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The Emancipated
The Emancipated

Chapter I

Cover illustration for The Emancipated
Context Illustration Reading 1/73 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Villa Sannazaro had no architectural beauty; it was a building of considerable size, irregular, in need of external repair.
Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.
If you passed straight through, you came out upon a terrace, where grew a magnificent stone-pine and some robust agaves.
The view hence was uninterrupted, embracing the line of the bay from Posillipo to Cape Minerva.
From the parapet bordering the platform you looked over a descent of twenty feet, into a downward sloping vineyard.
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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 Emancipated

Chapter I

Reading 1/73 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Villa Sannazaro had no architectural beauty; it was a building of considerable size, irregular, in need of external repair.
Line 2
Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.
Line 3
If you passed straight through, you came out upon a terrace, where grew a magnificent stone-pine and some robust agaves.
Line 4
The view hence was uninterrupted, embracing the line of the bay from Posillipo to Cape Minerva.
Line 5
From the parapet bordering the platform you looked over a descent of twenty feet, into a downward sloping vineyard.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.”

Beneath preposition US /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading “Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.”

Descent noun US /dɪˈsent/

An action of moving downward, dropping, or falling into a deeper place.

From this reading “From the parapet bordering the platform you looked over a descent of twenty feet, into a downward sloping vineyard.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.”

Hence adverb US /hens/

for this reason

From this reading “The view hence was uninterrupted, embracing the line of the bay from Posillipo to Cape Minerva.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From the parapet bordering the platform you looked over a descent of twenty feet, into a downward sloping vineyard.”

Need noun US /need/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Villa Sannazaro had no architectural beauty; it was a building of considerable size, irregular, in need of external repair.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “From the parapet bordering the platform you looked over a descent of twenty feet, into a downward sloping vineyard.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If you passed straight through, you came out upon a terrace, where grew a magnificent stone-pine and some robust agaves.”

Stand noun US /stand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “If you passed straight through, you came out upon a terrace, where grew a magnificent stone-pine and some robust agaves.”

All words in this reading · 83

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 Villa Sannazaro had no architectural beauty; it was a building of considerable size, irregular, in need of external repair.

agaves

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

From this reading If you passed straight through, you came out upon a terrace, where grew a magnificent stone-pine and some robust agaves.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading If you passed straight through, you came out upon a terrace, where grew a magnificent stone-pine and some robust agaves.

Animals

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

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

arch

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

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

architectural

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

From this reading Villa Sannazaro had no architectural beauty; it was a building of considerable size, irregular, in need of external repair.

archway

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

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

bay

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

From this reading The view hence was uninterrupted, embracing the line of the bay from Posillipo to Cape Minerva.

beauty

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

From this reading Villa Sannazaro had no architectural beauty; it was a building of considerable size, irregular, in need of external repair.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

bordering

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

From this reading From the parapet bordering the platform you looked over a descent of twenty feet, into a downward sloping vineyard.

building

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

From this reading Villa Sannazaro had no architectural beauty; it was a building of considerable size, irregular, in need of external repair.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

came

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

From this reading If you passed straight through, you came out upon a terrace, where grew a magnificent stone-pine and some robust agaves.

Cape

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

From this reading The view hence was uninterrupted, embracing the line of the bay from Posillipo to Cape Minerva.

considerable

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

From this reading Villa Sannazaro had no architectural beauty; it was a building of considerable size, irregular, in need of external repair.

copies

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

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

descentnounUS /dɪˈsent/

An action of moving downward, dropping, or falling into a deeper place.

From this reading From the parapet bordering the platform you looked over a descent of twenty feet, into a downward sloping vineyard.

downward

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

From this reading From the parapet bordering the platform you looked over a descent of twenty feet, into a downward sloping vineyard.

embracing

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

From this reading The view hence was uninterrupted, embracing the line of the bay from Posillipo to Cape Minerva.

entrance

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

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

external

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

From this reading Villa Sannazaro had no architectural beauty; it was a building of considerable size, irregular, in need of external repair.

feet

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

From this reading From the parapet bordering the platform you looked over a descent of twenty feet, into a downward sloping vineyard.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The view hence was uninterrupted, embracing the line of the bay from Posillipo to Cape Minerva.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

grew

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

From this reading If you passed straight through, you came out upon a terrace, where grew a magnificent stone-pine and some robust agaves.

guarded

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

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Villa Sannazaro had no architectural beauty; it was a building of considerable size, irregular, in need of external repair.

