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

Chapter XI

Cover illustration for The Queen's Advocate
Context Illustration Reading 1/49 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
TO SAMAC.
Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.
We were nearing the end of the place when I caught sight of a church with a mean-looking presbytery by the side.
I checked my horse, rode to it, and asked for Father Michel.
A tall white-haired priest came out; kind-faced, with remarkable eyes almost black, under black brows.
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 Queen's Advocate

Chapter XI

Reading 1/49 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
TO SAMAC.
Line 2
Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.
Line 3
We were nearing the end of the place when I caught sight of a church with a mean-looking presbytery by the side.
Line 4
I checked my horse, rode to it, and asked for Father Michel.
Line 5
A tall white-haired priest came out; kind-faced, with remarkable eyes almost black, under black brows.

Learner Dictionary

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

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I checked my horse, rode to it, and asked for Father Michel.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.”

Remarkable noun US /ˈremarkable/

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

From this reading “A tall white-haired priest came out; kind-faced, with remarkable eyes almost black, under black brows.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “A tall white-haired priest came out; kind-faced, with remarkable eyes almost black, under black brows.”

All words in this reading · 60

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 We were nearing the end of the place when I caught sight of a church with a mean-looking presbytery by the side.

almost

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

From this reading A tall white-haired priest came out; kind-faced, with remarkable eyes almost black, under black brows.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I checked my horse, rode to it, and asked for Father Michel.

black

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

From this reading A tall white-haired priest came out; kind-faced, with remarkable eyes almost black, under black brows.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.

brows

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

From this reading A tall white-haired priest came out; kind-faced, with remarkable eyes almost black, under black brows.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading We were nearing the end of the place when I caught sight of a church with a mean-looking presbytery by the side.

came

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

From this reading A tall white-haired priest came out; kind-faced, with remarkable eyes almost black, under black brows.

caught

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

From this reading We were nearing the end of the place when I caught sight of a church with a mean-looking presbytery by the side.

checked

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

From this reading I checked my horse, rode to it, and asked for Father Michel.

church

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

From this reading We were nearing the end of the place when I caught sight of a church with a mean-looking presbytery by the side.

clatter

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

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.

clattered

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

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.

end

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

From this reading We were nearing the end of the place when I caught sight of a church with a mean-looking presbytery by the side.

eyes

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

From this reading A tall white-haired priest came out; kind-faced, with remarkable eyes almost black, under black brows.

Father

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

From this reading I checked my horse, rode to it, and asked for Father Michel.

folk

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

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I checked my horse, rode to it, and asked for Father Michel.

gape

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

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.

heels

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

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.

horse

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

From this reading I checked my horse, rode to it, and asked for Father Michel.

horses

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

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading We were nearing the end of the place when I caught sight of a church with a mean-looking presbytery by the side.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I checked my horse, rode to it, and asked for Father Michel.

kind-faced

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

From this reading A tall white-haired priest came out; kind-faced, with remarkable eyes almost black, under black brows.

lounging

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

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.

Many

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

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.

mean-looking

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

From this reading We were nearing the end of the place when I caught sight of a church with a mean-looking presbytery by the side.

Michel

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

From this reading I checked my horse, rode to it, and asked for Father Michel.

more

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

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I checked my horse, rode to it, and asked for Father Michel.

nearing

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

From this reading We were nearing the end of the place when I caught sight of a church with a mean-looking presbytery by the side.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.

out

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

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.

past

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

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.

place

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

From this reading We were nearing the end of the place when I caught sight of a church with a mean-looking presbytery by the side.

presbytery

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

From this reading We were nearing the end of the place when I caught sight of a church with a mean-looking presbytery by the side.

priest

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

From this reading A tall white-haired priest came out; kind-faced, with remarkable eyes almost black, under black brows.

remarkablenounUS /ˈremarkable/

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

From this reading A tall white-haired priest came out; kind-faced, with remarkable eyes almost black, under black brows.

rode

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

From this reading I checked my horse, rode to it, and asked for Father Michel.

SAMAC

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

From this reading TO SAMAC.

side

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

From this reading We were nearing the end of the place when I caught sight of a church with a mean-looking presbytery by the side.

sight

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

From this reading We were nearing the end of the place when I caught sight of a church with a mean-looking presbytery by the side.

stare

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

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.

street

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

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.

tall

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

From this reading A tall white-haired priest came out; kind-faced, with remarkable eyes almost black, under black brows.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading TO SAMAC.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading A tall white-haired priest came out; kind-faced, with remarkable eyes almost black, under black brows.

village

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

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading We were nearing the end of the place when I caught sight of a church with a mean-looking presbytery by the side.

white-haired

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

From this reading A tall white-haired priest came out; kind-faced, with remarkable eyes almost black, under black brows.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading We were nearing the end of the place when I caught sight of a church with a mean-looking presbytery by the side.

wonderment

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

From this reading Many of the village folk were still lounging in the street and the clatter of the horses’ heels brought out more to gape and stare in wonderment as we clattered past.