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Burning Sands
Burning Sands

Chapter XVI · At Christmastide

Chapter XVI of Burning Sands, “At Christmastide,” is here in full — 131 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.
He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.
In this atmosphere of confidence Daniel thrived and his labours prospered.
He was amused by his new insight into the Egyptian mind; and he enjoyed his frequent rambles through those quarters of the city which are unknown to the European visitor.
Already he had native friends in all parts of Cairofrom scavengers to Pashas; and in many of the bazaars he was now greeted as a guest by the hospitable merchants.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Burning Sands

Chapter XVI · At Christmastide

Chapter XVI of Burning Sands, “At Christmastide,” is here in full — 131 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.
/ˈdʊrɪŋ ðə ˈensuːɪŋ tuː ɔːr θriː wiːks ˈdænjəl wɑːz əbˈzɔːrbd ɪn ðə ˌɔːrɡənəˈzeɪʃən ʌv hɪz wɜːrk ənd ɪt wɑːz nɑːt ənˈtɪl ðə feˈstɪvətiz ʌv ˈkrɪsməs ˌɪntərˈʌptɪd hɪz ruːˈtiːn ðæt hiː wɑːz ˈeɪbəl tuː lʊk əˈbaʊt hɪm ənd teɪk hɪz ˈberɪŋz/
Line 2
He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.
/hiː hæd faʊnd ðə wɜːrk ekˈstriːmli ˈɪntrəstɪŋ ənd ɔːlˈredi hiː kʊd siː sʌm ˌɪndəˈkeɪʃənz ðæt hɪz pɔɪnt ʌv vjuː wɑːz ˈbiːɪŋ əˈdɑːptɪd ɪn ðə ˈdʒenərəl ˈpɑːləsi ʌv ðə ˈrezɪdənsi waɪl ɪn spəˈsɪfɪk ˈkeɪsəz lɔːrd bler ækˈseptɪd hɪz ædˈvaɪs wɪð ˈveri ˈlɪtəl ˌhezəˈteɪʃən/
Line 3
In this atmosphere of confidence Daniel thrived and his labours prospered.
Line 4
He was amused by his new insight into the Egyptian mind; and he enjoyed his frequent rambles through those quarters of the city which are unknown to the European visitor.
Line 5
Already he had native friends in all parts of Cairofrom scavengers to Pashas; and in many of the bazaars he was now greeted as a guest by the hospitable merchants.

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.

bazaars noun US /bəˈzɑːrz/

plural of “bazaar” — a shop where a variety of goods are sold

From this reading “Already he had native friends in all parts of Cairo—from scavengers to Pashas; and in many of the bazaars he was now greeted as a guest by the hospitable merchants.”

ensuing adjective US /ˈensuːɪŋ/

following immediately and as a result of what went before

From this reading “During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.”

festivities noun US /feˈstɪvətiz/

plural of “festivity” — any joyous diversion

From this reading “During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.”

prospered verb US /ˈprɑːspərd/

past form of “prosper” — make steady progress; be at the high point in one's career or reach a high point in historical significance or importance

From this reading “In this atmosphere of confidence Daniel thrived and his labours prospered.”

Residency noun US /ˈrezɪdənsi/

the act of dwelling in a place

From this reading “He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.”

scavengers noun US /ˈskævəndʒərz/

plural of “scavenger” — a chemical agent that is added to a chemical mixture to counteract the effects of impurities

From this reading “Already he had native friends in all parts of Cairo—from scavengers to Pashas; and in many of the bazaars he was now greeted as a guest by the hospitable merchants.”

specific adjective US /spəˈsɪfɪk/

(sometimes followed by “to”) applying to or characterized by or distinguishing something particular or special or unique

From this reading “He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.”

thrived verb US /θraɪvd/

past form of “thrive” — grow vigorously

From this reading “In this atmosphere of confidence Daniel thrived and his labours prospered.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

extremely interesting adverb + adjective

In this reading “He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.”

three weeks noun + noun counted as “three week”

In this reading “During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.”

little hesitation adjective + noun

In this reading “He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.”

all parts adjective + noun

In this reading “Already he had native friends in all parts of Cairo—from scavengers to Pashas; and in many of the bazaars he was now greeted as a guest by the hospitable merchants.”

some indications adjective + noun counted as “some indication”

In this reading “He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.”

look about verb + particle

In this reading “During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.”

