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A Daughter of Eve
A Daughter of Eve

Chapter II · A Confidence Between Sisters

Cover illustration for A Daughter of Eve
Context Illustration Reading 1/24 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.
She had rushed to her sister’s house after a brief appearance at the Opera.
Flowers were still in her hair, but others were scattered upon the carpet, together with her gloves, her silk pelisse, and muff and hood.
Tears were mingling with the pearls on her bosom; her swollen eyes appeared to make strange confidences.
In the midst of so much luxury her distress was horrible, and she seemed unable to summon courage to speak.
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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.

A Daughter of Eve

Chapter II · A Confidence Between Sisters

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.
Line 2
She had rushed to her sister’s house after a brief appearance at the Opera.
Line 3
Flowers were still in her hair, but others were scattered upon the carpet, together with her gloves, her silk pelisse, and muff and hood.
Line 4
Tears were mingling with the pearls on her bosom; her swollen eyes appeared to make strange confidences.
Line 5
In the midst of so much luxury her distress was horrible, and she seemed unable to summon courage to speak.

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 “She had rushed to her sister’s house after a brief appearance at the Opera.”

Appearance noun US /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading “She had rushed to her sister’s house after a brief appearance at the Opera.”

Broken noun US /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.”

Distress noun US /dɪˈstrɛs/

extreme sadness or suffering

From this reading “In the midst of so much luxury her distress was horrible, and she seemed unable to summon courage to speak.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Tears were mingling with the pearls on her bosom; her swollen eyes appeared to make strange confidences.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.”

Speak noun US /speak/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the midst of so much luxury her distress was horrible, and she seemed unable to summon courage to speak.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Flowers were still in her hair, but others were scattered upon the carpet, together with her gloves, her silk pelisse, and muff and hood.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Flowers were still in her hair, but others were scattered upon the carpet, together with her gloves, her silk pelisse, and muff and hood.”

All words in this reading · 80

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 Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading She had rushed to her sister’s house after a brief appearance at the Opera.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading She had rushed to her sister’s house after a brief appearance at the Opera.

appeared

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

From this reading Tears were mingling with the pearls on her bosom; her swollen eyes appeared to make strange confidences.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She had rushed to her sister’s house after a brief appearance at the Opera.

back

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

bear

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

bent

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

bosom

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

From this reading Tears were mingling with the pearls on her bosom; her swollen eyes appeared to make strange confidences.

brief

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

From this reading She had rushed to her sister’s house after a brief appearance at the Opera.

brokennounUS /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Flowers were still in her hair, but others were scattered upon the carpet, together with her gloves, her silk pelisse, and muff and hood.

carpet

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

From this reading Flowers were still in her hair, but others were scattered upon the carpet, together with her gloves, her silk pelisse, and muff and hood.

confidences

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

From this reading Tears were mingling with the pearls on her bosom; her swollen eyes appeared to make strange confidences.

courage

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

From this reading In the midst of so much luxury her distress was horrible, and she seemed unable to summon courage to speak.

de

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

distressnounUS /dɪˈstrɛs/

extreme sadness or suffering

From this reading In the midst of so much luxury her distress was horrible, and she seemed unable to summon courage to speak.

down

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

eyes

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

From this reading Tears were mingling with the pearls on her bosom; her swollen eyes appeared to make strange confidences.

Flowers

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

From this reading Flowers were still in her hair, but others were scattered upon the carpet, together with her gloves, her silk pelisse, and muff and hood.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

gloves

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

From this reading Flowers were still in her hair, but others were scattered upon the carpet, together with her gloves, her silk pelisse, and muff and hood.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading She had rushed to her sister’s house after a brief appearance at the Opera.

hair

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

From this reading Flowers were still in her hair, but others were scattered upon the carpet, together with her gloves, her silk pelisse, and muff and hood.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

head

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

heavy

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

hood

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

From this reading Flowers were still in her hair, but others were scattered upon the carpet, together with her gloves, her silk pelisse, and muff and hood.

horrible

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

From this reading In the midst of so much luxury her distress was horrible, and she seemed unable to summon courage to speak.

house

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

From this reading She had rushed to her sister’s house after a brief appearance at the Opera.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Flowers were still in her hair, but others were scattered upon the carpet, together with her gloves, her silk pelisse, and muff and hood.

limbs

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

luxury

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

From this reading In the midst of so much luxury her distress was horrible, and she seemed unable to summon courage to speak.

lying

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

Madame

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Tears were mingling with the pearls on her bosom; her swollen eyes appeared to make strange confidences.

Marie-Angelique

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

midst

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

From this reading In the midst of so much luxury her distress was horrible, and she seemed unable to summon courage to speak.

mingling

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

From this reading Tears were mingling with the pearls on her bosom; her swollen eyes appeared to make strange confidences.

much

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

From this reading In the midst of so much luxury her distress was horrible, and she seemed unable to summon courage to speak.

muff

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

From this reading Flowers were still in her hair, but others were scattered upon the carpet, together with her gloves, her silk pelisse, and muff and hood.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

Opera

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

From this reading She had rushed to her sister’s house after a brief appearance at the Opera.

others

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

From this reading Flowers were still in her hair, but others were scattered upon the carpet, together with her gloves, her silk pelisse, and muff and hood.

pearls

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

From this reading Tears were mingling with the pearls on her bosom; her swollen eyes appeared to make strange confidences.

pelisse

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

From this reading Flowers were still in her hair, but others were scattered upon the carpet, together with her gloves, her silk pelisse, and muff and hood.

restlessly

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

rushed

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

From this reading She had rushed to her sister’s house after a brief appearance at the Opera.

scattered

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

From this reading Flowers were still in her hair, but others were scattered upon the carpet, together with her gloves, her silk pelisse, and muff and hood.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She had rushed to her sister’s house after a brief appearance at the Opera.

silk

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

From this reading Flowers were still in her hair, but others were scattered upon the carpet, together with her gloves, her silk pelisse, and muff and hood.

sister's

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

From this reading She had rushed to her sister’s house after a brief appearance at the Opera.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading In the midst of so much luxury her distress was horrible, and she seemed unable to summon courage to speak.

sofa

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

soul

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

speak

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

From this reading In the midst of so much luxury her distress was horrible, and she seemed unable to summon courage to speak.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Flowers were still in her hair, but others were scattered upon the carpet, together with her gloves, her silk pelisse, and muff and hood.

strange

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

From this reading Tears were mingling with the pearls on her bosom; her swollen eyes appeared to make strange confidences.

summon

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

From this reading In the midst of so much luxury her distress was horrible, and she seemed unable to summon courage to speak.

swollen

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

From this reading Tears were mingling with the pearls on her bosom; her swollen eyes appeared to make strange confidences.

Tears

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

From this reading Tears were mingling with the pearls on her bosom; her swollen eyes appeared to make strange confidences.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

together

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

From this reading Flowers were still in her hair, but others were scattered upon the carpet, together with her gloves, her silk pelisse, and muff and hood.

too

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

tossing

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

troubles

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

unable

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

From this reading In the midst of so much luxury her distress was horrible, and she seemed unable to summon courage to speak.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Flowers were still in her hair, but others were scattered upon the carpet, together with her gloves, her silk pelisse, and muff and hood.

Vandenesse

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

weight

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

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Flowers were still in her hair, but others were scattered upon the carpet, together with her gloves, her silk pelisse, and muff and hood.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Madame de Vandenesse, Marie-Angelique, who seemed to have broken down under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear, was lying back on the sofa with bent limbs, and her head tossing restlessly.