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The Ward of King Canute
The Ward of King Canute

Chapter XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of The Ward of King Canute is here in full — 167 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Ward of King Canute
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
One’s own house is best, Small though it be; At home is every one his own master.
Bleeding at heart is he Who has to ask For food at every mealtide.
Hávamál.
Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.
Passing at last from the forest shades, the men of Ivarsdale came out into the grassy lane-like road that wound away over the Middlesex hills.
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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 Ward of King Canute

Chapter XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of The Ward of King Canute is here in full — 167 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
One’s own house is best, Small though it be; At home is every one his own master.
Line 2
Bleeding at heart is he Who has to ask For food at every mealtide.
Line 3
Hávamál.
Line 4
Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.
Line 5
Passing at last from the forest shades, the men of Ivarsdale came out into the grassy lane-like road that wound away over the Middlesex hills.

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.

bleak adjective US /bliːk/

offering little or no hope

From this reading “Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.”

Bleeding noun US /ˈbliːdɪŋ/

the flow of blood from a ruptured blood vessel

From this reading “Bleeding at heart is he Who has to ask For food at every mealtide.”

grassy adjective US /ˈɡræsi/

abounding in grass

From this reading “Passing at last from the forest shades, the men of Ivarsdale came out into the grassy lane-like road that wound away over the Middlesex hills.”

joyous adjective US /ˈdʒɔɪəs/

full of or characterized by joy

From this reading “Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.”

radiance noun US /ˈreɪdiːəns/

the amount of electromagnetic radiation leaving or arriving at a point on a surface

From this reading “Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.”

shades noun US /ʃeɪdz/

(plural) something that reminds you of someone or something

From this reading “Passing at last from the forest shades, the men of Ivarsdale came out into the grassy lane-like road that wound away over the Middlesex hills.”

strung adjective US /strʌŋ/

that is on a string

From this reading “Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.”

warmed adjective US /wɔːrmd/

having been warmed up

From this reading “Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.”

All words in this reading · 63

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 Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.

askverbUS /æsk/

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading Bleeding at heart is he Who has to ask For food at every mealtide.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading One’s own house is best, Small though it be; At home is every one his own master.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Passing at last from the forest shades, the men of Ivarsdale came out into the grassy lane-like road that wound away over the Middlesex hills.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading One’s own house is best, Small though it be; At home is every one his own master.

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading One’s own house is best, Small though it be; At home is every one his own master.

bird-notes

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

From this reading Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.

bleakadjectiveUS /bliːk/

offering little or no hope

From this reading Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.

BleedingnounUS /ˈbliːdɪŋ/

the flow of blood from a ruptured blood vessel

From this reading Bleeding at heart is he Who has to ask For food at every mealtide.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Passing at last from the forest shades, the men of Ivarsdale came out into the grassy lane-like road that wound away over the Middlesex hills.

chainnounUS /tʃeɪn/

a series of things depending on each other as if linked together

From this reading Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.

dawnnounUS /dɔːn/

the first light of day

From this reading Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading One’s own house is best, Small though it be; At home is every one his own master.

foodnounUS /fuːd/

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading Bleeding at heart is he Who has to ask For food at every mealtide.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Bleeding at heart is he Who has to ask For food at every mealtide.

forestnounUS /ˈfɔːrəst/

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading Passing at last from the forest shades, the men of Ivarsdale came out into the grassy lane-like road that wound away over the Middlesex hills.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Passing at last from the forest shades, the men of Ivarsdale came out into the grassy lane-like road that wound away over the Middlesex hills.

goldenadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊldən/

having the deep slightly brownish color of gold

From this reading Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.

grassyadjectiveUS /ˈɡræsi/

abounding in grass

From this reading Passing at last from the forest shades, the men of Ivarsdale came out into the grassy lane-like road that wound away over the Middlesex hills.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading Bleeding at heart is he Who has to ask For food at every mealtide.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Bleeding at heart is he Who has to ask For food at every mealtide.

heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading Bleeding at heart is he Who has to ask For food at every mealtide.

hillsnounUS /hɪlz/

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading Passing at last from the forest shades, the men of Ivarsdale came out into the grassy lane-like road that wound away over the Middlesex hills.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading One’s own house is best, Small though it be; At home is every one his own master.

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading One’s own house is best, Small though it be; At home is every one his own master.

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading One’s own house is best, Small though it be; At home is every one his own master.

Hávamál

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

From this reading Hávamál.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading One’s own house is best, Small though it be; At home is every one his own master.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading One’s own house is best, Small though it be; At home is every one his own master.

