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The Russian Story Book
The Russian Story Book

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Russian Story Book is here in full — 460 sentences across 92 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/92 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.
The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.
The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.
The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.
I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Russian Story Book

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Russian Story Book is here in full — 460 sentences across 92 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/92 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.
/aɪ hæv ɡɔːn raɪt ˈɪntuː ðə hɑːrt ʌv ˈhoʊli ˈrʌʃə tuː ˌkiːˈev ənd ˈnɑːvɡərɑːd ənd ðə ˈbɔːrdərz ʌv ðə ˈkæspiən ɪn æn ɪnˈdevər tuː ʃoʊ baɪ miːnz ʌv sʌm ʌv ðə ˈɜːrli ˈledʒəndz ðə aɪˈdiːlz ənd pɔɪnt ʌv vjuː ʌv ðə ˈrʌʃən ˈneɪʃən waɪl ɪt wɑːz ɪn ðə ˈprɑːses ʌv ˈbiːɪŋ meɪd/
Line 2
The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.
Line 3
The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.
Line 4
The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.
Line 5
I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

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

barbaric adjective US /bɑːrˈbærɪk/

without civilizing influences

From this reading “The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.”

Caspian noun US /ˈkæspiən/

a large saltwater lake between Iran and Russia fed by the Volga River; the largest inland body of water in the world

From this reading “I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.”

Galahad noun US /ˈɡæləhæd/

(Arthurian legend) the most virtuous knight of the Round Table; was able to see the Holy Grail

From this reading “I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.”

Kiev noun US /ˌkiːˈev/

capital and largest city of the Ukraine; a major manufacturing and transportation center

From this reading “I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.”

Novgorod noun US /ˈnɑːvɡərɑːd/

a city in northwestern Russia on the Volkhov River; Russia's oldest city and an important trading center in the Middle Ages

From this reading “I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.”

outpost noun US /ˈaʊtpoʊst/

a station in a remote or sparsely populated location

From this reading “The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.”

Renaissance noun US /ˌrenəˈsɑːns/

the period of European history at the close of the Middle Ages and the rise of the modern world; a cultural rebirth from the 14th through the middle of the 17th centuries

From this reading “The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.”

teens noun US /tiːnz/

the time of life between the ages of 12 and 20

From this reading “I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

pick up verb + adjective

take and lift upward

In this reading “The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.”

entirely different adverb + adjective

In this reading “The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.”

infinitely more adverb + adjective

In this reading “The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.”

winter months noun + noun counted as “winter month”

In this reading “The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.”

by means preposition + noun

In this reading “I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.”

tell a tale verb + article + noun counted as “tell … tale”

In this reading “I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.”

process of verb + particle

In this reading “I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.”

All words in this reading · 154

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

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 stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

actionnounUS /ˈækʃən/

something done (usually as opposed to something said)

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

ArthurnounUS /ˈɑːrθər/

elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

barbariannounUS /bɑːrˈberiən/

a member of an uncivilized people

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

barbaricadjectiveUS /bɑːrˈbærɪk/

without civilizing influences

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

blowverbUS /bloʊ/

exhale hard

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

bordersnounUS /ˈbɔːrdərz/

plural of “border” — a line that indicates a boundary

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

boysnounUS /bɔɪz/

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

CaspiannounUS /ˈkæspiən/

a large saltwater lake between Iran and Russia fed by the Volga River; the largest inland body of water in the world

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

characteristicsnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪks/

plural of “characteristic” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.

ChristianadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪstʃən/

relating to or characteristic of Christianity

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

ChristianitynounUS /ˌkrɪstʃiˈænɪti/

a monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as savior

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

ChurchnounUS /tʃɜːrtʃ/

one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

clearlyadverbUS /ˈklɪrli/

without doubt or question

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

colouradjectiveUS /ˈkʌlər/

having or capable of producing colors

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

concernnounUS /kənˈsɜːrn/

something that interests you because it is important or affects you

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

Cossáck

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

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

countriesnounUS /ˈkʌntriz/

plural of “country” — a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.

developedadjectiveUS /dɪˈveləpt/

being changed over time so as to be e.g. stronger or more complete or more useful

From this reading The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.

differentadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfərənt/

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.

discoververbUS /dɪˈskʌvər/

discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

EastnounUS /iːst/

the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees

From this reading The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.

EasternounUS /ˈiːstər/

a Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Christ; celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

else

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

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

endeavournounUS /ɪnˈdevər/

a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

entirelyadverbUS /ɪnˈtaɪərli/

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

extendedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈstendəd/

relatively long in duration; tediously protracted

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

fallenadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlən/

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

FestivalnounUS /ˈfestəvəl/

a day or period of time set aside for feasting and celebration

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

findverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

foemannoun

an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

followedverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊd/

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

freelyadverbUS /ˈfriːli/

in a free manner

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

friendshipnounUS /ˈfrendʃɪp/

the state of being friends (or friendly)

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.

fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

GalahadnounUS /ˈɡæləhæd/

(Arthurian legend) the most virtuous knight of the Round Table; was able to see the Holy Grail

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

girlsnounUS /ɡɜːrlz/

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/

destroyed or killed

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

GreeknounUS /ɡriːk/

the Hellenic branch of the Indo-European family of languages

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

Guineverenoun

(Arthurian legend) wife of King Arthur; in some versions of the legend she became Lancelot's lover and that led to the end of the Knights of the Round Table