All words in this reading · 101

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Already he had native friends in all parts of Cairo—from scavengers to Pashas; and in many of the bazaars he was now greeted as a guest by the hospitable merchants.

ableadjectiveUS /ˈeɪbəl/

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

absorbedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbd/

giving or marked by complete attention to

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

acceptedadjectiveUS /ækˈseptɪd/

generally approved or compelling recognition

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

adoptedadjectiveUS /əˈdɑːptɪd/

acquired as your own by free choice

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

advicenounUS /ædˈvaɪs/

a proposal for an appropriate course of action

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

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 Already he had native friends in all parts of Cairo—from scavengers to Pashas; and in many of the bazaars he was now greeted as a guest by the hospitable merchants.

alreadyadverbUS /ɔːlˈredi/

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

amusedadjectiveUS /əˈmjuːzd/

pleasantly occupied

From this reading He was amused by his new insight into the Egyptian mind; and he enjoyed his frequent rambles through those quarters of the city which are unknown to the European visitor.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading He was amused by his new insight into the Egyptian mind; and he enjoyed his frequent rambles through those quarters of the city which are unknown to the European visitor.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Already he had native friends in all parts of Cairo—from scavengers to Pashas; and in many of the bazaars he was now greeted as a guest by the hospitable merchants.

atmospherenounUS /ˈætməsfɪr/

a particular environment or surrounding influence

From this reading In this atmosphere of confidence Daniel thrived and his labours prospered.

bazaarsnounUS /bəˈzɑːrz/

plural of “bazaar” — a shop where a variety of goods are sold

From this reading Already he had native friends in all parts of Cairo—from scavengers to Pashas; and in many of the bazaars he was now greeted as a guest by the hospitable merchants.

bearingsnounUS /ˈberɪŋz/

plural of “bearing” — relevant relation or interconnection

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

BlairnounUS /bler/

British statesman who became prime minister in 1997 (born in 1953)

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He was amused by his new insight into the Egyptian mind; and he enjoyed his frequent rambles through those quarters of the city which are unknown to the European visitor.

CaironounUS /ˈkaɪroʊ/

a town at the southern tip of Illinois at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers

From this reading Already he had native friends in all parts of Cairo—from scavengers to Pashas; and in many of the bazaars he was now greeted as a guest by the hospitable merchants.

casesnounUS /ˈkeɪsəz/

plural of “case” — an occurrence of something

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

ChristmasnounUS /ˈkrɪsməs/

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

citynounUS /ˈsɪti/

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

From this reading He was amused by his new insight into the Egyptian mind; and he enjoyed his frequent rambles through those quarters of the city which are unknown to the European visitor.

confidencenounUS /ˈkɑːnfədəns/

freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities

From this reading In this atmosphere of confidence Daniel thrived and his labours prospered.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

DanielnounUS /ˈdænjəl/

(Old Testament) a youth who was taken into the court of Nebuchadnezzar and given divine protection when thrown into a den of lions (6th century BC)

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

EgyptiannounUS /ɪˈdʒɪpʃən/

a native or inhabitant of Egypt

From this reading He was amused by his new insight into the Egyptian mind; and he enjoyed his frequent rambles through those quarters of the city which are unknown to the European visitor.

enjoyedverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪd/

past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in

From this reading He was amused by his new insight into the Egyptian mind; and he enjoyed his frequent rambles through those quarters of the city which are unknown to the European visitor.

ensuingadjectiveUS /ˈensuːɪŋ/

following immediately and as a result of what went before

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

EuropeannounUS /ˌjʊrəˈpiːən/

a native or inhabitant of Europe

From this reading He was amused by his new insight into the Egyptian mind; and he enjoyed his frequent rambles through those quarters of the city which are unknown to the European visitor.

