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Swords Reluctant
Swords Reluctant

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Swords Reluctant
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Published in London under the title of "War and the Woman" By Max Pemberton Author of "The Fortunate Prisoner," "The Garden of Swords," etc.
"Peace hath her victories No less renowned than war."
MILTON: _Sonnets_.
"I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to see my shadow in the sun."
SHAKESPEARE: _Richard III._ _The Author would make acknowledgments to Sir Max Waechter and to Sir Francis Trippel for the generous help given to this book and to its purpose.
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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.

Swords Reluctant

Chapter I

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Published in London under the title of "War and the Woman" By Max Pemberton Author of "The Fortunate Prisoner," "The Garden of Swords," etc.
Line 2
"Peace hath her victories No less renowned than war."
Line 3
MILTON: _Sonnets_.
Line 4
"I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to see my shadow in the sun."
Line 5
SHAKESPEARE: _Richard III._ _The Author would make acknowledgments to Sir Max Waechter and to Sir Francis Trippel for the generous help given to this book and to its purpose.

Learner Dictionary

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

Hath auxiliary verb US /hæθ/

an old form of “has”

From this reading “"Peace hath her victories No less renowned than war."”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “"I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to see my shadow in the sun."”

Help noun US /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “SHAKESPEARE: _Richard III._ _The Author would make acknowledgments to Sir Max Waechter and to Sir Francis Trippel for the generous help given to this book and to its purpose.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “SHAKESPEARE: _Richard III._ _The Author would make acknowledgments to Sir Max Waechter and to Sir Francis Trippel for the generous help given to this book and to its purpose.”

Shadow noun US /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading “"I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to see my shadow in the sun."”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to see my shadow in the sun."”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “Published in London under the title of "War and the Woman" By Max Pemberton Author of "The Fortunate Prisoner," "The Garden of Swords," etc.”

Unless conjunction US /ənˈles/

except if; if not

From this reading “"I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to see my shadow in the sun."”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “SHAKESPEARE: _Richard III._ _The Author would make acknowledgments to Sir Max Waechter and to Sir Francis Trippel for the generous help given to this book and to its purpose.”

All words in this reading · 61

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

acknowledgments

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

From this reading SHAKESPEARE: _Richard III._ _The Author would make acknowledgments to Sir Max Waechter and to Sir Francis Trippel for the generous help given to this book and to its purpose.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Published in London under the title of "War and the Woman" By Max Pemberton Author of "The Fortunate Prisoner," "The Garden of Swords," etc.

Author

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

From this reading Published in London under the title of "War and the Woman" By Max Pemberton Author of "The Fortunate Prisoner," "The Garden of Swords," etc.

away

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

From this reading "I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to see my shadow in the sun."

book

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

From this reading SHAKESPEARE: _Richard III._ _The Author would make acknowledgments to Sir Max Waechter and to Sir Francis Trippel for the generous help given to this book and to its purpose.

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Published in London under the title of "War and the Woman" By Max Pemberton Author of "The Fortunate Prisoner," "The Garden of Swords," etc.

delight

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

From this reading "I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to see my shadow in the sun."

etc

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

From this reading Published in London under the title of "War and the Woman" By Max Pemberton Author of "The Fortunate Prisoner," "The Garden of Swords," etc.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading SHAKESPEARE: _Richard III._ _The Author would make acknowledgments to Sir Max Waechter and to Sir Francis Trippel for the generous help given to this book and to its purpose.

Fortunate

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

From this reading Published in London under the title of "War and the Woman" By Max Pemberton Author of "The Fortunate Prisoner," "The Garden of Swords," etc.

Francis

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

From this reading SHAKESPEARE: _Richard III._ _The Author would make acknowledgments to Sir Max Waechter and to Sir Francis Trippel for the generous help given to this book and to its purpose.

Garden

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

From this reading Published in London under the title of "War and the Woman" By Max Pemberton Author of "The Fortunate Prisoner," "The Garden of Swords," etc.

generous

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

From this reading SHAKESPEARE: _Richard III._ _The Author would make acknowledgments to Sir Max Waechter and to Sir Francis Trippel for the generous help given to this book and to its purpose.

given

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

From this reading SHAKESPEARE: _Richard III._ _The Author would make acknowledgments to Sir Max Waechter and to Sir Francis Trippel for the generous help given to this book and to its purpose.

hathauxiliary verbUS /hæθ/

an old form of “has”

From this reading "Peace hath her victories No less renowned than war."

Haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to see my shadow in the sun."

helpnounUS /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading SHAKESPEARE: _Richard III._ _The Author would make acknowledgments to Sir Max Waechter and to Sir Francis Trippel for the generous help given to this book and to its purpose.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading "Peace hath her victories No less renowned than war."

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to see my shadow in the sun."

