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Dragon's Blood
Dragon's Blood

Chapter XVIII

Cover illustration for Dragon's Blood
Context Illustration Reading 1/45 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.
Bullets spattered sharply along the wall and sang overhead, mixed now and then with an indescribable whistling and jingling.
The angle was like the prow of a ship cutting forward into a gale.
Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.
His high spirits went before a fall.
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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 XVIII

Reading 1/45 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.
Line 2
Bullets spattered sharply along the wall and sang overhead, mixed now and then with an indescribable whistling and jingling.
Line 3
The angle was like the prow of a ship cutting forward into a gale.
Line 4
Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.
Line 5
His high spirits went before a fall.

Learner Dictionary

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

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.”

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “Bullets spattered sharply along the wall and sang overhead, mixed now and then with an indescribable whistling and jingling.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “His high spirits went before a fall.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.”

Forward noun US /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The angle was like the prow of a ship cutting forward into a gale.”

Indescribable adjective US /ˌɪndɪˈskraɪbəbəl/

too intense to describe too intense or unusual to describe clearly

From this reading “Bullets spattered sharply along the wall and sang overhead, mixed now and then with an indescribable whistling and jingling.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.”

Mixed verb US /mɪkst/

involved with or connected to

From this reading “Bullets spattered sharply along the wall and sang overhead, mixed now and then with an indescribable whistling and jingling.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.”

Sharply noun US /ˈsharply/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Bullets spattered sharply along the wall and sang overhead, mixed now and then with an indescribable whistling and jingling.”

Ship noun US /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The angle was like the prow of a ship cutting forward into a gale.”

Short adjective US /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading “Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His high spirits went before a fall.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.”

All words in this reading · 70

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 SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.

ago

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

From this reading Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading Bullets spattered sharply along the wall and sang overhead, mixed now and then with an indescribable whistling and jingling.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Bullets spattered sharply along the wall and sang overhead, mixed now and then with an indescribable whistling and jingling.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.

angle

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

From this reading The angle was like the prow of a ship cutting forward into a gale.

bamboo

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

From this reading Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading His high spirits went before a fall.

believed

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

From this reading SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.

built

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

From this reading Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.

Bullets

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

From this reading Bullets spattered sharply along the wall and sang overhead, mixed now and then with an indescribable whistling and jingling.

climbed

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

From this reading Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.

coolies

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

From this reading Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.

corner

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

From this reading SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.

cutting

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

From this reading The angle was like the prow of a ship cutting forward into a gale.

fall

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

From this reading His high spirits went before a fall.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.

forwardnounUS /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The angle was like the prow of a ship cutting forward into a gale.

gale

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

From this reading The angle was like the prow of a ship cutting forward into a gale.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.

haste

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

From this reading Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.

high

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

From this reading His high spirits went before a fall.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.

hold

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

From this reading SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.

indescribableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈskraɪbəbəl/

too intense to describe too intense or unusual to describe clearly

From this reading Bullets spattered sharply along the wall and sang overhead, mixed now and then with an indescribable whistling and jingling.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The angle was like the prow of a ship cutting forward into a gale.

jingling

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

From this reading Bullets spattered sharply along the wall and sang overhead, mixed now and then with an indescribable whistling and jingling.

ladder

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

From this reading Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.

like

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

From this reading The angle was like the prow of a ship cutting forward into a gale.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.

loud

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

From this reading SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.

minute

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

From this reading SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.

mixedverbUS /mɪkst/

involved with or connected to

From this reading Bullets spattered sharply along the wall and sang overhead, mixed now and then with an indescribable whistling and jingling.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.

northeast

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

From this reading SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.

now

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

From this reading Bullets spattered sharply along the wall and sang overhead, mixed now and then with an indescribable whistling and jingling.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The angle was like the prow of a ship cutting forward into a gale.

overhead

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

From this reading Bullets spattered sharply along the wall and sang overhead, mixed now and then with an indescribable whistling and jingling.

platform

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

From this reading Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.

prow

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

From this reading The angle was like the prow of a ship cutting forward into a gale.

rejoicing

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

From this reading Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.

Rudolph

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

From this reading Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.

sang

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

From this reading Bullets spattered sharply along the wall and sang overhead, mixed now and then with an indescribable whistling and jingling.

sharplynounUS /ˈsharply/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Bullets spattered sharply along the wall and sang overhead, mixed now and then with an indescribable whistling and jingling.

shipnounUS /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The angle was like the prow of a ship cutting forward into a gale.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.

SIEGE

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

From this reading SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.

spattered

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

From this reading Bullets spattered sharply along the wall and sang overhead, mixed now and then with an indescribable whistling and jingling.

spirits

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

From this reading His high spirits went before a fall.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.

then

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

From this reading Bullets spattered sharply along the wall and sang overhead, mixed now and then with an indescribable whistling and jingling.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.

unceasing

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

From this reading SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.

up

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

From this reading Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.

uproar

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

From this reading SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.

wall

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

From this reading Bullets spattered sharply along the wall and sang overhead, mixed now and then with an indescribable whistling and jingling.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading SIEGE He never believed that they could hold the northeast corner for a minute, so loud and unceasing was the uproar.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His high spirits went before a fall.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.

whistling

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

From this reading Bullets spattered sharply along the wall and sang overhead, mixed now and then with an indescribable whistling and jingling.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Bullets spattered sharply along the wall and sang overhead, mixed now and then with an indescribable whistling and jingling.

YetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet Rudolph climbed, rejoicing, up the short bamboo ladder, to the platform which his coolies had built in such haste, so long ago, that afternoon.