Hall

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

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

henceadverbUS /hens/

for this reason

From this reading The view hence was uninterrupted, embracing the line of the bay from Posillipo to Cape Minerva.

hounds

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

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

house

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

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If you passed straight through, you came out upon a terrace, where grew a magnificent stone-pine and some robust agaves.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Villa Sannazaro had no architectural beauty; it was a building of considerable size, irregular, in need of external repair.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading From the parapet bordering the platform you looked over a descent of twenty feet, into a downward sloping vineyard.

irregular

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

From this reading Villa Sannazaro had no architectural beauty; it was a building of considerable size, irregular, in need of external repair.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Villa Sannazaro had no architectural beauty; it was a building of considerable size, irregular, in need of external repair.

line

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

From this reading The view hence was uninterrupted, embracing the line of the bay from Posillipo to Cape Minerva.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading From the parapet bordering the platform you looked over a descent of twenty feet, into a downward sloping vineyard.

magnificent

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

From this reading If you passed straight through, you came out upon a terrace, where grew a magnificent stone-pine and some robust agaves.

main

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

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

middle

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

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

Minerva

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

From this reading The view hence was uninterrupted, embracing the line of the bay from Posillipo to Cape Minerva.

Molossian

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

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

neednounUS /need/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Villa Sannazaro had no architectural beauty; it was a building of considerable size, irregular, in need of external repair.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Villa Sannazaro had no architectural beauty; it was a building of considerable size, irregular, in need of external repair.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Villa Sannazaro had no architectural beauty; it was a building of considerable size, irregular, in need of external repair.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

out

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

From this reading If you passed straight through, you came out upon a terrace, where grew a magnificent stone-pine and some robust agaves.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading From the parapet bordering the platform you looked over a descent of twenty feet, into a downward sloping vineyard.

parapet

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

From this reading From the parapet bordering the platform you looked over a descent of twenty feet, into a downward sloping vineyard.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If you passed straight through, you came out upon a terrace, where grew a magnificent stone-pine and some robust agaves.

platform

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

From this reading From the parapet bordering the platform you looked over a descent of twenty feet, into a downward sloping vineyard.

Posillipo

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

From this reading The view hence was uninterrupted, embracing the line of the bay from Posillipo to Cape Minerva.

ran

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

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

repair

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

From this reading Villa Sannazaro had no architectural beauty; it was a building of considerable size, irregular, in need of external repair.

right-hand

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

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

robust

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

From this reading If you passed straight through, you came out upon a terrace, where grew a magnificent stone-pine and some robust agaves.

Sannazaro

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

From this reading Villa Sannazaro had no architectural beauty; it was a building of considerable size, irregular, in need of external repair.

side

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

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

size

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

From this reading Villa Sannazaro had no architectural beauty; it was a building of considerable size, irregular, in need of external repair.

sloping

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

From this reading From the parapet bordering the platform you looked over a descent of twenty feet, into a downward sloping vineyard.

some

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

From this reading If you passed straight through, you came out upon a terrace, where grew a magnificent stone-pine and some robust agaves.

stand

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

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

stone-pine

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

From this reading If you passed straight through, you came out upon a terrace, where grew a magnificent stone-pine and some robust agaves.

straight

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

From this reading If you passed straight through, you came out upon a terrace, where grew a magnificent stone-pine and some robust agaves.

terrace

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

From this reading If you passed straight through, you came out upon a terrace, where grew a magnificent stone-pine and some robust agaves.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

ThroughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

twenty

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

From this reading From the parapet bordering the platform you looked over a descent of twenty feet, into a downward sloping vineyard.

two

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

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

uninterrupted

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

From this reading The view hence was uninterrupted, embracing the line of the bay from Posillipo to Cape Minerva.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading If you passed straight through, you came out upon a terrace, where grew a magnificent stone-pine and some robust agaves.

Vatican

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

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

view

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

From this reading The view hence was uninterrupted, embracing the line of the bay from Posillipo to Cape Minerva.

Villa

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

From this reading Villa Sannazaro had no architectural beauty; it was a building of considerable size, irregular, in need of external repair.

vineyard

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

From this reading From the parapet bordering the platform you looked over a descent of twenty feet, into a downward sloping vineyard.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Villa Sannazaro had no architectural beauty; it was a building of considerable size, irregular, in need of external repair.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading If you passed straight through, you came out upon a terrace, where grew a magnificent stone-pine and some robust agaves.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Through the middle of it ran a great archway, guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before the Hall of Animals in the Vatican; beneath the arch, on the right-hand side, was the main entrance to the house.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading If you passed straight through, you came out upon a terrace, where grew a magnificent stone-pine and some robust agaves.