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Dragon's Blood
Dragon's Blood

Chapter XVII

Cover illustration for Dragon's Blood
Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
LAMP OF HEAVEN The white men peered from among the oil-jars, like two of the Forty Thieves.
They could detect no movement, friendly or hostile: the black head lodged there without stirring.
The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.
Wutzler pressed his face against the earth, and shivered in the stifling heat.
The uncertainty grew, with Rudolph, into an acute distress.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Dragon's Blood

Chapter XVII

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
LAMP OF HEAVEN The white men peered from among the oil-jars, like two of the Forty Thieves.
Line 2
They could detect no movement, friendly or hostile: the black head lodged there without stirring.
Line 3
The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.
Line 4
Wutzler pressed his face against the earth, and shivered in the stifling heat.
Line 5
The uncertainty grew, with Rudolph, into an acute distress.

Learner Dictionary

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

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “Wutzler pressed his face against the earth, and shivered in the stifling heat.”

Among preposition US /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading “LAMP OF HEAVEN The white men peered from among the oil-jars, like two of the Forty Thieves.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “They could detect no movement, friendly or hostile: the black head lodged there without stirring.”

Distress noun US /dɪˈstrɛs/

extreme sadness or suffering

From this reading “The uncertainty grew, with Rudolph, into an acute distress.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.”

Waking adjective US /ˈweɪ.kɪŋ/

Risen from sleep; conscious.

From this reading “The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.”

Whether conjunction US /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading “The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “They could detect no movement, friendly or hostile: the black head lodged there without stirring.”

All words in this reading · 83

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 The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

acute

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

From this reading The uncertainty grew, with Rudolph, into an acute distress.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Wutzler pressed his face against the earth, and shivered in the stifling heat.

alert

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

all

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading LAMP OF HEAVEN The white men peered from among the oil-jars, like two of the Forty Thieves.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The uncertainty grew, with Rudolph, into an acute distress.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

black

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

From this reading They could detect no movement, friendly or hostile: the black head lodged there without stirring.

chin

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading They could detect no movement, friendly or hostile: the black head lodged there without stirring.

detect

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

From this reading They could detect no movement, friendly or hostile: the black head lodged there without stirring.

distressnounUS /dɪˈstrɛs/

extreme sadness or suffering

From this reading The uncertainty grew, with Rudolph, into an acute distress.

drowsing

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

earth

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

From this reading Wutzler pressed his face against the earth, and shivered in the stifling heat.

face

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

From this reading Wutzler pressed his face against the earth, and shivered in the stifling heat.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

Forty

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

From this reading LAMP OF HEAVEN The white men peered from among the oil-jars, like two of the Forty Thieves.

friendly

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

From this reading They could detect no movement, friendly or hostile: the black head lodged there without stirring.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading LAMP OF HEAVEN The white men peered from among the oil-jars, like two of the Forty Thieves.

grew

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

From this reading The uncertainty grew, with Rudolph, into an acute distress.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

head

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

From this reading They could detect no movement, friendly or hostile: the black head lodged there without stirring.

heat

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

From this reading Wutzler pressed his face against the earth, and shivered in the stifling heat.

HEAVEN

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

From this reading LAMP OF HEAVEN The white men peered from among the oil-jars, like two of the Forty Thieves.

held

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Wutzler pressed his face against the earth, and shivered in the stifling heat.

hollow

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

hostile

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

From this reading They could detect no movement, friendly or hostile: the black head lodged there without stirring.

humor

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

hurry

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The uncertainty grew, with Rudolph, into an acute distress.

LAMP

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

From this reading LAMP OF HEAVEN The white men peered from among the oil-jars, like two of the Forty Thieves.

leisurely

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

lie

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

like

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

From this reading LAMP OF HEAVEN The white men peered from among the oil-jars, like two of the Forty Thieves.

lodged

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

From this reading They could detect no movement, friendly or hostile: the black head lodged there without stirring.

master

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

men

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

From this reading LAMP OF HEAVEN The white men peered from among the oil-jars, like two of the Forty Thieves.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

mischievous

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

movement

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

From this reading They could detect no movement, friendly or hostile: the black head lodged there without stirring.

night

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading They could detect no movement, friendly or hostile: the black head lodged there without stirring.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading LAMP OF HEAVEN The white men peered from among the oil-jars, like two of the Forty Thieves.

oil-jars

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

From this reading LAMP OF HEAVEN The white men peered from among the oil-jars, like two of the Forty Thieves.

once

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading They could detect no movement, friendly or hostile: the black head lodged there without stirring.

peaceful

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

peered

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

From this reading LAMP OF HEAVEN The white men peered from among the oil-jars, like two of the Forty Thieves.

pose

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

pressed

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

From this reading Wutzler pressed his face against the earth, and shivered in the stifling heat.

prompted

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

propped

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

Rudolph

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

From this reading The uncertainty grew, with Rudolph, into an acute distress.

seen

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

shivered

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

From this reading Wutzler pressed his face against the earth, and shivered in the stifling heat.

stifling

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

From this reading Wutzler pressed his face against the earth, and shivered in the stifling heat.

stirring

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

From this reading They could detect no movement, friendly or hostile: the black head lodged there without stirring.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading LAMP OF HEAVEN The white men peered from among the oil-jars, like two of the Forty Thieves.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

there

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

From this reading They could detect no movement, friendly or hostile: the black head lodged there without stirring.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They could detect no movement, friendly or hostile: the black head lodged there without stirring.

Thieves

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

From this reading LAMP OF HEAVEN The white men peered from among the oil-jars, like two of the Forty Thieves.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

two

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

From this reading LAMP OF HEAVEN The white men peered from among the oil-jars, like two of the Forty Thieves.

uncertainty

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

From this reading The uncertainty grew, with Rudolph, into an acute distress.

wakingadjectiveUS /ˈweɪ.kɪŋ/

Risen from sleep; conscious.

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

watcher

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

weeds

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

white

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

From this reading LAMP OF HEAVEN The white men peered from among the oil-jars, like two of the Forty Thieves.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The watcher, whether he had seen them or not, was in no hurry; for with chin propped among the weeds, he held a pose at once alert and peaceful, mischievous and leisurely, as though he were master of that hollow, and might lie all night drowsing or waking, as the humor prompted.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading They could detect no movement, friendly or hostile: the black head lodged there without stirring.

Wutzler

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

From this reading Wutzler pressed his face against the earth, and shivered in the stifling heat.