughts.

hanging-gardens

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

From this reading During these events Nitetis had been sitting alone in her house on the hanging-gardens, absorbed in the saddest thoughts.

haremnounUS /ˈherəm/

living quarters reserved for wives and concubines and female relatives in a Muslim household

From this reading Most of the inhabitants of the harem saw her to-day for the first time, and instead of raising their eyes to heaven, had fixed them on her during the ceremony.

heavennounUS /ˈhevən/

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading Most of the inhabitants of the harem saw her to-day for the first time, and instead of raising their eyes to heaven, had fixed them on her during the ceremony.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading During these events Nitetis had been sitting alone in her house on the hanging-gardens, absorbed in the saddest thoughts.

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading During these events Nitetis had been sitting alone in her house on the hanging-gardens, absorbed in the saddest thoughts.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading During these events Nitetis had been sitting alone in her house on the hanging-gardens, absorbed in the saddest thoughts.

inhabitantsnounUS /ɪnˈhæbətənts/

plural of “inhabitant” — a person who inhabits a particular place

From this reading Most of the inhabitants of the harem saw her to-day for the first time, and instead of raising their eyes to heaven, had fixed them on her during the ceremony.

inquisitiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkwɪzɪtɪv/

showing curiosity

From this reading The inquisitive, malevolent gaze of her rivals, and the loud music resounding from the city, disquieted and distracted her mind.

insteadadverbUS /ˌɪnˈsted/

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading Most of the inhabitants of the harem saw her to-day for the first time, and instead of raising their eyes to heaven, had fixed them on her during the ceremony.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

kingnounUS /kɪŋ/

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

king'snounUS /kɪŋz/

possessive form of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

landnounUS /lænd/

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

longedverbUS /lɔːŋd/

past form of “long” — desire strongly or persistently

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

loudadjectiveUS /laʊd/

characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity

From this reading The inquisitive, malevolent gaze of her rivals, and the loud music resounding from the city, disquieted and distracted her mind.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

malevolentadjectiveUS /məˈlevələnt/

wishing or appearing to wish evil to others; arising from intense ill will or hatred

From this reading The inquisitive, malevolent gaze of her rivals, and the loud music resounding from the city, disquieted and distracted her mind.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading The inquisitive, malevolent gaze of her rivals, and the loud music resounding from the city, disquieted and distracted her mind.

MostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading Most of the inhabitants of the harem saw her to-day for the first time, and instead of raising their eyes to heaven, had fixed them on her during the ceremony.

mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

musicnounUS /ˈmjuːzɪk/

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading The inquisitive, malevolent gaze of her rivals, and the loud music resounding from the city, disquieted and distracted her mind.

nativeadjectiveUS /ˈneɪtɪv/

characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

Nitetis

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

From this reading During these events Nitetis had been sitting alone in her house on the hanging-gardens, absorbed in the saddest thoughts.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading During these events Nitetis had been sitting alone in her house on the hanging-gardens, absorbed in the saddest thoughts.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

painfullyadverbUS /ˈpeɪnfəli/

unpleasantly

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

partnounUS /pɑːrt/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

prayverbUS /preɪ/

address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

raisingnounUS /ˈreɪzɪŋ/

the event of something being raised upward

From this reading Most of the inhabitants of the harem saw her to-day for the first time, and instead of raising their eyes to heaven, had fixed them on her during the ceremony.

religiousadjectiveUS /rɪˈlɪdʒəs/

concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

resoundingadjectiveUS /riˈsaʊndɪŋ/

characterized by resonance

From this reading The inquisitive, malevolent gaze of her rivals, and the loud music resounding from the city, disquieted and distracted her mind.

revertedverbUS /rɪˈvɜːrtɪd/

past form of “revert” — go back to a previous state

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

rivalsnounUS /ˈraɪvəlz/

plural of “rival” — the contestant you hope to defeat

From this reading The inquisitive, malevolent gaze of her rivals, and the loud music resounding from the city, disquieted and distracted her mind.

sacrificenounUS /ˈsækrəfaɪs/

the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc.

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

saddestadjectiveUS /ˈsædəst/

superlative of “sad” — experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness

From this reading During these events Nitetis had been sitting alone in her house on the hanging-gardens, absorbed in the saddest thoughts.

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading Most of the inhabitants of the harem saw her to-day for the first time, and instead of raising their eyes to heaven, had fixed them on her during the ceremony.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

sidenounUS /saɪd/

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

sisternounUS /ˈsɪstər/

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading During these events Nitetis had been sitting alone in her house on the hanging-gardens, absorbed in the saddest thoughts.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

solemnadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləm/

dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

songsnounUS /sɔːŋz/

plural of “song” — a short musical composition with words

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

soundnounUS /saʊnd/

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/

(poetic) tranquil silence

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

sultryadjectiveUS /ˈsʌltri/

sexually exciting or gratifying

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

templesnounUS /ˈtempəlz/

plural of “temple” — place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading During these events Nitetis had been sitting alone in her house on the hanging-gardens, absorbed in the saddest thoughts.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Most of the inhabitants of the harem saw her to-day for the first time, and instead of raising their eyes to heaven, had fixed them on her during the ceremony.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Most of the inhabitants of the harem saw her to-day for the first time, and instead of raising their eyes to heaven, had fixed them on her during the ceremony.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading During these events Nitetis had been sitting alone in her house on the hanging-gardens, absorbed in the saddest thoughts.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

thoughtsnounUS /θɔːts/

plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading During these events Nitetis had been sitting alone in her house on the hanging-gardens, absorbed in the saddest thoughts.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

To-day

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

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

triedadjectiveUS /traɪd/

tested and proved useful or correct

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

vainadjectiveUS /veɪn/

characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

wivesnounUS /waɪvz/

plural of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading To-day, for the first time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

worshippedadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrʃəpt/

regarded with deep or rapturous love (especially as if for a god)

From this reading Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional feeling.

Chapter 2 of An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05 by Georg Ebers holds 172 sentences, grouped into 35 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 2 of An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05 contain?

Chapter 2 holds 172 sentences of An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05, unabridged, divided into 35 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05 by Georg Ebers exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 172 sentences, grouped into 35 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 2 of An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05?

Work through the 35 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 35 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05

Common questions about reading An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05 by Georg Ebers on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05?

Yes. All 739 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #5454 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #5454, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05 take to read?

About 61 minutes of reading across 148 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05 section by section

How to work through An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 3 chapters of An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05 to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05

Words and structures a reader meets early in An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Nitetis
A word that appears in the opening chapter of An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Removed
A word that appears in the opening chapter of An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Country-house
A word that appears in the opening chapter of An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Hanging-gardens
A word that appears in the opening chapter of An Egyptian Princess — Volume 05; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.