Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Long Live the King!
Long Live the King!

Chapter XIV · Father and Daughter

Cover illustration for Long Live the King!
Context Illustration Reading 1/53 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
With the approach of the anniversary of his son’s death, the King grew increasingly restless.
Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.
In vain he filled his weary days with the routine of his kingdom.
In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.
To have out-lived all that one loves, he felt, was worse by far.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Long Live the King!

Chapter XIV · Father and Daughter

Reading 1/53 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
With the approach of the anniversary of his son’s death, the King grew increasingly restless.
Line 2
Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.
Line 3
In vain he filled his weary days with the routine of his kingdom.
Line 4
In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.
Line 5
To have out-lived all that one loves, he felt, was worse by far.

Learner Dictionary

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

Determined adjective US /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/

having firmly decided to do something

From this reading “Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “To have out-lived all that one loves, he felt, was worse by far.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.”

Weakness noun US /ˈwiːknəs/

a lack of physical strength

From this reading “Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.”

All words in this reading · 68

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 In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.

age

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

From this reading In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.

all

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

From this reading To have out-lived all that one loves, he felt, was worse by far.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.

anniversary

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

From this reading With the approach of the anniversary of his son’s death, the King grew increasingly restless.

approach

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

From this reading With the approach of the anniversary of his son’s death, the King grew increasingly restless.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.

away

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

From this reading Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.

bodily

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

From this reading Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading To have out-lived all that one loves, he felt, was worse by far.

cut

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

From this reading In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.

days

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

From this reading In vain he filled his weary days with the routine of his kingdom.

death

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

From this reading With the approach of the anniversary of his son’s death, the King grew increasingly restless.

determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/

having firmly decided to do something

From this reading Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.

EachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.

end

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

From this reading In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.

far

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

From this reading To have out-lived all that one loves, he felt, was worse by far.

felt

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

From this reading To have out-lived all that one loves, he felt, was worse by far.

filled

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

From this reading In vain he filled his weary days with the routine of his kingdom.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.

grew

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

From this reading With the approach of the anniversary of his son’s death, the King grew increasingly restless.

grief

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

From this reading Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.

harder

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

From this reading Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading To have out-lived all that one loves, he felt, was worse by far.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading With the approach of the anniversary of his son’s death, the King grew increasingly restless.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In vain he filled his weary days with the routine of his kingdom.

increased

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

From this reading Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.

increasingly

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

From this reading With the approach of the anniversary of his son’s death, the King grew increasingly restless.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.

King

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

From this reading With the approach of the anniversary of his son’s death, the King grew increasingly restless.

kingdom

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

From this reading In vain he filled his weary days with the routine of his kingdom.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.

loves

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

From this reading To have out-lived all that one loves, he felt, was worse by far.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading With the approach of the anniversary of his son’s death, the King grew increasingly restless.

off

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

From this reading In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.

old

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

From this reading Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.

one's

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

From this reading In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.

out-lived

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

From this reading To have out-lived all that one loves, he felt, was worse by far.

prime

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

From this reading In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.

put

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

From this reading Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.

restless

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

From this reading With the approach of the anniversary of his son’s death, the King grew increasingly restless.

routine

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

From this reading In vain he filled his weary days with the routine of his kingdom.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.

son's

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

From this reading With the approach of the anniversary of his son’s death, the King grew increasingly restless.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading With the approach of the anniversary of his son’s death, the King grew increasingly restless.

there

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

From this reading In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.

things

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

From this reading In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.

tragedy

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

From this reading In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.

vain

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

From this reading In vain he filled his weary days with the routine of his kingdom.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading To have out-lived all that one loves, he felt, was worse by far.

weaknessnounUS /ˈwiːknəs/

a lack of physical strength

From this reading Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.

weary

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

From this reading In vain he filled his weary days with the routine of his kingdom.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading With the approach of the anniversary of his son’s death, the King grew increasingly restless.

worse

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

From this reading In vain he told himself that there were worse things than to be cut off in one’s prime, that the tragedy of old age is a long tragedy, with but one end.

year

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

From this reading Each year he determined to put away this old grief, and each year, as his bodily weakness increased, he found it harder to do so.