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Dora Deane
Dora Deane

Chapter XIII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/8 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
UNCLE NAT.
IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.
It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.
On this night, too, an old man in his silent room, sat thinking of _his_ home far beyond the shores of "Merrie England."
Near him lay a letter, Eugenia's letter, which was just received.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Dora Deane

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/8 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
UNCLE NAT.
Line 2
IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.
Line 3
It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.
Line 4
On this night, too, an old man in his silent room, sat thinking of _his_ home far beyond the shores of "Merrie England."
Line 5
Near him lay a letter, Eugenia's letter, which was just received.

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.”

Beyond preposition US /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading “On this night, too, an old man in his silent room, sat thinking of _his_ home far beyond the shores of "Merrie England."”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.”

Maiden noun, literary US /ˈmeɪdən/

a young woman who is not married

From this reading “It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.”

Silver noun US /silver/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.”

Thinking noun US /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On this night, too, an old man in his silent room, sat thinking of _his_ home far beyond the shores of "Merrie England."”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.”

All words in this reading · 78

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

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading On this night, too, an old man in his silent room, sat thinking of _his_ home far beyond the shores of "Merrie England."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

bay

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

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading On this night, too, an old man in his silent room, sat thinking of _his_ home far beyond the shores of "Merrie England."

blue-eyed

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

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

bride

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

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

burnished

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

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

Calcutta

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

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

domes

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

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

dusky

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

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

England

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

From this reading On this night, too, an old man in his silent room, sat thinking of _his_ home far beyond the shores of "Merrie England."

Eugenia's

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

From this reading Near him lay a letter, Eugenia's letter, which was just received.

far

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

From this reading On this night, too, an old man in his silent room, sat thinking of _his_ home far beyond the shores of "Merrie England."

flashed

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

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

gems

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

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

gleams

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

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

glorious

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

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

Hindoo

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

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

home

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

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading On this night, too, an old man in his silent room, sat thinking of _his_ home far beyond the shores of "Merrie England."

ITpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

just

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

From this reading Near him lay a letter, Eugenia's letter, which was just received.

lay

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

From this reading Near him lay a letter, Eugenia's letter, which was just received.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

letter

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

From this reading Near him lay a letter, Eugenia's letter, which was just received.

like

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

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

lofty

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

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

lover

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

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

maidennoun, literaryUS /ˈmeɪdən/

a young woman who is not married

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

man

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

From this reading On this night, too, an old man in his silent room, sat thinking of _his_ home far beyond the shores of "Merrie England."

Merrie

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

From this reading On this night, too, an old man in his silent room, sat thinking of _his_ home far beyond the shores of "Merrie England."

minarets

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

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

moonbeams

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

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

moonlight

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

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

NAT

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

From this reading UNCLE NAT.

Near

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

From this reading Near him lay a letter, Eugenia's letter, which was just received.

night

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

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

old

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

From this reading On this night, too, an old man in his silent room, sat thinking of _his_ home far beyond the shores of "Merrie England."

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

received

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

From this reading Near him lay a letter, Eugenia's letter, which was just received.

room

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

From this reading On this night, too, an old man in his silent room, sat thinking of _his_ home far beyond the shores of "Merrie England."

sat

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

From this reading On this night, too, an old man in his silent room, sat thinking of _his_ home far beyond the shores of "Merrie England."

scarlet

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

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

shone

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

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

shores

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

From this reading On this night, too, an old man in his silent room, sat thinking of _his_ home far beyond the shores of "Merrie England."

side

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

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

silent

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

From this reading On this night, too, an old man in his silent room, sat thinking of _his_ home far beyond the shores of "Merrie England."

silver

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

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

sleeping

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

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

soldier

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

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

sparkling

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

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

tale

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

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

talked

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

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

thinkingnounUS /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On this night, too, an old man in his silent room, sat thinking of _his_ home far beyond the shores of "Merrie England."

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading On this night, too, an old man in his silent room, sat thinking of _his_ home far beyond the shores of "Merrie England."

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

too

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

From this reading On this night, too, an old man in his silent room, sat thinking of _his_ home far beyond the shores of "Merrie England."

UNCLE

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

From this reading UNCLE NAT.

uniform

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

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

waters

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

From this reading IT was a glorious moonlight night, and, like gleams of burnished silver, the moonbeams flashed from the lofty domes and minarets of Calcutta, or shone like sparkling gems on the sleeping waters of the bay.

wearing

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

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was a night when the Hindoo lover told his tale to the dusky maiden at his side, and the soldier, wearing the scarlet uniform, talked to his blue-eyed bride of the home across the waters, which she had left to be with him.