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Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5
Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5

Chapter VI · Chapter 6

Chapter 6 of Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5 is here in full — 404 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5
Context Illustration Reading 1/80 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.
He, stepping down By zigzag paths, and juts of pointed rock, Came on the shining levels of the lake.
There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.
He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.
So strode he back slow to the wounded King.
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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.

Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5

Chapter VI · Chapter 6

Chapter 6 of Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5 is here in full — 404 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/80 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.
Line 2
He, stepping down By zigzag paths, and juts of pointed rock, Came on the shining levels of the lake.
/hiː ˈstepɪŋ daʊn baɪ ˈzɪɡzæɡ pæðz ənd dʒʌts ʌv ˈpɔɪntɪd rɑːk keɪm ɑːn ðə ˈʃaɪnɪŋ ˈlevəlz ʌv ðə leɪk/
Line 3
There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.
Line 4
He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.
Line 5
So strode he back slow to the wounded King.
/soʊ stroʊd hiː bæk sloʊ tuː ðə ˈwuːndɪd kɪŋ/

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.

Excalibur noun US /ˌekˈskæləbər/

the legendary sword of King Arthur

From this reading “There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.”

flakes noun US /fleɪks/

plural of “flake” — a crystal of snow

From this reading “So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.”

haft noun US /hæft/

the handle of a weapon or tool

From this reading “There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.”

jewelry noun US /ˈdʒuːəlri/

an adornment (as a bracelet or ring or necklace) made of precious metals and set with gems (or imitation gems)

From this reading “There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.”

juts noun US /dʒʌts/

plural of “jut” — something that bulges out or is protuberant or projects from its surroundings

From this reading “He, stepping down By zigzag paths, and juts of pointed rock, Came on the shining levels of the lake.”

levels noun US /ˈlevəlz/

plural of “level” — a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading “He, stepping down By zigzag paths, and juts of pointed rock, Came on the shining levels of the lake.”

marge noun US /mɑːrdʒ/

a spread made chiefly from vegetable oils and used as a substitute for butter

From this reading “He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.”

zigzag verb US /ˈzɪɡzæɡ/

travel along a zigzag path

From this reading “He, stepping down By zigzag paths, and juts of pointed rock, Came on the shining levels of the lake.”

All words in this reading · 113

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 There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

actverbUS /ækt/

perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

all-the

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

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

athwartadverbUS /əˈθwɔːrt/

at right angles to the center line of a ship

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading So strode he back slow to the wounded King.

BetteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

bonesnounUS /boʊnz/

(used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

brandnounUS /brænd/

a name given to a product or service

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

BrighteningverbUS /ˈbraɪtənɪŋ/

-ing form of “brighten” — make more cheerful through the use of color

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He, stepping down By zigzag paths, and juts of pointed rock, Came on the shining levels of the lake.

CameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading He, stepping down By zigzag paths, and juts of pointed rock, Came on the shining levels of the lake.

chillnounUS /tʃɪl/

coldness due to a cold environment

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

cloudverbUS /klaʊd/

make overcast or cloudy

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

conceal'd

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

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

dazzledadjectiveUS /ˈdæzəld/

having vision overcome temporarily by or as if by intense light

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

diamondnounUS /ˈdaɪmənd/

a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

dividingverbUS /dɪˈvaɪdɪŋ/

-ing form of “divide” — separate into parts or portions

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading He, stepping down By zigzag paths, and juts of pointed rock, Came on the shining levels of the lake.

drawingnounUS /ˈdrɔːɪŋ/

an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

drewnounUS /druː/

United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

dryadjectiveUS /draɪ/

free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

ExcaliburnounUS /ˌekˈskæləbər/

the legendary sword of King Arthur

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

flakesnounUS /fleɪks/

plural of “flake” — a crystal of snow

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

foamnounUS /foʊm/

a mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

forthadverbUS /fɔːrθ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

frostnounUS /frɔːst/

ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

gazedverbUS /ɡeɪzd/

past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

haftnounUS /hæft/

the handle of a weapon or tool

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

hiltnounUS /hɪlt/

the handle of a sword or dagger

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

jacinth-work

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

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

jewelrynounUS /ˈdʒuːəlri/

an adornment (as a bracelet or ring or necklace) made of precious metals and set with gems (or imitation gems)

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

jutsnounUS /dʒʌts/

plural of “jut” — something that bulges out or is protuberant or projects from its surroundings

From this reading He, stepping down By zigzag paths, and juts of pointed rock, Came on the shining levels of the lake.

