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The Elusive Pimpernel
The Elusive Pimpernel

Chapter XXIII · The Hostage

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Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.
She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.
The moon, now slowly sinking in the west, edged the towers and spires with filmy lines of silver.
To the right Marguerite caught sight of the frowning Beffroi, which even as she gazed out began tolling its heavy bell.
It sounded like the tocsin, dull and muffled.
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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.

The Elusive Pimpernel

Chapter XXIII · The Hostage

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.
Line 2
She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.
Line 3
The moon, now slowly sinking in the west, edged the towers and spires with filmy lines of silver.
Line 4
To the right Marguerite caught sight of the frowning Beffroi, which even as she gazed out began tolling its heavy bell.
Line 5
It sounded like the tocsin, dull and muffled.

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 “She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To the right Marguerite caught sight of the frowning Beffroi, which even as she gazed out began tolling its heavy bell.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To the right Marguerite caught sight of the frowning Beffroi, which even as she gazed out began tolling its heavy bell.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To the right Marguerite caught sight of the frowning Beffroi, which even as she gazed out began tolling its heavy bell.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.”

Silver noun US /silver/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The moon, now slowly sinking in the west, edged the towers and spires with filmy lines of silver.”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.”

All words in this reading · 75

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

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The moon, now slowly sinking in the west, edged the towers and spires with filmy lines of silver.

arms

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

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.

asleep

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

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

Beffroi

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

From this reading To the right Marguerite caught sight of the frowning Beffroi, which even as she gazed out began tolling its heavy bell.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To the right Marguerite caught sight of the frowning Beffroi, which even as she gazed out began tolling its heavy bell.

bell

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

From this reading To the right Marguerite caught sight of the frowning Beffroi, which even as she gazed out began tolling its heavy bell.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

caught

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

From this reading To the right Marguerite caught sight of the frowning Beffroi, which even as she gazed out began tolling its heavy bell.

Chauvelin

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

From this reading Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.

city

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

From this reading Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.

dull

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

From this reading It sounded like the tocsin, dull and muffled.

edged

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

From this reading The moon, now slowly sinking in the west, edged the towers and spires with filmy lines of silver.

encircled

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

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To the right Marguerite caught sight of the frowning Beffroi, which even as she gazed out began tolling its heavy bell.

extended

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

From this reading Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.

filmy

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

From this reading The moon, now slowly sinking in the west, edged the towers and spires with filmy lines of silver.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

forts

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

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

frowning

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

From this reading To the right Marguerite caught sight of the frowning Beffroi, which even as she gazed out began tolling its heavy bell.

gaze

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

From this reading Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.

gazed

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

From this reading To the right Marguerite caught sight of the frowning Beffroi, which even as she gazed out began tolling its heavy bell.

hand

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

From this reading Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

heavy

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

From this reading To the right Marguerite caught sight of the frowning Beffroi, which even as she gazed out began tolling its heavy bell.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.

hour

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

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The moon, now slowly sinking in the west, edged the towers and spires with filmy lines of silver.

invite

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

From this reading Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

late

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

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

like

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

From this reading It sounded like the tocsin, dull and muffled.

lines

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

From this reading The moon, now slowly sinking in the west, edged the towers and spires with filmy lines of silver.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

Marguerite

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

From this reading Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

moon

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

From this reading The moon, now slowly sinking in the west, edged the towers and spires with filmy lines of silver.

muffled

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

From this reading It sounded like the tocsin, dull and muffled.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

night

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

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

now

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

From this reading The moon, now slowly sinking in the west, edged the towers and spires with filmy lines of silver.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

out

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

From this reading Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To the right Marguerite caught sight of the frowning Beffroi, which even as she gazed out began tolling its heavy bell.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

sight

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

From this reading To the right Marguerite caught sight of the frowning Beffroi, which even as she gazed out began tolling its heavy bell.

silver

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

From this reading The moon, now slowly sinking in the west, edged the towers and spires with filmy lines of silver.

sinking

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

From this reading The moon, now slowly sinking in the west, edged the towers and spires with filmy lines of silver.

slowly

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

From this reading The moon, now slowly sinking in the west, edged the towers and spires with filmy lines of silver.

sounded

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

From this reading It sounded like the tocsin, dull and muffled.

speaking

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

From this reading Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.

spires

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

From this reading The moon, now slowly sinking in the west, edged the towers and spires with filmy lines of silver.

stony

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

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.

tocsin

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

From this reading It sounded like the tocsin, dull and muffled.

tolling

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

From this reading To the right Marguerite caught sight of the frowning Beffroi, which even as she gazed out began tolling its heavy bell.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.

towers

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

From this reading The moon, now slowly sinking in the west, edged the towers and spires with filmy lines of silver.

town

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

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

unconscious

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

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

west

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

From this reading The moon, now slowly sinking in the west, edged the towers and spires with filmy lines of silver.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading She was quite unconscious what hour of the night it might be, but it must have been late, for the little town, encircled by the stony arms of its forts, seemed asleep.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading To the right Marguerite caught sight of the frowning Beffroi, which even as she gazed out began tolling its heavy bell.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The moon, now slowly sinking in the west, edged the towers and spires with filmy lines of silver.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Chauvelin, without speaking, extended his hand out towards the city as if to invite Marguerite to gaze upon it.