Chapter 33 of The Canterbury Tales, and Other Poems is here in full — 217 sentences across 44 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXXIII
Chapter 33 of The Canterbury Tales, and Other Poems is here in full — 217 sentences across 44 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
20. The twelve peers of Charlemagne (les douze pairs), chief among whom were Roland and Oliver. 21. Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter. 22.
Chapter 33 of The Canterbury Tales, and Other Poems is here in full — 217 sentences across 44 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/43 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
king of the Franks and Holy Roman Emperor; conqueror of the Lombards and Saxons (742-814)
From this reading “The twelve peers of Charlemagne (les douze pairs), chief among whom were Roland and Oliver.”
English poet remembered as author of the Canterbury Tales (1340-1400)
From this reading “Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.”
set up or found
From this reading “Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.”
a band (usually elastic) worn around the leg to hold up a stocking (or around the arm to hold up a sleeve)
From this reading “Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.”
plural of “le” — a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)
From this reading “The twelve peers of Charlemagne (les douze pairs), chief among whom were Roland and Oliver.”
plural of “pair” — a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading “The twelve peers of Charlemagne (les douze pairs), chief among whom were Roland and Oliver.”
plural of “peer” — a person who is of equal standing with another in a group
From this reading “The twelve peers of Charlemagne (les douze pairs), chief among whom were Roland and Oliver.”
restored to consciousness or life or vigor
From this reading “Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.”
Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.
Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 20.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 21.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 22.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading The twelve peers of Charlemagne (les douze pairs), chief among whom were Roland and Oliver.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The twelve peers of Charlemagne (les douze pairs), chief among whom were Roland and Oliver.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
king of the Franks and Holy Roman Emperor; conqueror of the Lombards and Saxons (742-814)
From this reading The twelve peers of Charlemagne (les douze pairs), chief among whom were Roland and Oliver.
English poet remembered as author of the Canterbury Tales (1340-1400)
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
a person who is in charge
From this reading The twelve peers of Charlemagne (les douze pairs), chief among whom were Roland and Oliver.
characteristic of the time of chivalry and knighthood in the Middle Ages
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The twelve peers of Charlemagne (les douze pairs), chief among whom were Roland and Oliver.
King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
set up or found
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
past form of “found” — set up or found
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
a band (usually elastic) worn around the leg to hold up a stocking (or around the arm to hold up a sleeve)
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
an organization founded and united for a specific purpose
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
plural of “le” — a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)
From this reading The twelve peers of Charlemagne (les douze pairs), chief among whom were Roland and Oliver.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The twelve peers of Charlemagne (les douze pairs), chief among whom were Roland and Oliver.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
United States jazz musician who influenced the style of Louis Armstrong (1885-1938)
From this reading The twelve peers of Charlemagne (les douze pairs), chief among whom were Roland and Oliver.
and nothing more
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
plural of “pair” — a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading The twelve peers of Charlemagne (les douze pairs), chief among whom were Roland and Oliver.
plural of “peer” — a person who is of equal standing with another in a group
From this reading The twelve peers of Charlemagne (les douze pairs), chief among whom were Roland and Oliver.
literature in metrical form
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
plural of “purpose” — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
restored to consciousness or life or vigor
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The twelve peers of Charlemagne (les douze pairs), chief among whom were Roland and Oliver.
third-person singular of “speak” — express in speech
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The twelve peers of Charlemagne (les douze pairs), chief among whom were Roland and Oliver.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading The twelve peers of Charlemagne (les douze pairs), chief among whom were Roland and Oliver.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The twelve peers of Charlemagne (les douze pairs), chief among whom were Roland and Oliver.
at the time that
From this reading Chaucer speaks as if, at least for the purposes of his poetry, he believed that Edward III. did not establish a new, but only revived an old, chivalric institution, when be founded the Order of the Garter.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The twelve peers of Charlemagne (les douze pairs), chief among whom were Roland and Oliver.
Chapter 33 of The Canterbury Tales, and Other Poems by Geoffrey Chaucer holds 217 sentences, grouped into 44 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 33 holds 217 sentences of The Canterbury Tales, and Other Poems, unabridged, divided into 44 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 33 of The Canterbury Tales, and Other Poems by Geoffrey Chaucer exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 217 sentences, grouped into 44 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 44 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 44 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 33 can be played aloud in United States English.
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About 600 minutes of reading across 1913 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
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