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The Inner House
The Inner House

Chapter XIV

Cover illustration for The Inner House
Context Illustration Reading 1/43 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE EXECUTION.
As the clock struck two, a messenger brought the news that the Preparations were complete.
The College was still sitting in Council.
One of the Physicians proposed that before the Execution the Arch Physician should be brought before us to be subjected to a last examination.
I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Inner House

Chapter XIV

Reading 1/43 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE EXECUTION.
Line 2
As the clock struck two, a messenger brought the news that the Preparations were complete.
Line 3
The College was still sitting in Council.
Line 4
One of the Physicians proposed that before the Execution the Arch Physician should be brought before us to be subjected to a last examination.
Line 5
I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

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 “One of the Physicians proposed that before the Execution the Arch Physician should be brought before us to be subjected to a last examination.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “As the clock struck two, a messenger brought the news that the Preparations were complete.”

Complete noun US /complete/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As the clock struck two, a messenger brought the news that the Preparations were complete.”

Council noun US /council/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The College was still sitting in Council.”

John noun US /john/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One of the Physicians proposed that before the Execution the Arch Physician should be brought before us to be subjected to a last examination.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “One of the Physicians proposed that before the Execution the Arch Physician should be brought before us to be subjected to a last examination.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The College was still sitting in Council.”

Struck noun US /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As the clock struck two, a messenger brought the news that the Preparations were complete.”

All words in this reading · 59

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 As the clock struck two, a messenger brought the news that the Preparations were complete.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

Arch

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

From this reading One of the Physicians proposed that before the Execution the Arch Physician should be brought before us to be subjected to a last examination.

armed

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

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As the clock struck two, a messenger brought the news that the Preparations were complete.

axe

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

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading One of the Physicians proposed that before the Execution the Arch Physician should be brought before us to be subjected to a last examination.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading One of the Physicians proposed that before the Execution the Arch Physician should be brought before us to be subjected to a last examination.

brethren

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

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading As the clock struck two, a messenger brought the news that the Preparations were complete.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

clock

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

From this reading As the clock struck two, a messenger brought the news that the Preparations were complete.

College

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

From this reading The College was still sitting in Council.

completenounUS /complete/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As the clock struck two, a messenger brought the news that the Preparations were complete.

Conclave

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

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

CouncilnounUS /council/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The College was still sitting in Council.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

examination

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

From this reading One of the Physicians proposed that before the Execution the Arch Physician should be brought before us to be subjected to a last examination.

EXECUTION

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

From this reading THE EXECUTION.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The College was still sitting in Council.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

John

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

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One of the Physicians proposed that before the Execution the Arch Physician should be brought before us to be subjected to a last examination.

late

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

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

Lax

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

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

measure

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

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

messenger

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

From this reading As the clock struck two, a messenger brought the news that the Preparations were complete.

news

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

From this reading As the clock struck two, a messenger brought the news that the Preparations were complete.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading One of the Physicians proposed that before the Execution the Arch Physician should be brought before us to be subjected to a last examination.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One of the Physicians proposed that before the Execution the Arch Physician should be brought before us to be subjected to a last examination.

oppose

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

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

Physician

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

From this reading One of the Physicians proposed that before the Execution the Arch Physician should be brought before us to be subjected to a last examination.

Physicians

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

From this reading One of the Physicians proposed that before the Execution the Arch Physician should be brought before us to be subjected to a last examination.

Preparations

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

From this reading As the clock struck two, a messenger brought the news that the Preparations were complete.

presently

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

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

Prisoners

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

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

proposed

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

From this reading One of the Physicians proposed that before the Execution the Arch Physician should be brought before us to be subjected to a last examination.

saw

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

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

sharpened

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

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading One of the Physicians proposed that before the Execution the Arch Physician should be brought before us to be subjected to a last examination.

sitting

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

From this reading The College was still sitting in Council.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The College was still sitting in Council.

strucknounUS /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As the clock struck two, a messenger brought the news that the Preparations were complete.

subjected

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

From this reading One of the Physicians proposed that before the Execution the Arch Physician should be brought before us to be subjected to a last examination.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading As the clock struck two, a messenger brought the news that the Preparations were complete.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE EXECUTION.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading One of the Physicians proposed that before the Execution the Arch Physician should be brought before us to be subjected to a last examination.

two

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

From this reading As the clock struck two, a messenger brought the news that the Preparations were complete.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading One of the Physicians proposed that before the Execution the Arch Physician should be brought before us to be subjected to a last examination.

use

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

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The College was still sitting in Council.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading As the clock struck two, a messenger brought the news that the Preparations were complete.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I saw no use for this measure, but I did not oppose it; and presently John Lax, armed with his sharpened axe, brought the Prisoners before the Conclave of his late brethren.