Ivarsdale

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

From this reading Passing at last from the forest shades, the men of Ivarsdale came out into the grassy lane-like road that wound away over the Middlesex hills.

joyousadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɔɪəs/

full of or characterized by joy

From this reading Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.

lane-like

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

From this reading Passing at last from the forest shades, the men of Ivarsdale came out into the grassy lane-like road that wound away over the Middlesex hills.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading Passing at last from the forest shades, the men of Ivarsdale came out into the grassy lane-like road that wound away over the Middlesex hills.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.

masternounUS /ˈmæstər/

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading One’s own house is best, Small though it be; At home is every one his own master.

mealtide

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

From this reading Bleeding at heart is he Who has to ask For food at every mealtide.

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading Passing at last from the forest shades, the men of Ivarsdale came out into the grassy lane-like road that wound away over the Middlesex hills.

Middlesex

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

From this reading Passing at last from the forest shades, the men of Ivarsdale came out into the grassy lane-like road that wound away over the Middlesex hills.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One’s own house is best, Small though it be; At home is every one his own master.

One's

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

From this reading One’s own house is best, Small though it be; At home is every one his own master.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Passing at last from the forest shades, the men of Ivarsdale came out into the grassy lane-like road that wound away over the Middlesex hills.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Passing at last from the forest shades, the men of Ivarsdale came out into the grassy lane-like road that wound away over the Middlesex hills.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading One’s own house is best, Small though it be; At home is every one his own master.

PassingnounUS /ˈpæsɪŋ/

(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate

From this reading Passing at last from the forest shades, the men of Ivarsdale came out into the grassy lane-like road that wound away over the Middlesex hills.

radiancenounUS /ˈreɪdiːəns/

the amount of electromagnetic radiation leaving or arriving at a point on a surface

From this reading Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.

roadnounUS /roʊd/

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading Passing at last from the forest shades, the men of Ivarsdale came out into the grassy lane-like road that wound away over the Middlesex hills.

scatteredadjectiveUS /ˈskætərd/

occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space

From this reading Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.

shadesnounUS /ʃeɪdz/

(plural) something that reminds you of someone or something

From this reading Passing at last from the forest shades, the men of Ivarsdale came out into the grassy lane-like road that wound away over the Middlesex hills.

SlowlyadverbUS /ˈsloʊli/

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.

SmalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading One’s own house is best, Small though it be; At home is every one his own master.

songnounUS /sɔːŋ/

a short musical composition with words

From this reading Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.

strungadjectiveUS /strʌŋ/

that is on a string

From this reading Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Passing at last from the forest shades, the men of Ivarsdale came out into the grassy lane-like road that wound away over the Middlesex hills.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading One’s own house is best, Small though it be; At home is every one his own master.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Bleeding at heart is he Who has to ask For food at every mealtide.

touchverbUS /tʌtʃ/

make physical contact with, come in contact with

From this reading Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.

warmedadjectiveUS /wɔːrmd/

having been warmed up

From this reading Slowly the bleak light warmed into golden radiance and the touch of dawn strung the scattered bird-notes into a chain of joyous song.

WhopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Bleeding at heart is he Who has to ask For food at every mealtide.

woundnounUS /waʊnd/

an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)

From this reading Passing at last from the forest shades, the men of Ivarsdale came out into the grassy lane-like road that wound away over the Middlesex hills.

Chapter 12 of The Ward of King Canute by Ottilie A. (Ottilia Adelina) Liljencrantz holds 167 sentences, grouped into 34 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 12 of The Ward of King Canute contain?

Chapter 12 holds 167 sentences of The Ward of King Canute, unabridged, divided into 34 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 12 of The Ward of King Canute by Ottilie A. (Ottilia Adelina) Liljencrantz exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 167 sentences, grouped into 34 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 12 of The Ward of King Canute?

Work through the 34 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 34 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 12 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 12 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 Ward of King Canute

Common questions about reading The Ward of King Canute by Ottilie A. (Ottilia Adelina) Liljencrantz on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Ward of King Canute?

Yes. All 5200 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #3323 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Ward of King Canute is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #3323, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Ward of King Canute take to read?

About 433 minutes of reading across 1040 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Ward of King Canute section by section

How to work through The Ward of King Canute section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 33 chapters of The Ward of King Canute 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 Ward of King Canute

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Ward of King Canute, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Facts
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ward of King Canute; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Romance
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ward of King Canute; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Following
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ward of King Canute; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Authorities
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ward of King Canute; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.