extremelyadverbUS /ekˈstriːmli/

to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

festivitiesnounUS /feˈstɪvətiz/

plural of “festivity” — any joyous diversion

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

frequentverbUS /ˈfriːkwənt/

do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client of

From this reading He was amused by his new insight into the Egyptian mind; and he enjoyed his frequent rambles through those quarters of the city which are unknown to the European visitor.

friendsnounUS /frendz/

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading Already he had native friends in all parts of Cairo—from scavengers to Pashas; and in many of the bazaars he was now greeted as a guest by the hospitable merchants.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Already he had native friends in all parts of Cairo—from scavengers to Pashas; and in many of the bazaars he was now greeted as a guest by the hospitable merchants.

generaladjectiveUS /ˈdʒenərəl/

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

greetedverbUS /ˈɡriːtəd/

past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone

From this reading Already he had native friends in all parts of Cairo—from scavengers to Pashas; and in many of the bazaars he was now greeted as a guest by the hospitable merchants.

guestnounUS /ɡest/

a visitor to whom hospitality is extended

From this reading Already he had native friends in all parts of Cairo—from scavengers to Pashas; and in many of the bazaars he was now greeted as a guest by the hospitable merchants.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

hesitationnounUS /ˌhezəˈteɪʃən/

indecision in speech or action

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

hospitableadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːˈspɪtəbəl/

favorable to life and growth

From this reading Already he had native friends in all parts of Cairo—from scavengers to Pashas; and in many of the bazaars he was now greeted as a guest by the hospitable merchants.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

indicationsnounUS /ˌɪndəˈkeɪʃənz/

plural of “indication” — something that serves to indicate or suggest

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

insightnounUS /ˈɪnsaɪt/

clear or deep perception of a situation

From this reading He was amused by his new insight into the Egyptian mind; and he enjoyed his frequent rambles through those quarters of the city which are unknown to the European visitor.

interestingadjectiveUS /ˈɪntrəstɪŋ/

arousing or holding the attention

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

interruptedadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈʌptɪd/

discontinued temporarily

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He was amused by his new insight into the Egyptian mind; and he enjoyed his frequent rambles through those quarters of the city which are unknown to the European visitor.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

labours

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

From this reading In this atmosphere of confidence Daniel thrived and his labours prospered.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

LordnounUS /lɔːrd/

terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Already he had native friends in all parts of Cairo—from scavengers to Pashas; and in many of the bazaars he was now greeted as a guest by the hospitable merchants.

merchantsnounUS /ˈmɜːrtʃənts/

plural of “merchant” — a businessperson engaged in retail trade

From this reading Already he had native friends in all parts of Cairo—from scavengers to Pashas; and in many of the bazaars he was now greeted as a guest by the hospitable merchants.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading He was amused by his new insight into the Egyptian mind; and he enjoyed his frequent rambles through those quarters of the city which are unknown to the European visitor.

nativeadjectiveUS /ˈneɪtɪv/

characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin

From this reading Already he had native friends in all parts of Cairo—from scavengers to Pashas; and in many of the bazaars he was now greeted as a guest by the hospitable merchants.

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

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

From this reading He was amused by his new insight into the Egyptian mind; and he enjoyed his frequent rambles through those quarters of the city which are unknown to the European visitor.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Already he had native friends in all parts of Cairo—from scavengers to Pashas; and in many of the bazaars he was now greeted as a guest by the hospitable merchants.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

organizationnounUS /ˌɔːrɡənəˈzeɪʃən/

a group of people who work together

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

partsnounUS /pɑːrts/

the local environment

From this reading Already he had native friends in all parts of Cairo—from scavengers to Pashas; and in many of the bazaars he was now greeted as a guest by the hospitable merchants.

