Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
A Tale of Two Cities
A Tale of Two Cities

Book III · Chapter XIII · Fifty-two

Read and study this complete chapter with synchronized narration, pronunciation, and vocabulary support.

In the black prison of the Conciergerie, the doomed of the day awaited their fate.

Fifty-two, reading 1: In the black prison of the Conciergerie, the doomed of the day awaited their fate.
Context Illustration Reading 1/66 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
In the black prison of the Conciergerie, the doomed of the day awaited their fate.
They were in number as the weeks of the year.
Fifty-two were to roll that afternoon on the life-tide of the city to the boundless everlasting sea.
Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.
Two score and twelve were told off.
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.

A Tale of Two Cities

Book III · Chapter XIII · Fifty-two

Study this chapter through synchronized reading, listening, pronunciation, and contextual vocabulary.

Reading 1/66 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
In the black prison of the Conciergerie, the doomed of the day awaited their fate.
Line 2
They were in number as the weeks of the year.
Line 3
Fifty-two were to roll that afternoon on the life-tide of the city to the boundless everlasting sea.
Line 4
Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.
Line 5
Two score and twelve were told off.

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.

afternoon noun US /ˌæftərˈnuːn/

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading “Fifty-two were to roll that afternoon on the life-tide of the city to the boundless everlasting sea.”

appointed verb, past participle US /əˈpɔɪntɪd/

officially assigned or selected to occupy a particular place

From this reading “Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.”

yesterday noun US /ˈjestərdeɪ/

the day immediately before today

From this reading “Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.”

All words in this reading · 54

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

afternoonnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːn/

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading Fifty-two were to roll that afternoon on the life-tide of the city to the boundless everlasting sea.

already

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

From this reading Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.

and

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

From this reading Two score and twelve were told off.

apart

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

From this reading Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.

appointedverb, past participleUS /əˈpɔɪntɪd/

officially assigned or selected to occupy a particular place

From this reading Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.

as

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

From this reading They were in number as the weeks of the year.

awaited

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

From this reading In the black prison of the Conciergerie, the doomed of the day awaited their fate.

Before

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

From this reading Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.

black

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

From this reading In the black prison of the Conciergerie, the doomed of the day awaited their fate.

bloodnounUS /blʌd/

The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.

From this reading Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.

boundless

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

From this reading Fifty-two were to roll that afternoon on the life-tide of the city to the boundless everlasting sea.

cells

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

From this reading Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.

city

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

From this reading Fifty-two were to roll that afternoon on the life-tide of the city to the boundless everlasting sea.

Conciergerie

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

From this reading In the black prison of the Conciergerie, the doomed of the day awaited their fate.

day

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

From this reading In the black prison of the Conciergerie, the doomed of the day awaited their fate.

doomed

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

From this reading In the black prison of the Conciergerie, the doomed of the day awaited their fate.

everlasting

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

From this reading Fifty-two were to roll that afternoon on the life-tide of the city to the boundless everlasting sea.

fate

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

From this reading In the black prison of the Conciergerie, the doomed of the day awaited their fate.

Fifty-two

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

From this reading Fifty-two were to roll that afternoon on the life-tide of the city to the boundless everlasting sea.

In

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

From this reading In the black prison of the Conciergerie, the doomed of the day awaited their fate.

into

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

From this reading Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.

life-tide

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

From this reading Fifty-two were to roll that afternoon on the life-tide of the city to the boundless everlasting sea.

mingle

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

From this reading Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.

new

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

From this reading Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.

number

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

From this reading They were in number as the weeks of the year.

occupants

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

From this reading Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.

of

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

From this reading In the black prison of the Conciergerie, the doomed of the day awaited their fate.

off

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

From this reading Two score and twelve were told off.

on

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

From this reading Fifty-two were to roll that afternoon on the life-tide of the city to the boundless everlasting sea.

prison

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

From this reading In the black prison of the Conciergerie, the doomed of the day awaited their fate.

quit

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

From this reading Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.

ran

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

From this reading Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.

roll

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

From this reading Fifty-two were to roll that afternoon on the life-tide of the city to the boundless everlasting sea.

score

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

From this reading Two score and twelve were told off.

sea

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

From this reading Fifty-two were to roll that afternoon on the life-tide of the city to the boundless everlasting sea.

set

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

From this reading Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.

spilled

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

From this reading Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.

that

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

From this reading Fifty-two were to roll that afternoon on the life-tide of the city to the boundless everlasting sea.

the

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

From this reading In the black prison of the Conciergerie, the doomed of the day awaited their fate.

their

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

From this reading In the black prison of the Conciergerie, the doomed of the day awaited their fate.

theirs

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

From this reading Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.

them

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

From this reading Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.

They

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

From this reading They were in number as the weeks of the year.

to

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

From this reading Fifty-two were to roll that afternoon on the life-tide of the city to the boundless everlasting sea.

to-morrow

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

From this reading Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.

told

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

From this reading Two score and twelve were told off.

twelve

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

From this reading Two score and twelve were told off.

Two

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

From this reading Two score and twelve were told off.

was

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

From this reading Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.

weeks

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

From this reading They were in number as the weeks of the year.

were

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

From this reading They were in number as the weeks of the year.

with

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

From this reading Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.

year

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

From this reading They were in number as the weeks of the year.

yesterdaynounUS /ˈjestərdeɪ/

the day immediately before today

From this reading Before their cells were quit of them, new occupants were appointed; before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday, the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set apart.