keenadjectiveUS /kiːn/

having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

KingnounUS /kɪŋ/

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading So strode he back slow to the wounded King.

knightsnounUS /naɪts/

plural of “knight” — originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

lakenounUS /leɪk/

a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land

From this reading He, stepping down By zigzag paths, and juts of pointed rock, Came on the shining levels of the lake.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

layverbUS /leɪ/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

leaveverbUS /liːv/

go away from a place

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

levelsnounUS /ˈlevəlz/

plural of “level” — a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading He, stepping down By zigzag paths, and juts of pointed rock, Came on the shining levels of the lake.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

many-knotted

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

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

margenounUS /mɑːrdʒ/

a spread made chiefly from vegetable oils and used as a substitute for butter

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

mightyadjectiveUS /ˈmaɪti/

having or showing great strength or force or intensity

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

moonnounUS /muːn/

the natural satellite of the Earth

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

Myriads

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

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

o'eradverb

throughout a period of time

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

OldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He, stepping down By zigzag paths, and juts of pointed rock, Came on the shining levels of the lake.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

pathsnounUS /pæðz/

plural of “path” — a course of conduct

From this reading He, stepping down By zigzag paths, and juts of pointed rock, Came on the shining levels of the lake.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

pointedadjectiveUS /ˈpɔɪntɪd/

having a point

From this reading He, stepping down By zigzag paths, and juts of pointed rock, Came on the shining levels of the lake.

ranverbUS /ræn/

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

rocknounUS /rɑːk/

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading He, stepping down By zigzag paths, and juts of pointed rock, Came on the shining levels of the lake.

ruin'd

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

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

sangnounUS /sæŋ/

North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

sayingnounUS /ˈseɪɪŋ/

a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

sea-wind

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

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

seem'd

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

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

shiningadjectiveUS /ˈʃaɪnɪŋ/

marked by exceptional merit

From this reading He, stepping down By zigzag paths, and juts of pointed rock, Came on the shining levels of the lake.

ShrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/

having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

shrinenounUS /ʃraɪn/

a place of worship hallowed by association with some sacred thing or person

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

skirtsnounUS /skɜːrts/

plural of “skirt” — cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

slowadjectiveUS /sloʊ/

not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time

From this reading So strode he back slow to the wounded King.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

sparkledverbUS /ˈspɑːrkəld/

past form of “sparkle” — reflect brightly

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

sparksnounUS /spɑːrks/

plural of “spark” — a momentary flash of light

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

steppingverbUS /ˈstepɪŋ/

inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step

From this reading He, stepping down By zigzag paths, and juts of pointed rock, Came on the shining levels of the lake.

stept

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

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

stiffadjectiveUS /stɪf/

not moving or operating freely

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

strodeverbUS /stroʊd/

inflected form of “stride” — walk with long steps

From this reading So strode he back slow to the wounded King.

subtlest

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

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

swiftadjectiveUS /swɪft/

moving very fast

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

throwverbUS /θroʊ/

propel through the air

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

tombsnounUS /tuːmz/

plural of “tomb” — a place for the burial of a corpse (especially beneath the ground and marked by a tombstone)

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

topaz-lights

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

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

twinkledverbUS /ˈtwɪŋkəld/

past form of “twinkle” — gleam or glow intermittently

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

waterflags

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

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

WhereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

whistledverbUS /ˈwɪsəld/

past form of “whistle” — make whistling sounds

From this reading He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags That whistled stiff and dry about the marge.

winternounUS /ˈwɪntər/

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all-the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam.

woundednounUS /ˈwuːndɪd/

people who are wounded

From this reading So strode he back slow to the wounded King.

zigzagverbUS /ˈzɪɡzæɡ/

travel along a zigzag path

From this reading He, stepping down By zigzag paths, and juts of pointed rock, Came on the shining levels of the lake.

Chapter 6 of Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5 by Charles Herbert Sylvester holds 404 sentences, grouped into 81 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 6 of Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5 contain?

Chapter 6 holds 404 sentences of Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5, unabridged, divided into 81 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 6 of Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5 by Charles Herbert Sylvester exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 404 sentences, grouped into 81 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 6 of Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5?

Work through the 81 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 81 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 6 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 6 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 Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5

Common questions about reading Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5 by Charles Herbert Sylvester on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5?

Yes. All 4303 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #11250 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #11250, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5 take to read?

About 358 minutes of reading across 861 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5 section by section

How to work through Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 11 chapters of Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5 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 Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5

Words and structures a reader meets early in Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
English
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
American
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Literature
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.