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

hardihoodnoun

the trait of being willing to undertake things that involve risk or danger

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

healthy-minded

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

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

highadjectiveUS /haɪ/

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

HolynounUS /ˈhoʊli/

a sacred place of pilgrimage

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

ice-bound

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

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

idealsnounUS /aɪˈdiːlz/

plural of “ideal” — the idea of something that is perfect; something that one hopes to attain

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

Ilya

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

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

indeedadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdiːd/

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

infinitelyadverbUS /ˈɪnfənətli/

without bounds

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

interestedadjectiveUS /ˈɪntrəstɪd/

having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

interestingadjectiveUS /ˈɪntrəstɪŋ/

arousing or holding the attention

From this reading The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

KievnounUS /ˌkiːˈev/

capital and largest city of the Ukraine; a major manufacturing and transportation center

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

knock-downadjective

strong enough to knock down or overwhelm

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

landnounUS /lænd/

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

landsnounUS /lændz/

plural of “land” — the land on which real estate is located

From this reading The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.

leaveverbUS /liːv/

go away from a place

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

legendsnounUS /ˈledʒəndz/

plural of “legend” — a story about mythical or supernatural beings or events

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

matternounUS /ˈmætər/

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

meansnounUS /miːnz/

thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

monthsnounUS /mʌnθs/

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

moreoveradverbUS /mɔːˈroʊvər/

in addition to what has just been said

From this reading The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.

Murom

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

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

nationnounUS /ˈneɪʃən/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

NovgorodnounUS /ˈnɑːvɡərɑːd/

a city in northwestern Russia on the Volkhov River; Russia's oldest city and an important trading center in the Middle Ages

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

OldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

olderadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldər/

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

outpostnounUS /ˈaʊtpoʊst/

a station in a remote or sparsely populated location

From this reading The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.

pickverbUS /pɪk/

select carefully from a group

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

pleaseverbUS /pliːz/

give pleasure to or be pleasing to

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

processverbUS /ˈprɑːses/

subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

quicklyadverbUS /ˈkwɪkli/

with speed

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

readersnounUS /ˈriːdərz/

plural of “reader” — a person who enjoys reading

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

ReformationnounUS /ˌref.əˈmeɪ.ʃən/

The action or process of reforming an institution, practice, or individual's character.

From this reading The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.

RenaissancenounUS /ˌrenəˈsɑːns/

the period of European history at the close of the Middle Ages and the rise of the modern world; a cultural rebirth from the 14th through the middle of the 17th centuries

From this reading The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.

ResurrectionnounUS /ˌrezərˈekʃən/

(New Testament) the rising of Christ on the third day after the Crucifixion

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

RussianounUS /ˈrʌʃə/

a former communist country in eastern Europe and northern Asia; established in 1922; included Russia and 14 other soviet socialist republics (Ukraine and Byelorussia and others); officially dissolved 31 December 1991

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

RussiannounUS /ˈrʌʃən/

a native or inhabitant of Russia

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

severaladjectiveUS /ˈsevrəl/

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

showverbUS /ʃoʊ/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

shownverbUS /ʃoʊn/

inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

song-cycles

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

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

spiritedadjectiveUS /ˈspɪrɪtɪd/

displaying animation, vigor, or liveliness

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

storiesnounUS /ˈstɔːriz/

plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

surviveverbUS /sərˈvaɪv/

continue to live and avoid dying

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

talenounUS /teɪl/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

teensnounUS /tiːnz/

the time of life between the ages of 12 and 20

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.

uninfluencedadjective

not influenced or affected

From this reading The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

viewnounUS /vjuː/

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

Vladimir

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

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

WesternadjectiveUS /ˈwestərn/

relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts

From this reading The country is, moreover, an outpost of Christianity towards the East--uninfluenced by Renaissance or Reformation--and must therefore have developed interesting characteristics entirely different from those of Western lands.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading I have gone right into the heart of "Holy Russia," to Kiev and Novgorod and the borders of the Caspian, in an endeavour to show by means of some of the early legends the ideals and point of view of the Russian nation while it was in the process of being made.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading I think that such characteristics are clearly shown in these stories, but I must leave those of my older readers who are interested in this matter to find them out and to discover the Arthur, Guinevere and Galahad of Russia; for my first concern is to tell a tale which will please healthy-minded boys and girls in their early teens.

winternounUS /ˈwɪntər/

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The land of Vladimir and Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck is a Christian land, with the Christianity of the Greek Church, and it is before all else an Easter land, where the Christian Festival of the Resurrection means infinitely more than it can ever do in countries which are not ice-bound for several winter months.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading The stories of the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod tell of a barbaric, though not a barbarian, world, full of high colour and spirited action, of the knock-down blow followed quickly by the hand of friendship freely extended to pick up the fallen foeman--if indeed he has had the hardihood to survive.

Chapter 1 of The Russian Story Book by Richard Wilson holds 460 sentences, grouped into 92 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of The Russian Story Book contain?

Chapter 1 holds 460 sentences of The Russian Story Book, unabridged, divided into 92 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Russian Story Book by Richard Wilson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 460 sentences, grouped into 92 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 1 of The Russian Story Book?

Work through the 92 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 92 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The Russian Story Book

Common questions about reading The Russian Story Book by Richard Wilson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Russian Story Book?

Yes. All 2729 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #48605 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Russian Story Book is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #48605, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Russian Story Book take to read?

About 227 minutes of reading across 546 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Russian Story Book section by section

How to work through The Russian Story Book section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 6 chapters of The Russian Story Book to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Russian Story Book

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Russian Story Book, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Right
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Russian Story Book; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Heart
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Russian Story Book; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Russia
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Russian Story Book; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Novgorod
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Russian Story Book; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.