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

Chapter IX

Cover illustration for The Branding Needle
Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
QUEEN AND MAYOR OF THE PALACE.
Chrotechilde was not mistaken.
The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.
Sigebert, a boy of barely eleven, was like his brothers, frail, sickly and pale.
Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.
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.

The Branding Needle

Chapter IX

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
QUEEN AND MAYOR OF THE PALACE.
Line 2
Chrotechilde was not mistaken.
Line 3
The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.
Line 4
Sigebert, a boy of barely eleven, was like his brothers, frail, sickly and pale.
Line 5
Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

Learner Dictionary

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

Appearance noun US /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading “Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.”

Diabolical adjective US /ˌdaɪəˈbɑːlɪkəl/

extremely evil or frightening

From this reading “The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.”

Journey noun US /ˈjourney/

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

From this reading “Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.”

Nevertheless adverb US /ˌnevərðəˈles/

in spite of what has just been said

From this reading “Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.”

Seeing noun US /seeing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.”

All words in this reading · 66

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 Sigebert, a boy of barely eleven, was like his brothers, frail, sickly and pale.

accompanied

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

From this reading The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.

all

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

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading QUEEN AND MAYOR OF THE PALACE.

angelic

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

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

anticipating

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

From this reading The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.

appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

arrived

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

From this reading The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

barely

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

From this reading Sigebert, a boy of barely eleven, was like his brothers, frail, sickly and pale.

boy

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

From this reading Sigebert, a boy of barely eleven, was like his brothers, frail, sickly and pale.

brothers

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

From this reading Sigebert, a boy of barely eleven, was like his brothers, frail, sickly and pale.

Brunhild

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

From this reading The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.

Burgundy

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

From this reading The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.

chamber

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

From this reading The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.

Chrotechilde

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

From this reading Chrotechilde was not mistaken.

confidante

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

From this reading The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.

conversing

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

From this reading The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.

depriving

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

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

diabolicaladjectiveUS /ˌdaɪəˈbɑːlɪkəl/

extremely evil or frightening

From this reading The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.

eleven

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

From this reading Sigebert, a boy of barely eleven, was like his brothers, frail, sickly and pale.

excitement

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

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

execrable

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

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

face

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

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

flush

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

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

foresight

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

From this reading The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.

frail

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

From this reading Sigebert, a boy of barely eleven, was like his brothers, frail, sickly and pale.

future

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

From this reading The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.

grandmother

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

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Sigebert, a boy of barely eleven, was like his brothers, frail, sickly and pale.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

journeynounUS /ˈjourney/

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

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

joy

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

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

kinglets

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

From this reading The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.

like

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

From this reading Sigebert, a boy of barely eleven, was like his brothers, frail, sickly and pale.

MAYOR

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

From this reading QUEEN AND MAYOR OF THE PALACE.

mistaken

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

From this reading Chrotechilde was not mistaken.

NeverthelessadverbUS /ˌnevərðəˈles/

in spite of what has just been said

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Chrotechilde was not mistaken.

now

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

From this reading The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading QUEEN AND MAYOR OF THE PALACE.

PALACE

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

From this reading QUEEN AND MAYOR OF THE PALACE.

pale

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

From this reading Sigebert, a boy of barely eleven, was like his brothers, frail, sickly and pale.

precepts

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

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

QUEEN

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

From this reading QUEEN AND MAYOR OF THE PALACE.

seeing

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

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

sickly

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

From this reading Sigebert, a boy of barely eleven, was like his brothers, frail, sickly and pale.

Sigebert

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

From this reading The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.

slight

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

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

stepped

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

From this reading The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.

succeeded

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

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

suffused

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

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

sweet

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

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading QUEEN AND MAYOR OF THE PALACE.

wan

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

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Chrotechilde was not mistaken.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Nevertheless, what with the excitement of the journey and the joy at seeing his brothers, a slight flush suffused his sweet, wan face, which not all the execrable precepts of his grandmother had succeeded in depriving of its angelic appearance.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The mayor of the palace of Burgundy had arrived, and now stepped, accompanied by Sigebert, into the chamber where Brunhild and her confidante were conversing with the kinglets, and anticipating the future with diabolical foresight.