King-Errant

Chapter XVIII

Chapter 18 of King-Errant is here in full — 192 sentences across 39 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Flora Annie Webster Steel • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

I am the dust beneath thy feet, my sweet; Thou art the cloud that sprinkleth rain amain.

Lo! as green tongues of grasses spring to bring Their thanks for moisture given to root and fruit, So, all my being blossometh and saith "Dear God be praised for Love of Thee and Me."

Maham had her work cut out for her.

But she was a wise woman and from the first gauged Babar's volatile, kindly, affectionate nature to a nicety.

He had had a shock, and one with such fine-strung nerves as his required time for recovery.

Narrator

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LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter XVIII Reading 1/38

King-Errant

Chapter XVIII

Chapter 18 of King-Errant is here in full — 192 sentences across 39 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

I am the dust beneath thy feet, my sweet; Thou art the cloud that sprinkleth rain amain.

Line 2

Lo! as green tongues of grasses spring to bring Their thanks for moisture given to root and fruit, So, all my being blossometh and saith "Dear God be praised for Love of Thee and Me."

Line 3

Maham had her work cut out for her.

Line 4

But she was a wise woman and from the first gauged Babar's volatile, kindly, affectionate nature to a nicety.

/bʌt ʃiː wɑːz ə waɪz ˈwʊmən ənd frʌm ðə fɜːrst ɡeɪdʒd ˌbɑːˈbɑːrz ˈvɑːlətəl ˈkaɪndli əˈfekʃənət ˈneɪtʃər tuː ə ˈnaɪsɪti/

Line 5

He had had a shock, and one with such fine-strung nerves as his required time for recovery.

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.

Babar's noun US /ˌbɑːˈbɑːrz/

possessive form of “babar” — an imaginary elephant that appears in a series of French books for children

From this reading “But she was a wise woman and from the first gauged Babar's volatile, kindly, affectionate nature to a nicety.”

gauged verb US /ɡeɪdʒd/

past form of “gauge” — judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time)

From this reading “But she was a wise woman and from the first gauged Babar's volatile, kindly, affectionate nature to a nicety.”

grasses noun US /ˈɡræsəz/

plural of “grass” — narrow-leaved green herbage: grown as lawns; used as pasture for grazing animals; cut and dried as hay

From this reading “Lo! as green tongues of grasses spring to bring Their thanks for moisture given to root and fruit, So, all my being blossometh and saith "Dear God be praised for Love of Thee and Me."”

moisture noun US /ˈmɔɪstʃər/

wetness caused by water

nicety noun US /ˈnaɪsɪti/

conformity with some esthetic standard of correctness or propriety

From this reading “But she was a wise woman and from the first gauged Babar's volatile, kindly, affectionate nature to a nicety.”

praised verb US /preɪzd/

past form of “praise” — express approval of

recovery noun US /rɪˈkʌvri/

return to an original state

From this reading “He had had a shock, and one with such fine-strung nerves as his required time for recovery.”

volatile adjective US /ˈvɑːlətəl/

evaporating readily at normal temperatures and pressures

From this reading “But she was a wise woman and from the first gauged Babar's volatile, kindly, affectionate nature to a nicety.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

affectionate nature adjective + noun

In this reading “But she was a wise woman and from the first gauged Babar's volatile, kindly, affectionate nature to a nicety.”

wise woman adjective + noun

In this reading “But she was a wise woman and from the first gauged Babar's volatile, kindly, affectionate nature to a nicety.”

cut out verb + adjective

delete or remove

In this reading “Maham had her work cut out for her.”

All words in this reading · 77

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 But she was a wise woman and from the first gauged Babar's volatile, kindly, affectionate nature to a nicety.

affectionateadjectiveUS /əˈfekʃənət/

having or displaying warmth or affection

From this reading But she was a wise woman and from the first gauged Babar's volatile, kindly, affectionate nature to a nicety.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Lo! as green tongues of grasses spring to bring Their thanks for moisture given to root and fruit, So, all my being blossometh and saith "Dear God be praised for Love of Thee and Me."

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading I am the dust beneath thy feet, my sweet; Thou art the cloud that sprinkleth rain amain.

amainadverb

at full speed; with great haste

From this reading I am the dust beneath thy feet, my sweet; Thou art the cloud that sprinkleth rain amain.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading I am the dust beneath thy feet, my sweet; Thou art the cloud that sprinkleth rain amain.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

Babar'snounUS /ˌbɑːˈbɑːrz/

possessive form of “babar” — an imaginary elephant that appears in a series of French books for children

From this reading But she was a wise woman and from the first gauged Babar's volatile, kindly, affectionate nature to a nicety.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading I am the dust beneath thy feet, my sweet; Thou art the cloud that sprinkleth rain amain.

blossometh

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

bringverbUS /brɪŋ/

take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But she was a wise woman and from the first gauged Babar's volatile, kindly, affectionate nature to a nicety.

cloudverbUS /klaʊd/

make overcast or cloudy

From this reading I am the dust beneath thy feet, my sweet; Thou art the cloud that sprinkleth rain amain.

cutverbUS /kʌt/

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading Maham had her work cut out for her.