III

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

From this reading SHAKESPEARE: _Richard III._ _The Author would make acknowledgments to Sir Max Waechter and to Sir Francis Trippel for the generous help given to this book and to its purpose.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Published in London under the title of "War and the Woman" By Max Pemberton Author of "The Fortunate Prisoner," "The Garden of Swords," etc.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading SHAKESPEARE: _Richard III._ _The Author would make acknowledgments to Sir Max Waechter and to Sir Francis Trippel for the generous help given to this book and to its purpose.

less

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

From this reading "Peace hath her victories No less renowned than war."

London

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

From this reading Published in London under the title of "War and the Woman" By Max Pemberton Author of "The Fortunate Prisoner," "The Garden of Swords," etc.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading SHAKESPEARE: _Richard III._ _The Author would make acknowledgments to Sir Max Waechter and to Sir Francis Trippel for the generous help given to this book and to its purpose.

Max

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

From this reading Published in London under the title of "War and the Woman" By Max Pemberton Author of "The Fortunate Prisoner," "The Garden of Swords," etc.

MILTON

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

From this reading MILTON: _Sonnets_.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to see my shadow in the sun."

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading "Peace hath her victories No less renowned than war."

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Published in London under the title of "War and the Woman" By Max Pemberton Author of "The Fortunate Prisoner," "The Garden of Swords," etc.

pass

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

From this reading "I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to see my shadow in the sun."

Peace

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

From this reading "Peace hath her victories No less renowned than war."

Pemberton

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

From this reading Published in London under the title of "War and the Woman" By Max Pemberton Author of "The Fortunate Prisoner," "The Garden of Swords," etc.

piping

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

From this reading "I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to see my shadow in the sun."

Prisoner

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

From this reading Published in London under the title of "War and the Woman" By Max Pemberton Author of "The Fortunate Prisoner," "The Garden of Swords," etc.

Published

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

From this reading Published in London under the title of "War and the Woman" By Max Pemberton Author of "The Fortunate Prisoner," "The Garden of Swords," etc.

purpose

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

From this reading SHAKESPEARE: _Richard III._ _The Author would make acknowledgments to Sir Max Waechter and to Sir Francis Trippel for the generous help given to this book and to its purpose.

renowned

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

From this reading "Peace hath her victories No less renowned than war."

Richard

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

From this reading SHAKESPEARE: _Richard III._ _The Author would make acknowledgments to Sir Max Waechter and to Sir Francis Trippel for the generous help given to this book and to its purpose.

see

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

From this reading "I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to see my shadow in the sun."

shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading "I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to see my shadow in the sun."

SHAKESPEARE

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

From this reading SHAKESPEARE: _Richard III._ _The Author would make acknowledgments to Sir Max Waechter and to Sir Francis Trippel for the generous help given to this book and to its purpose.

Sir

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

From this reading SHAKESPEARE: _Richard III._ _The Author would make acknowledgments to Sir Max Waechter and to Sir Francis Trippel for the generous help given to this book and to its purpose.

Sonnets

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

From this reading MILTON: _Sonnets_.

sun

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

From this reading "I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to see my shadow in the sun."

Swords

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

From this reading Published in London under the title of "War and the Woman" By Max Pemberton Author of "The Fortunate Prisoner," "The Garden of Swords," etc.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading "Peace hath her victories No less renowned than war."

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Published in London under the title of "War and the Woman" By Max Pemberton Author of "The Fortunate Prisoner," "The Garden of Swords," etc.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading "I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to see my shadow in the sun."

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to see my shadow in the sun."

title

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

From this reading Published in London under the title of "War and the Woman" By Max Pemberton Author of "The Fortunate Prisoner," "The Garden of Swords," etc.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to see my shadow in the sun."

Trippel

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

From this reading SHAKESPEARE: _Richard III._ _The Author would make acknowledgments to Sir Max Waechter and to Sir Francis Trippel for the generous help given to this book and to its purpose.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Published in London under the title of "War and the Woman" By Max Pemberton Author of "The Fortunate Prisoner," "The Garden of Swords," etc.

UnlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/

except if; if not

From this reading "I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to see my shadow in the sun."

victories

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

From this reading "Peace hath her victories No less renowned than war."

Waechter

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

From this reading SHAKESPEARE: _Richard III._ _The Author would make acknowledgments to Sir Max Waechter and to Sir Francis Trippel for the generous help given to this book and to its purpose.

War

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

From this reading Published in London under the title of "War and the Woman" By Max Pemberton Author of "The Fortunate Prisoner," "The Garden of Swords," etc.

weak

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

From this reading "I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to see my shadow in the sun."

Woman

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

From this reading Published in London under the title of "War and the Woman" By Max Pemberton Author of "The Fortunate Prisoner," "The Garden of Swords," etc.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading SHAKESPEARE: _Richard III._ _The Author would make acknowledgments to Sir Max Waechter and to Sir Francis Trippel for the generous help given to this book and to its purpose.