Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Mary Gray
Mary Gray

Chapter V

Cover illustration for Mary Gray
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.
He, too, was a soldier, and had inherited the baronetcy from his father, upon whom the title had been bestowed by a grateful country for services in the field.
A second baronetcy in the family had been specially created for Sir Gerald.
It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.
Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.
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.

Mary Gray

Chapter V

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.
Line 2
He, too, was a soldier, and had inherited the baronetcy from his father, upon whom the title had been bestowed by a grateful country for services in the field.
Line 3
A second baronetcy in the family had been specially created for Sir Gerald.
Line 4
It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.
Line 5
Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “"OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.”

BLOOD noun US /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.”

Christian noun US /ˈchristian/

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

From this reading “Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.”

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.”

Second noun US /second/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A second baronetcy in the family had been specially created for Sir Gerald.”

THUNDER noun US /ˈthunder/

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

From this reading “"OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “He, too, was a soldier, and had inherited the baronetcy from his father, upon whom the title had been bestowed by a grateful country for services in the field.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.”

All words in this reading · 96

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 He, too, was a soldier, and had inherited the baronetcy from his father, upon whom the title had been bestowed by a grateful country for services in the field.

abbreviated

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

From this reading Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

always

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

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

baronetcy

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

From this reading He, too, was a soldier, and had inherited the baronetcy from his father, upon whom the title had been bestowed by a grateful country for services in the field.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.

bestowed

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

From this reading He, too, was a soldier, and had inherited the baronetcy from his father, upon whom the title had been bestowed by a grateful country for services in the field.

BLOODnounUS /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.

brilliant

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

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

British

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

From this reading Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

brother

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

From this reading "OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.

brothers

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

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading "OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.

calls

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

From this reading Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

Christian

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

From this reading Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

constant

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

From this reading Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

cool

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

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

country

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

From this reading He, too, was a soldier, and had inherited the baronetcy from his father, upon whom the title had been bestowed by a grateful country for services in the field.

created

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

From this reading A second baronetcy in the family had been specially created for Sir Gerald.

dare-devil

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

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

daring

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

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

Denis

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

From this reading "OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

Drummond

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

From this reading "OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.

easy

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

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

eight

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

From this reading "OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.

family

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

From this reading A second baronetcy in the family had been specially created for Sir Gerald.

famous

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

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

father

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

From this reading He, too, was a soldier, and had inherited the baronetcy from his father, upon whom the title had been bestowed by a grateful country for services in the field.

feats

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

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

field

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

From this reading He, too, was a soldier, and had inherited the baronetcy from his father, upon whom the title had been bestowed by a grateful country for services in the field.

finer

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

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He, too, was a soldier, and had inherited the baronetcy from his father, upon whom the title had been bestowed by a grateful country for services in the field.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He, too, was a soldier, and had inherited the baronetcy from his father, upon whom the title had been bestowed by a grateful country for services in the field.

Gerald

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

From this reading A second baronetcy in the family had been specially created for Sir Gerald.

Gerald's

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

From this reading "OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.

grateful

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

From this reading He, too, was a soldier, and had inherited the baronetcy from his father, upon whom the title had been bestowed by a grateful country for services in the field.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading "OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.

happen

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

From this reading Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He, too, was a soldier, and had inherited the baronetcy from his father, upon whom the title had been bestowed by a grateful country for services in the field.

held

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

From this reading Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

heroes

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

From this reading Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading "OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He, too, was a soldier, and had inherited the baronetcy from his father, upon whom the title had been bestowed by a grateful country for services in the field.

indeed

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

From this reading Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

inherited

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

From this reading He, too, was a soldier, and had inherited the baronetcy from his father, upon whom the title had been bestowed by a grateful country for services in the field.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

made

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

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

men

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

From this reading Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

most

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

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

names

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

From this reading Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

nickname

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

From this reading Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

OLD

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

From this reading "OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading "OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.

public

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

From this reading Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

rather

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

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

regard

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

From this reading Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

reliable

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

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

say

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

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

second

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

From this reading A second baronetcy in the family had been specially created for Sir Gerald.

senior

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

From this reading "OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.

services

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

From this reading He, too, was a soldier, and had inherited the baronetcy from his father, upon whom the title had been bestowed by a grateful country for services in the field.

seven

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

From this reading "OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.

Sir

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

From this reading "OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.

soldier

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

From this reading He, too, was a soldier, and had inherited the baronetcy from his father, upon whom the title had been bestowed by a grateful country for services in the field.

some

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

From this reading "OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.

specially

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

From this reading A second baronetcy in the family had been specially created for Sir Gerald.

steady

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

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading He, too, was a soldier, and had inherited the baronetcy from his father, upon whom the title had been bestowed by a grateful country for services in the field.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

THUNDERnounUS /ˈthunder/

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

From this reading "OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.

title

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

From this reading He, too, was a soldier, and had inherited the baronetcy from his father, upon whom the title had been bestowed by a grateful country for services in the field.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

too

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

From this reading He, too, was a soldier, and had inherited the baronetcy from his father, upon whom the title had been bestowed by a grateful country for services in the field.

two

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

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

type

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

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading He, too, was a soldier, and had inherited the baronetcy from his father, upon whom the title had been bestowed by a grateful country for services in the field.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He, too, was a soldier, and had inherited the baronetcy from his father, upon whom the title had been bestowed by a grateful country for services in the field.

well

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

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He, too, was a soldier, and had inherited the baronetcy from his father, upon whom the title had been bestowed by a grateful country for services in the field.

Worshipped

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

From this reading Worshipped by his men, his name was one to be held in constant regard by the British public, which calls its heroes by their Christian names abbreviated, if they do not happen, indeed, to have a nickname for them.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading It would not have been easy to say which was the finer soldier of the two brothers; for while Sir Gerald had made his name famous by the most dare-devil and brilliant feats, Sir Denis was rather the old type of soldier--cool as well as daring, always reliable and steady.

years

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

From this reading "OLD BLOOD AND THUNDER" Sir Denis Drummond had been his brother Gerald's senior by some seven or eight years.