Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Midnight Queen
The Midnight Queen

Chapter I

Cover illustration for The Midnight Queen
Context Illustration Reading 1/42 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The plague raged in the city of London.
The destroying angel had gone forth, and kindled with its fiery breath the awful pestilence, until all London became one mighty lazar-house.
Thousands were swept away daily; grass grew in the streets, and the living were scarce able to bury the dead.
Business of all kinds was at an end, except that of the coffin-makers and drivers of the pest-cart.
Whole streets were shut up, and almost every other house in the city bore the fatal red cross, and the ominous inscription, “Lord have mercy on us”.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Midnight Queen

Chapter I

Reading 1/42 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The plague raged in the city of London.
Line 2
The destroying angel had gone forth, and kindled with its fiery breath the awful pestilence, until all London became one mighty lazar-house.
Line 3
Thousands were swept away daily; grass grew in the streets, and the living were scarce able to bury the dead.
Line 4
Business of all kinds was at an end, except that of the coffin-makers and drivers of the pest-cart.
Line 5
Whole streets were shut up, and almost every other house in the city bore the fatal red cross, and the ominous inscription, “Lord have mercy on us”.

Learner Dictionary

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

Dead noun US /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Thousands were swept away daily; grass grew in the streets, and the living were scarce able to bury the dead.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “Whole streets were shut up, and almost every other house in the city bore the fatal red cross, and the ominous inscription, “Lord have mercy on us”.”

Except preposition US /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading “Business of all kinds was at an end, except that of the coffin-makers and drivers of the pest-cart.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Whole streets were shut up, and almost every other house in the city bore the fatal red cross, and the ominous inscription, “Lord have mercy on us”.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The destroying angel had gone forth, and kindled with its fiery breath the awful pestilence, until all London became one mighty lazar-house.”

Scarce adjective US /skɛrs/

hard to find or in short supply

From this reading “Thousands were swept away daily; grass grew in the streets, and the living were scarce able to bury the dead.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “The destroying angel had gone forth, and kindled with its fiery breath the awful pestilence, until all London became one mighty lazar-house.”

All words in this reading · 69

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

able

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

From this reading Thousands were swept away daily; grass grew in the streets, and the living were scarce able to bury the dead.

all

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

From this reading The destroying angel had gone forth, and kindled with its fiery breath the awful pestilence, until all London became one mighty lazar-house.

almost

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

From this reading Whole streets were shut up, and almost every other house in the city bore the fatal red cross, and the ominous inscription, “Lord have mercy on us”.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Business of all kinds was at an end, except that of the coffin-makers and drivers of the pest-cart.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The destroying angel had gone forth, and kindled with its fiery breath the awful pestilence, until all London became one mighty lazar-house.

angel

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

From this reading The destroying angel had gone forth, and kindled with its fiery breath the awful pestilence, until all London became one mighty lazar-house.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Business of all kinds was at an end, except that of the coffin-makers and drivers of the pest-cart.

away

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

From this reading Thousands were swept away daily; grass grew in the streets, and the living were scarce able to bury the dead.

awful

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

From this reading The destroying angel had gone forth, and kindled with its fiery breath the awful pestilence, until all London became one mighty lazar-house.

became

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

From this reading The destroying angel had gone forth, and kindled with its fiery breath the awful pestilence, until all London became one mighty lazar-house.

bore

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

From this reading Whole streets were shut up, and almost every other house in the city bore the fatal red cross, and the ominous inscription, “Lord have mercy on us”.

breath

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

From this reading The destroying angel had gone forth, and kindled with its fiery breath the awful pestilence, until all London became one mighty lazar-house.

bury

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

From this reading Thousands were swept away daily; grass grew in the streets, and the living were scarce able to bury the dead.

Business

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

From this reading Business of all kinds was at an end, except that of the coffin-makers and drivers of the pest-cart.

city

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

From this reading The plague raged in the city of London.

coffin-makers

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

From this reading Business of all kinds was at an end, except that of the coffin-makers and drivers of the pest-cart.

cross

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

From this reading Whole streets were shut up, and almost every other house in the city bore the fatal red cross, and the ominous inscription, “Lord have mercy on us”.

daily

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

From this reading Thousands were swept away daily; grass grew in the streets, and the living were scarce able to bury the dead.

deadnounUS /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Thousands were swept away daily; grass grew in the streets, and the living were scarce able to bury the dead.

destroying

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

From this reading The destroying angel had gone forth, and kindled with its fiery breath the awful pestilence, until all London became one mighty lazar-house.

drivers

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

From this reading Business of all kinds was at an end, except that of the coffin-makers and drivers of the pest-cart.

end

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

From this reading Business of all kinds was at an end, except that of the coffin-makers and drivers of the pest-cart.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Whole streets were shut up, and almost every other house in the city bore the fatal red cross, and the ominous inscription, “Lord have mercy on us”.

exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading Business of all kinds was at an end, except that of the coffin-makers and drivers of the pest-cart.

fatal

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

From this reading Whole streets were shut up, and almost every other house in the city bore the fatal red cross, and the ominous inscription, “Lord have mercy on us”.

