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Albert Savarus
Albert Savarus

Chapter II

Cover illustration for Albert Savarus
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
She habitually wore simple checked cotton dresses; but on Sundays and in the evening her mother allowed her silk.
The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.
Rosalie had never worn a pair of silk stockings or thin boots, but always cotton stockings and leather shoes.
On high days she was dressed in a muslin frock, her hair plainly dressed, and had bronze kid shoes.
This education, and her own modest demeanor, hid in Rosalie a spirit of iron.
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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.

Albert Savarus

Chapter II

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
She habitually wore simple checked cotton dresses; but on Sundays and in the evening her mother allowed her silk.
Line 2
The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.
Line 3
Rosalie had never worn a pair of silk stockings or thin boots, but always cotton stockings and leather shoes.
Line 4
On high days she was dressed in a muslin frock, her hair plainly dressed, and had bronze kid shoes.
Line 5
This education, and her own modest demeanor, hid in Rosalie a spirit of iron.

Learner Dictionary

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

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Rosalie had never worn a pair of silk stockings or thin boots, but always cotton stockings and leather shoes.”

Plainly noun US /ˈplainly/

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

From this reading “On high days she was dressed in a muslin frock, her hair plainly dressed, and had bronze kid shoes.”

Thence adverb US /ðens/

from that place or that time

From this reading “The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.”

Thin adjective US /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading “Rosalie had never worn a pair of silk stockings or thin boots, but always cotton stockings and leather shoes.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.”

Worn verb US /wɔːrn/

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading “Rosalie had never worn a pair of silk stockings or thin boots, but always cotton stockings and leather shoes.”

All words in this reading · 77

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 Rosalie had never worn a pair of silk stockings or thin boots, but always cotton stockings and leather shoes.

allowed

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

From this reading She habitually wore simple checked cotton dresses; but on Sundays and in the evening her mother allowed her silk.

almost

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

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

always

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

From this reading Rosalie had never worn a pair of silk stockings or thin boots, but always cotton stockings and leather shoes.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading She habitually wore simple checked cotton dresses; but on Sundays and in the evening her mother allowed her silk.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

beauty

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

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

Besancon

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

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

boots

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

From this reading Rosalie had never worn a pair of silk stockings or thin boots, but always cotton stockings and leather shoes.

borrow

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

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

bronze

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

From this reading On high days she was dressed in a muslin frock, her hair plainly dressed, and had bronze kid shoes.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She habitually wore simple checked cotton dresses; but on Sundays and in the evening her mother allowed her silk.

checked

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

From this reading She habitually wore simple checked cotton dresses; but on Sundays and in the evening her mother allowed her silk.

cotton

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

From this reading She habitually wore simple checked cotton dresses; but on Sundays and in the evening her mother allowed her silk.

cut

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

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

days

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

From this reading On high days she was dressed in a muslin frock, her hair plainly dressed, and had bronze kid shoes.

de

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

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

demeanor

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

From this reading This education, and her own modest demeanor, hid in Rosalie a spirit of iron.

dress

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

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

dressed

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

From this reading On high days she was dressed in a muslin frock, her hair plainly dressed, and had bronze kid shoes.

dresses

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

From this reading She habitually wore simple checked cotton dresses; but on Sundays and in the evening her mother allowed her silk.

education

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

From this reading This education, and her own modest demeanor, hid in Rosalie a spirit of iron.

elegance

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

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

evening

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

From this reading She habitually wore simple checked cotton dresses; but on Sundays and in the evening her mother allowed her silk.

fashions

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

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

frock

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

From this reading On high days she was dressed in a muslin frock, her hair plainly dressed, and had bronze kid shoes.

frocks

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

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

grace

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

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

habitually

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

From this reading She habitually wore simple checked cotton dresses; but on Sundays and in the evening her mother allowed her silk.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Rosalie had never worn a pair of silk stockings or thin boots, but always cotton stockings and leather shoes.

