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Zadig
Zadig

Chapter III

Cover illustration for Zadig
Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
CHAP.
XV.
_The_ BASILISK.
As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.
He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.
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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.

Zadig

Chapter III

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
CHAP.
Line 2
XV.
Line 3
_The_ BASILISK.
Line 4
As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.
Line 5
He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.

Learner Dictionary

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

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.”

Several noun US /ˈseveral/

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

From this reading “As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.”

All words in this reading · 50

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 As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.

approach

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

From this reading He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

ask

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

From this reading He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.

assist

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

From this reading He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.

BASILISK

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

From this reading _The_ BASILISK.

CHAP

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

From this reading CHAP.

conceal'd

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

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

courteous

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

From this reading He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.

curious

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

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

Female

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

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

Freedom

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

From this reading He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.

Grass

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

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.

Honour

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

From this reading He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.

imagin'd

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

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

intent

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

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

lay

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

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

Manner

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

From this reading He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.

Meadow

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

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.

most

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

From this reading He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.

perceiv'd

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

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

Researches

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

From this reading He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.

searching

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

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

several

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

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

Syrians

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

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _The_ BASILISK.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He took the Freedom to approach one of them, and ask her, in the most courteous Manner, if he might have the Honour to assist her in her Researches.

traversing

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

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

verdant

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

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

very

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

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

XV

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

From this reading XV.

young

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

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.

Zadig

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

From this reading As _Zadig_ was traversing a verdant Meadow, he perceiv'd several young Female _Syrians_, intent on searching for something very curious, that lay conceal'd, as they imagin'd, in the Grass.