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The Scarlet Banner
The Scarlet Banner

Chapter XXX

Cover illustration for The Scarlet Banner
Context Illustration Reading 1/12 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.
To Althias the Thracian he assigned the chosen body of shield-bearers with the imperial banner.
They were not to shun, but rather invite a skirmish with the outposts.
He himself was to follow the next day with the main body of the infantry and the five hundred Illyrian horsemen.
Only the few soldiers absolutely required to guard the gates, towers, and walls remained in the city.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Scarlet Banner

Chapter XXX

Reading 1/12 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.
Line 2
To Althias the Thracian he assigned the chosen body of shield-bearers with the imperial banner.
Line 3
They were not to shun, but rather invite a skirmish with the outposts.
Line 4
He himself was to follow the next day with the main body of the infantry and the five hundred Illyrian horsemen.
Line 5
Only the few soldiers absolutely required to guard the gates, towers, and walls remained in the city.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.”

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.”

Body noun US /body/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To Althias the Thracian he assigned the chosen body of shield-bearers with the imperial banner.”

Except preposition US /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading “The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “He himself was to follow the next day with the main body of the infantry and the five hundred Illyrian horsemen.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He himself was to follow the next day with the main body of the infantry and the five hundred Illyrian horsemen.”

Remained noun US /ˈremained/

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

From this reading “Only the few soldiers absolutely required to guard the gates, towers, and walls remained in the city.”

Required noun US /required/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Only the few soldiers absolutely required to guard the gates, towers, and walls remained in the city.”

All words in this reading · 76

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

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

absolutely

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

From this reading Only the few soldiers absolutely required to guard the gates, towers, and walls remained in the city.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

all

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

Althias

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

From this reading To Althias the Thracian he assigned the chosen body of shield-bearers with the imperial banner.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

army

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

assigned

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

From this reading To Althias the Thracian he assigned the chosen body of shield-bearers with the imperial banner.

banner

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

From this reading To Althias the Thracian he assigned the chosen body of shield-bearers with the imperial banner.

Belisarius

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

bodynounUS /body/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To Althias the Thracian he assigned the chosen body of shield-bearers with the imperial banner.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading They were not to shun, but rather invite a skirmish with the outposts.

Carthage

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

case

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

cavalry

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

chosen

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

From this reading To Althias the Thracian he assigned the chosen body of shield-bearers with the imperial banner.

city

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

From this reading Only the few soldiers absolutely required to guard the gates, towers, and walls remained in the city.

day

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

defeated

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

defy

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

few

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

From this reading Only the few soldiers absolutely required to guard the gates, towers, and walls remained in the city.

finding

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

five

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

foe

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

follow

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

From this reading He himself was to follow the next day with the main body of the infantry and the five hundred Illyrian horsemen.

following

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

fortifications

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

gates

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

guard

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

From this reading Only the few soldiers absolutely required to guard the gates, towers, and walls remained in the city.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading To Althias the Thracian he assigned the chosen body of shield-bearers with the imperial banner.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading He himself was to follow the next day with the main body of the infantry and the five hundred Illyrian horsemen.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

horsemen

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

From this reading He himself was to follow the next day with the main body of the infantry and the five hundred Illyrian horsemen.

hundred

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

Illyrian

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

From this reading He himself was to follow the next day with the main body of the infantry and the five hundred Illyrian horsemen.

Illyrians

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

imperial

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

From this reading To Althias the Thracian he assigned the chosen body of shield-bearers with the imperial banner.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

infantry

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

From this reading He himself was to follow the next day with the main body of the infantry and the five hundred Illyrian horsemen.

inspecting

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

invite

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

From this reading They were not to shun, but rather invite a skirmish with the outposts.

main

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

From this reading He himself was to follow the next day with the main body of the infantry and the five hundred Illyrian horsemen.

meet

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

necessity

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He himself was to follow the next day with the main body of the infantry and the five hundred Illyrian horsemen.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading They were not to shun, but rather invite a skirmish with the outposts.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

Only

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

From this reading Only the few soldiers absolutely required to guard the gates, towers, and walls remained in the city.

out

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

outposts

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

From this reading They were not to shun, but rather invite a skirmish with the outposts.

picked

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

rather

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

From this reading They were not to shun, but rather invite a skirmish with the outposts.

receive

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

remainednounUS /ˈremained/

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

From this reading Only the few soldiers absolutely required to guard the gates, towers, and walls remained in the city.

requirednounUS /required/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Only the few soldiers absolutely required to guard the gates, towers, and walls remained in the city.

restored

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

sent

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

shield-bearers

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

From this reading To Althias the Thracian he assigned the chosen body of shield-bearers with the imperial banner.

shun

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

From this reading They were not to shun, but rather invite a skirmish with the outposts.

siege

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

skirmish

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

From this reading They were not to shun, but rather invite a skirmish with the outposts.

soldiers

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

From this reading Only the few soldiers absolutely required to guard the gates, towers, and walls remained in the city.

strong

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

sufficiently

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They were not to shun, but rather invite a skirmish with the outposts.

Thracian

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

From this reading To Althias the Thracian he assigned the chosen body of shield-bearers with the imperial banner.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The following day, after again inspecting the restored fortifications of Carthage, and finding them sufficiently strong to receive, in case of necessity, his defeated army and defy a siege, Belisarius sent all the cavalry, except five hundred picked Illyrians, out of the gates to meet the foe.

towers

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

From this reading Only the few soldiers absolutely required to guard the gates, towers, and walls remained in the city.

walls

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

From this reading Only the few soldiers absolutely required to guard the gates, towers, and walls remained in the city.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He himself was to follow the next day with the main body of the infantry and the five hundred Illyrian horsemen.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading They were not to shun, but rather invite a skirmish with the outposts.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading To Althias the Thracian he assigned the chosen body of shield-bearers with the imperial banner.