hair

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

From this reading On high days she was dressed in a muslin frock, her hair plainly dressed, and had bronze kid shoes.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading She habitually wore simple checked cotton dresses; but on Sundays and in the evening her mother allowed her silk.

hid

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

From this reading This education, and her own modest demeanor, hid in Rosalie a spirit of iron.

high

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

From this reading On high days she was dressed in a muslin frock, her hair plainly dressed, and had bronze kid shoes.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She habitually wore simple checked cotton dresses; but on Sundays and in the evening her mother allowed her silk.

iron

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

From this reading This education, and her own modest demeanor, hid in Rosalie a spirit of iron.

kid

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

From this reading On high days she was dressed in a muslin frock, her hair plainly dressed, and had bronze kid shoes.

leather

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

From this reading Rosalie had never worn a pair of silk stockings or thin boots, but always cotton stockings and leather shoes.

made

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

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

modest

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

From this reading This education, and her own modest demeanor, hid in Rosalie a spirit of iron.

Monsieur

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

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

mother

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

From this reading She habitually wore simple checked cotton dresses; but on Sundays and in the evening her mother allowed her silk.

muslin

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

From this reading On high days she was dressed in a muslin frock, her hair plainly dressed, and had bronze kid shoes.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Rosalie had never worn a pair of silk stockings or thin boots, but always cotton stockings and leather shoes.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She habitually wore simple checked cotton dresses; but on Sundays and in the evening her mother allowed her silk.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Rosalie had never worn a pair of silk stockings or thin boots, but always cotton stockings and leather shoes.

own

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

From this reading This education, and her own modest demeanor, hid in Rosalie a spirit of iron.

pair

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

From this reading Rosalie had never worn a pair of silk stockings or thin boots, but always cotton stockings and leather shoes.

Paris

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

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

plainlynounUS /ˈplainly/

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

From this reading On high days she was dressed in a muslin frock, her hair plainly dressed, and had bronze kid shoes.

procured

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

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

Rosalie

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

From this reading Rosalie had never worn a pair of silk stockings or thin boots, but always cotton stockings and leather shoes.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She habitually wore simple checked cotton dresses; but on Sundays and in the evening her mother allowed her silk.

shoes

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

From this reading Rosalie had never worn a pair of silk stockings or thin boots, but always cotton stockings and leather shoes.

silk

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

From this reading She habitually wore simple checked cotton dresses; but on Sundays and in the evening her mother allowed her silk.

simple

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

From this reading She habitually wore simple checked cotton dresses; but on Sundays and in the evening her mother allowed her silk.

smallest

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

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

Soulas

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

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

spirit

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

From this reading This education, and her own modest demeanor, hid in Rosalie a spirit of iron.

stockings

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

From this reading Rosalie had never worn a pair of silk stockings or thin boots, but always cotton stockings and leather shoes.

Sundays

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

From this reading She habitually wore simple checked cotton dresses; but on Sundays and in the evening her mother allowed her silk.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading She habitually wore simple checked cotton dresses; but on Sundays and in the evening her mother allowed her silk.

thenceadverbUS /ðens/

from that place or that time

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading Rosalie had never worn a pair of silk stockings or thin boots, but always cotton stockings and leather shoes.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This education, and her own modest demeanor, hid in Rosalie a spirit of iron.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

tried

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

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

trifles

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

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

ugly

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

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading On high days she was dressed in a muslin frock, her hair plainly dressed, and had bronze kid shoes.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading The cut of her frocks, made at Besancon, almost made her ugly, while her mother tried to borrow grace, beauty, and elegance from Paris fashions; for through Monsieur de Soulas she procured the smallest trifles of her dress from thence.

wore

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

From this reading She habitually wore simple checked cotton dresses; but on Sundays and in the evening her mother allowed her silk.

wornverbUS /wɔːrn/

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading Rosalie had never worn a pair of silk stockings or thin boots, but always cotton stockings and leather shoes.