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The Hawk of Egypt
The Hawk of Egypt

Chapter XXI

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Context Illustration Reading 1/10 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."
SONG OF SOLOMON.
The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.
She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.
It is useless writing about the hell through which the woman had lived from the moment she had returned to consciousness.
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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 Hawk of Egypt

Chapter XXI

Reading 1/10 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."
Line 2
SONG OF SOLOMON.
Line 3
The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.
Line 4
She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.
Line 5
It is useless writing about the hell through which the woman had lived from the moment she had returned to consciousness.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “"_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."”

Plaster noun US /ˈplæstər/

a soft material used to cover and protect a wound

From this reading “The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.”

Returned noun US /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading “It is useless writing about the hell through which the woman had lived from the moment she had returned to consciousness.”

Save preposition US /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading “She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.”

SOLOMON proper noun US /ˈsɒl.ə.mən/

A legendary king renowned for his wisdom and fabulous hidden mines.

From this reading “SONG OF SOLOMON.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “It is useless writing about the hell through which the woman had lived from the moment she had returned to consciousness.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."”

Wounded noun US /wounded/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."”

All words in this reading · 92

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 The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading "_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."

age

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

always

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

away

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

From this reading "_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."

back

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

From this reading The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.

bell

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

Ben

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

From this reading The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

Cairo

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

From this reading The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.

caused

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

city

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

From this reading "_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."

completely

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

consciousness

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

From this reading It is useless writing about the hell through which the woman had lived from the moment she had returned to consciousness.

coveted

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

crumbling

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

From this reading The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.

cushions

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

From this reading The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.

excruciating

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

filthy

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

From this reading The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."

fumes

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

heart

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

heels

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

hell

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

From this reading It is useless writing about the hell through which the woman had lived from the moment she had returned to consciousness.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

hovel

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

From this reading The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.

inhaling

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It is useless writing about the hell through which the woman had lived from the moment she had returned to consciousness.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is useless writing about the hell through which the woman had lived from the moment she had returned to consciousness.

jewel-encrusted

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

keepers

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

From this reading "_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."

Kelham's

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

From this reading The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.

likely

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

live

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

lived

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

From this reading It is useless writing about the hell through which the woman had lived from the moment she had returned to consciousness.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."

moment

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

From this reading It is useless writing about the hell through which the woman had lived from the moment she had returned to consciousness.

moved

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

muscles

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."

nargileh

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

night

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

From this reading The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."

old

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.

pain

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

pile

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

From this reading The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.

plasternounUS /ˈplæstər/

a soft material used to cover and protect a wound

From this reading The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.

recovered

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

return

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

From this reading The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.

returnednounUS /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading It is useless writing about the hell through which the woman had lived from the moment she had returned to consciousness.

ripe

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

sat

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

From this reading The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.

saveprepositionUS /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

servant

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

shrunken

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

slave

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

smoke-filled

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

From this reading The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.

smote

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

From this reading "_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."

SOLOMONproper nounUS /ˈsɒl.ə.mən/

A legendary king renowned for his wisdom and fabulous hidden mines.

From this reading SONG OF SOLOMON.

SONG

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

From this reading SONG OF SOLOMON.

sound

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading It is useless writing about the hell through which the woman had lived from the moment she had returned to consciousness.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."

useless

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

From this reading It is useless writing about the hell through which the woman had lived from the moment she had returned to consciousness.

veil

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

From this reading "_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."

wall

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

From this reading "_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

watchmen

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

From this reading "_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

whilom

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

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading She had completely recovered, and save for the excruciating pain caused by the shrunken muscles when she moved, was as sound as a bell, and likely to live to a ripe old age, slave to her whilom servant, who sat on his heels, inhaling the fumes of the jewel-encrusted _nargileh_ which his heart had always coveted.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.

woman

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From this reading It is useless writing about the hell through which the woman had lived from the moment she had returned to consciousness.

wounded

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From this reading "_The watchmen that went about the city found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the wall took away my veil from me_."

writing

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

From this reading It is useless writing about the hell through which the woman had lived from the moment she had returned to consciousness.

Zulannah

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

From this reading The night before Ben Kelham's return to Cairo, Zulannah sat on a pile of cushions, with her back to the crumbling plaster wall, in the filthy, smoke-filled hovel.