fiery

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

From this reading The destroying angel had gone forth, and kindled with its fiery breath the awful pestilence, until all London became one mighty lazar-house.

forth

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

From this reading The destroying angel had gone forth, and kindled with its fiery breath the awful pestilence, until all London became one mighty lazar-house.

gone

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

From this reading The destroying angel had gone forth, and kindled with its fiery breath the awful pestilence, until all London became one mighty lazar-house.

grass

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

From this reading Thousands were swept away daily; grass grew in the streets, and the living were scarce able to bury the dead.

grew

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

From this reading Thousands were swept away daily; grass grew in the streets, and the living were scarce able to bury the dead.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The destroying angel had gone forth, and kindled with its fiery breath the awful pestilence, until all London became one mighty lazar-house.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Whole streets were shut up, and almost every other house in the city bore the fatal red cross, and the ominous inscription, “Lord have mercy on us”.

house

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

From this reading Whole streets were shut up, and almost every other house in the city bore the fatal red cross, and the ominous inscription, “Lord have mercy on us”.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The plague raged in the city of London.

inscription

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

From this reading Whole streets were shut up, and almost every other house in the city bore the fatal red cross, and the ominous inscription, “Lord have mercy on us”.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The destroying angel had gone forth, and kindled with its fiery breath the awful pestilence, until all London became one mighty lazar-house.

kindled

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

From this reading The destroying angel had gone forth, and kindled with its fiery breath the awful pestilence, until all London became one mighty lazar-house.

kinds

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

From this reading Business of all kinds was at an end, except that of the coffin-makers and drivers of the pest-cart.

lazar-house

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

From this reading The destroying angel had gone forth, and kindled with its fiery breath the awful pestilence, until all London became one mighty lazar-house.

living

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

From this reading Thousands were swept away daily; grass grew in the streets, and the living were scarce able to bury the dead.

London

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

From this reading The plague raged in the city of London.

Lord

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

From this reading Whole streets were shut up, and almost every other house in the city bore the fatal red cross, and the ominous inscription, “Lord have mercy on us”.

mercy

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

From this reading Whole streets were shut up, and almost every other house in the city bore the fatal red cross, and the ominous inscription, “Lord have mercy on us”.

mighty

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

From this reading The destroying angel had gone forth, and kindled with its fiery breath the awful pestilence, until all London became one mighty lazar-house.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The plague raged in the city of London.

ominous

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

From this reading Whole streets were shut up, and almost every other house in the city bore the fatal red cross, and the ominous inscription, “Lord have mercy on us”.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Whole streets were shut up, and almost every other house in the city bore the fatal red cross, and the ominous inscription, “Lord have mercy on us”.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The destroying angel had gone forth, and kindled with its fiery breath the awful pestilence, until all London became one mighty lazar-house.

other

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

From this reading Whole streets were shut up, and almost every other house in the city bore the fatal red cross, and the ominous inscription, “Lord have mercy on us”.

pest-cart

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

From this reading Business of all kinds was at an end, except that of the coffin-makers and drivers of the pest-cart.

pestilence

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

From this reading The destroying angel had gone forth, and kindled with its fiery breath the awful pestilence, until all London became one mighty lazar-house.

plague

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

From this reading The plague raged in the city of London.

raged

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

From this reading The plague raged in the city of London.

red

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

From this reading Whole streets were shut up, and almost every other house in the city bore the fatal red cross, and the ominous inscription, “Lord have mercy on us”.

scarceadjectiveUS /skɛrs/

hard to find or in short supply

From this reading Thousands were swept away daily; grass grew in the streets, and the living were scarce able to bury the dead.

shut

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

From this reading Whole streets were shut up, and almost every other house in the city bore the fatal red cross, and the ominous inscription, “Lord have mercy on us”.

streets

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

From this reading Thousands were swept away daily; grass grew in the streets, and the living were scarce able to bury the dead.

swept

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

From this reading Thousands were swept away daily; grass grew in the streets, and the living were scarce able to bury the dead.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Business of all kinds was at an end, except that of the coffin-makers and drivers of the pest-cart.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The plague raged in the city of London.

Thousands

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

From this reading Thousands were swept away daily; grass grew in the streets, and the living were scarce able to bury the dead.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Thousands were swept away daily; grass grew in the streets, and the living were scarce able to bury the dead.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading The destroying angel had gone forth, and kindled with its fiery breath the awful pestilence, until all London became one mighty lazar-house.

up

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

From this reading Whole streets were shut up, and almost every other house in the city bore the fatal red cross, and the ominous inscription, “Lord have mercy on us”.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

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

From this reading Whole streets were shut up, and almost every other house in the city bore the fatal red cross, and the ominous inscription, “Lord have mercy on us”.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Business of all kinds was at an end, except that of the coffin-makers and drivers of the pest-cart.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Thousands were swept away daily; grass grew in the streets, and the living were scarce able to bury the dead.

Whole

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

From this reading Whole streets were shut up, and almost every other house in the city bore the fatal red cross, and the ominous inscription, “Lord have mercy on us”.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The destroying angel had gone forth, and kindled with its fiery breath the awful pestilence, until all London became one mighty lazar-house.