The magic ring, Vol. 2 (of 3): 40 words to know before you read it
The 40 words Freiherr de Friedrich Heinrich Karl La Motte-Fouqué uses again and again in The magic ring, Vol. 2 (of 3) that are outside the 4,000 most common in English. Learn them first and the opening chapters read much more easily. Each comes with its pronunciation and a sentence from the book.
knight/ˈnaɪt/137× in the book
“Suffice it, noble damsels and knights, we were never betrothed …
thou/ˈðaʊ/109× in the book
“What would’st thou here, horrible pale-visaged witch?”
monarch/ˈmɑˌnɑɹk/90× in the book
Behind the sea-monarch came also many strange figures; but so completely were the company engrossed by the king himself, that they bestowed on the others little or no attention.
castle/ˈkæsəɫ/78× in the book
… and the beautiful damsel whom you behold yonder now possesses the ring, this castle, and all its territories …
sword/ˈsɔɹd/61× in the book
… and in his teeth carried a death’s-head, whereon the scars of many sword-strokes were visible.
noble/ˈnoʊbəɫ/50× in the book
… and pronounced the solemn words, “I am the betrothed bride of the noble warrior, Sir Otto von Trautwangen!”
brave/ˈbɹeɪv/50× in the book
… and was about to speak; but the brave Arinbiorn at length greeted him respectfully, and said,—“If there has been here neither stratagem …
prince/ˈpɹɪns/47× in the book
The commander of the army, who was a prince of the Swedish royal blood, a man already in years …
damsel/ˈdæmzəɫ/44× in the book
… “I have at last been over-matched in the lists, and the beautiful damsel whom you behold yonder now possesses the ring, this castle …
till/ˈtɪɫ/40× in the book
… he drank out the contents of the goblet which stood nearest him, not till afterwards perceiving that it was the golden cup of King Arinbiorn.
minstrel/ˈmɪnstɹəɫ/36× in the book
Meanwhile the songs of the minstrels and discourse of the guests became always more lively round the banquet-table.
frightful/ˈfɹaɪtfəɫ/36× in the book
… that should have been the gayest of the gay, was the only one of the party in whom the music that rose all around him awoke the most fierce and frightful emotions.
thee/ˈði/32× in the book
… I shall yet be thy guardian Valkyria; I shall twine for thee the garland of victory, and hold to thy lips the cheering cup of refreshment.’
armour/ˈɑɹmɝ/31× in the book
… a champion made his appearance, dressed in a golden suit of armour, with a helmet surmounted by two projecting vulture’s wings …
gleam/ˈɡɫim/31× in the book
… with her mysterious castle, and the tranquil moonlight that ever gleamed around her.
pagan/ˈpeɪɡən/28× in the book
“Now then it is my turn to bid thee beware, thou pagan!”
javelin/ˈdʒævəɫən/27× in the book
… perchance, the throwing of these long javelins, of which there is a heap lying in that corner?”—So with the speed of light he darted from his horse …
banquet/ˈbæŋkwət/27× in the book
… unobserved, come back into the banquet-hall.
aloud/əˈɫaʊd/27× in the book
Then the music sounded aloud; all the guests shouted and rejoiced …
cliff/ˈkɫɪf/27× in the book
Sir Arinbiorn’s golden armour was already shattered, and his charger bled from many severe wounds, when a powerful voice called aloud from a rocky cliff, “Ruhig, du Bursch!”
mysterious/mɪˈstɪɹiəs/27× in the book
The sea-monarch faltered and paused, lost, as it seemed, in strange and mysterious recollections.
steed/ˈstid/25× in the book
In the stable, however, his light-brown steed was cheerful as before, and neighed aloud at the approach of his master.
thicket/ˈθɪkɪt/24× in the book
there came out of the thickets a wild brown horse, which advanced at full speed …
honour/ˈɑnɝ/23× in the book
… and said,—“If there has been here neither stratagem, nor witchcraft,—and of your honour I cannot doubt,—then, good Heaven!
scarcely/ˈskɛɹsɫi/23× in the book
… so peerless in beauty, that I had scarcely dared to hope I should ever behold it, after that first time in the magic mirror …
faithful/ˈfeɪθfəɫ/23× in the book
… at the dawn of day, among my faithful warriors.
perchance/pɝˈtʃæns/22× in the book
There may perchance be some cavern of the mountains to which I may retreat, where I may bury my armour, and for ever more remain in oblivion.”
stern/ˈstɝn/22× in the book
It was a pleasure to mark how a deep blush, like that of a young damsel, came over his stern warlike features.
behold/bɪˈhoʊɫd/21× in the book
Looking on his companion, the knight perceived that he was a man clothed in rough bear-skins, frightful to behold, while his long hair and beard nearly concealed his features.
helmet/ˈhɛɫmət/21× in the book
… dressed in a golden suit of armour, with a helmet surmounted by two projecting vulture’s wings, also of gold.
ballad/ˈbæɫəd/20× in the book
All seemed happy and contented with one another; while the heroic ballads and legends, thrown in by the wise harpers and bards …
rejoice/ɹɪˈdʒɔɪs/19× in the book
Then the music sounded aloud; all the guests shouted and rejoiced; there was a jovial ringing of golden cups …
kindly/ˈkaɪndɫi/19× in the book
Arinbiorn stepped on towards the Knight of Montfaucon, (not forgetting to greet every lady courteously as he passed by,) took him kindly by the hand, and said, “How is this, cousin Folko?
squire/ˈskwaɪɹ/18× in the book
No one offered to assist him; for every squire and sentinel looked on him with terror.
hither/ˈhɪðɝ/18× in the book
Has he announced from what country he has come hither?”
falcon/ˈfæɫkən/18× in the book
On his approach he made a respectful salutation,—then sprang from the saddle,—threw his lance to the attendant squire, from whom in exchange he received his favourite falcon, which perched on his hand …
melancholy/ˈmɛɫənˌkɑɫi/18× in the book
So he was left alone, melancholy and neglected.
vulture/ˈvəɫtʃɝ/18× in the book
Especially there was among them one far more hideous than the rest, which had on his head a pair of great vulture’s wings, and in his teeth carried a death’s-head …
spear/ˈspɪɹ/18× in the book
“Throw spears, knives, and daggers at him!”
fortress/ˈfɔɹtɹəs/17× in the book
… even Sir Folko de Montfaucon and the Lady Blanchefleur; so that the old fortress is now lonely and desolate.”
Pronunciation: ipa-dict (MIT), from Wiktionary.
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