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The Happy Foreigner
The Happy Foreigner

Chapter XVI

Cover illustration for The Happy Foreigner
Context Illustration Reading 1/21 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.
"Guise," said the signpost, and a battlement stared down and threw its shadow across her face.
"Is that where the dukes lived?"
She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.
Dark and light moved across the face of the falling day.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Happy Foreigner

Chapter XVI

Reading 1/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.
Line 2
"Guise," said the signpost, and a battlement stared down and threw its shadow across her face.
Line 3
"Is that where the dukes lived?"
Line 4
She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.
Line 5
Dark and light moved across the face of the falling day.

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “"Guise," said the signpost, and a battlement stared down and threw its shadow across her face.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.”

None pronoun US /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading “She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.”

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 “"Guise," said the signpost, and a battlement stared down and threw its shadow across her face.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.”

Till preposition US /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.”

All words in this reading · 64

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 "Guise," said the signpost, and a battlement stared down and threw its shadow across her face.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading "Guise," said the signpost, and a battlement stared down and threw its shadow across her face.

amazement

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

From this reading She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.

ARDENNES

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

From this reading THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.

battlement

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

From this reading "Guise," said the signpost, and a battlement stared down and threw its shadow across her face.

came

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

From this reading THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.

covering

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

From this reading She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.

Dark

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

From this reading Dark and light moved across the face of the falling day.

day

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

From this reading THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.

distances

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

From this reading She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.

down

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

From this reading "Guise," said the signpost, and a battlement stared down and threw its shadow across her face.

dropping

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

From this reading THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.

dukes

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

From this reading "Is that where the dukes lived?"

dying

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

From this reading THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.

face

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

From this reading "Guise," said the signpost, and a battlement stared down and threw its shadow across her face.

falling

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

From this reading Dark and light moved across the face of the falling day.

forefathers

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

From this reading She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.

Guise

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

From this reading "Guise," said the signpost, and a battlement stared down and threw its shadow across her face.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.

half-light

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

From this reading THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.

hundreds

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

From this reading She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.

invention

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

From this reading She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.

Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "Is that where the dukes lived?"

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading "Guise," said the signpost, and a battlement stared down and threw its shadow across her face.

landscape

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

From this reading She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.

light

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

From this reading Dark and light moved across the face of the falling day.

lived

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

From this reading "Is that where the dukes lived?"

lower

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

From this reading THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.

magic

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

From this reading She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.

miles

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

From this reading She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.

mount

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

From this reading She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.

moved

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

From this reading Dark and light moved across the face of the falling day.

moving

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

From this reading She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.

nearer

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

From this reading THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.

ran

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

From this reading THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.

said

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

From this reading "Guise," said the signpost, and a battlement stared down and threw its shadow across her face.

shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

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

From this reading "Guise," said the signpost, and a battlement stared down and threw its shadow across her face.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.

signpost

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

From this reading "Guise," said the signpost, and a battlement stared down and threw its shadow across her face.

sinking

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

From this reading THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.

speck

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

From this reading She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.

stared

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

From this reading "Guise," said the signpost, and a battlement stared down and threw its shadow across her face.

sun

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

From this reading THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Is that where the dukes lived?"

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.

threw

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

From this reading "Guise," said the signpost, and a battlement stared down and threw its shadow across her face.

tillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.

unknown

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

From this reading She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.

wheels

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

From this reading She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading "Is that where the dukes lived?"

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading She was a speck in the landscape, moving on wheels that were none of her invention, covering distances of hundreds of miles without amazement, upon a magic mount unknown to her forefathers.

wore

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

From this reading THE ARDENNES The day wore on-- The sun came lower and nearer, till the half-light ran with her half- thought, dropping, sinking, dying.