DearadjectiveUS /dɪr/

dearly loved

dustverbUS /dʌst/

remove the dust from

From this reading I am the dust beneath thy feet, my sweet; Thou art the cloud that sprinkleth rain amain.

feetnounUS /fiːt/

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading I am the dust beneath thy feet, my sweet; Thou art the cloud that sprinkleth rain amain.

fine-strung

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

From this reading He had had a shock, and one with such fine-strung nerves as his required time for recovery.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading But she was a wise woman and from the first gauged Babar's volatile, kindly, affectionate nature to a nicety.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading But she was a wise woman and from the first gauged Babar's volatile, kindly, affectionate nature to a nicety.

fruitnounUS /fruːt/

the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant

gaugedverbUS /ɡeɪdʒd/

past form of “gauge” — judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time)

From this reading But she was a wise woman and from the first gauged Babar's volatile, kindly, affectionate nature to a nicety.

givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/

acknowledged as a supposition

GodnounUS /ɡɑːd/

the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

grassesnounUS /ˈɡræsəz/

plural of “grass” — narrow-leaved green herbage: grown as lawns; used as pasture for grazing animals; cut and dried as hay

greennounUS /ɡriːn/

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Maham had her work cut out for her.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He had had a shock, and one with such fine-strung nerves as his required time for recovery.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Maham had her work cut out for her.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He had had a shock, and one with such fine-strung nerves as his required time for recovery.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I am the dust beneath thy feet, my sweet; Thou art the cloud that sprinkleth rain amain.

kindlyadjectiveUS /ˈkaɪndli/

showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity

From this reading But she was a wise woman and from the first gauged Babar's volatile, kindly, affectionate nature to a nicety.

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

LovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

Maham

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

From this reading Maham had her work cut out for her.

MepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

moisturenounUS /ˈmɔɪstʃər/

wetness caused by water

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I am the dust beneath thy feet, my sweet; Thou art the cloud that sprinkleth rain amain.

naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading But she was a wise woman and from the first gauged Babar's volatile, kindly, affectionate nature to a nicety.

nervesnounUS /nɜːrvz/

an uneasy psychological state

From this reading He had had a shock, and one with such fine-strung nerves as his required time for recovery.

nicetynounUS /ˈnaɪsɪti/

conformity with some esthetic standard of correctness or propriety

From this reading But she was a wise woman and from the first gauged Babar's volatile, kindly, affectionate nature to a nicety.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He had had a shock, and one with such fine-strung nerves as his required time for recovery.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Maham had her work cut out for her.

praisedverbUS /preɪzd/

past form of “praise” — express approval of

rainnounUS /reɪn/

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading I am the dust beneath thy feet, my sweet; Thou art the cloud that sprinkleth rain amain.

recoverynounUS /rɪˈkʌvri/

return to an original state

From this reading He had had a shock, and one with such fine-strung nerves as his required time for recovery.

requiredadjectiveUS /riˈkwaɪərd/

necessary for relief or supply

From this reading He had had a shock, and one with such fine-strung nerves as his required time for recovery.

rootnounUS /ruːt/

(botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts; usually it anchors the plant to the ground

saith

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

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading But she was a wise woman and from the first gauged Babar's volatile, kindly, affectionate nature to a nicety.

shocknounUS /ʃɑːk/

the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally

From this reading He had had a shock, and one with such fine-strung nerves as his required time for recovery.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

springnounUS /sprɪŋ/

the season of growth

sprinkleth

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

From this reading I am the dust beneath thy feet, my sweet; Thou art the cloud that sprinkleth rain amain.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading He had had a shock, and one with such fine-strung nerves as his required time for recovery.

sweetadjectiveUS /swiːt/

having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading I am the dust beneath thy feet, my sweet; Thou art the cloud that sprinkleth rain amain.

thanksnounUS /θæŋks/

an acknowledgment of appreciation

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I am the dust beneath thy feet, my sweet; Thou art the cloud that sprinkleth rain amain.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I am the dust beneath thy feet, my sweet; Thou art the cloud that sprinkleth rain amain.

TheepronounUS /ðiː/

an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person

TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

ThoupronounUS /ðaʊ/

an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person

From this reading I am the dust beneath thy feet, my sweet; Thou art the cloud that sprinkleth rain amain.

thydeterminerUS /ðaɪ/

an old word for “your”, speaking to one person

From this reading I am the dust beneath thy feet, my sweet; Thou art the cloud that sprinkleth rain amain.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading He had had a shock, and one with such fine-strung nerves as his required time for recovery.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

tonguesnounUS /tʌŋz/

plural of “tongue” — a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity

volatileadjectiveUS /ˈvɑːlətəl/

evaporating readily at normal temperatures and pressures

From this reading But she was a wise woman and from the first gauged Babar's volatile, kindly, affectionate nature to a nicety.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But she was a wise woman and from the first gauged Babar's volatile, kindly, affectionate nature to a nicety.

wiseadjectiveUS /waɪz/

having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

From this reading But she was a wise woman and from the first gauged Babar's volatile, kindly, affectionate nature to a nicety.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He had had a shock, and one with such fine-strung nerves as his required time for recovery.

womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading But she was a wise woman and from the first gauged Babar's volatile, kindly, affectionate nature to a nicety.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading Maham had her work cut out for her.

Chapter 18 of King-Errant by Flora Annie Webster Steel holds 192 sentences, grouped into 39 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 18 of King-Errant contain?

Chapter 18 holds 192 sentences of King-Errant, unabridged, divided into 39 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 18 of King-Errant by Flora Annie Webster Steel exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 192 sentences, grouped into 39 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 18 of King-Errant?

Work through the 39 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 39 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 18 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 18 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 King-Errant

Common questions about reading King-Errant by Flora Annie Webster Steel on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of King-Errant?

Yes. All 5811 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #39794 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of King-Errant is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #39794, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does King-Errant take to read?

About 484 minutes of reading across 1163 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in King-Errant

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Chapter XVIII

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