Pashas

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

From this reading Already he had native friends in all parts of Cairo—from scavengers to Pashas; and in many of the bazaars he was now greeted as a guest by the hospitable merchants.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

policynounUS /ˈpɑːləsi/

a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

prosperedverbUS /ˈprɑːspərd/

past form of “prosper” — make steady progress; be at the high point in one's career or reach a high point in historical significance or importance

From this reading In this atmosphere of confidence Daniel thrived and his labours prospered.

quartersnounUS /ˈkwɔːrtərz/

housing available for people to live in

From this reading He was amused by his new insight into the Egyptian mind; and he enjoyed his frequent rambles through those quarters of the city which are unknown to the European visitor.

rambles

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

From this reading He was amused by his new insight into the Egyptian mind; and he enjoyed his frequent rambles through those quarters of the city which are unknown to the European visitor.

ResidencynounUS /ˈrezɪdənsi/

the act of dwelling in a place

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

routinenounUS /ruːˈtiːn/

an unvarying or habitual method or procedure

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

scavengersnounUS /ˈskævəndʒərz/

plural of “scavenger” — a chemical agent that is added to a chemical mixture to counteract the effects of impurities

From this reading Already he had native friends in all parts of Cairo—from scavengers to Pashas; and in many of the bazaars he was now greeted as a guest by the hospitable merchants.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

specificadjectiveUS /spəˈsɪfɪk/

(sometimes followed by “to”) applying to or characterized by or distinguishing something particular or special or unique

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading In this atmosphere of confidence Daniel thrived and his labours prospered.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading He was amused by his new insight into the Egyptian mind; and he enjoyed his frequent rambles through those quarters of the city which are unknown to the European visitor.

threenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

thrivedverbUS /θraɪvd/

past form of “thrive” — grow vigorously

From this reading In this atmosphere of confidence Daniel thrived and his labours prospered.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading He was amused by his new insight into the Egyptian mind; and he enjoyed his frequent rambles through those quarters of the city which are unknown to the European visitor.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

unknownadjectiveUS /ənˈnoʊn/

not known

From this reading He was amused by his new insight into the Egyptian mind; and he enjoyed his frequent rambles through those quarters of the city which are unknown to the European visitor.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

viewnounUS /vjuː/

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

visitornounUS /ˈvɪzɪtər/

someone who visits

From this reading He was amused by his new insight into the Egyptian mind; and he enjoyed his frequent rambles through those quarters of the city which are unknown to the European visitor.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

weeksnounUS /wiːks/

plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading He was amused by his new insight into the Egyptian mind; and he enjoyed his frequent rambles through those quarters of the city which are unknown to the European visitor.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He had found the work extremely interesting, and already he could see some indications that his point of view was being adopted in the general policy of the Residency, while in specific cases Lord Blair accepted his advice with very little hesitation.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading During the ensuing two or three weeks Daniel was absorbed in the organization of his work, and it was not until the festivities of Christmas interrupted his routine, that he was able to look about him and take his bearings.

Chapter 16 of Burning Sands by Arthur E. P. Brome (Arthur Edward Pearse Brome) Weigall holds 131 sentences, grouped into 27 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 16 of Burning Sands contain?

Chapter 16 holds 131 sentences of Burning Sands, unabridged, divided into 27 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 16 of Burning Sands by Arthur E. P. Brome (Arthur Edward Pearse Brome) Weigall exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 131 sentences, grouped into 27 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 16 of Burning Sands?

Work through the 27 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 27 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 16 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 16 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 Burning Sands

Common questions about reading Burning Sands by Arthur E. P. Brome (Arthur Edward Pearse Brome) Weigall on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Burning Sands?

Yes. All 5443 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #34978 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Burning Sands is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #34978, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Burning Sands take to read?

About 453 minutes of reading across 1089 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Burning Sands section by section

How to work through Burning Sands section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 33 chapters of Burning Sands 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 Burning Sands

Words and structures a reader meets early in Burning Sands, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Burning Sands; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Madeline
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Burning Sands; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Desert
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Burning Sands; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Illustrated
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Burning Sands; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.