Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
An imperial lover
An imperial lover

Chapter XIII

Cover illustration for An imperial lover
Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
TWO WARNINGS.
I WALKED away from Mentchikof’s house with a heavy heart.
I knew that Najine’s position was dangerous, and that Catherine’s folly had turned the scale in Zotof’s favor.
The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.
I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

An imperial lover

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
TWO WARNINGS.
Line 2
I WALKED away from Mentchikof’s house with a heavy heart.
Line 3
I knew that Najine’s position was dangerous, and that Catherine’s folly had turned the scale in Zotof’s favor.
Line 4
The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.
Line 5
I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

Learner Dictionary

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

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.”

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.”

Fitted adjective US /ˈfɪtɪd/

prepared and equipped for a particular purpose

From this reading “I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.”

Folly noun US /ˈfɑːli/

an action or decision that shows a lack of good judgment

From this reading “I knew that Najine’s position was dangerous, and that Catherine’s folly had turned the scale in Zotof’s favor.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.”

Step noun US /step/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.”

Unless conjunction US /ənˈles/

except if; if not

From this reading “The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.”

Uttered noun US /ˈuttered/

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

From this reading “The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.”

All words in this reading · 96

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 I WALKED away from Mentchikof’s house with a heavy heart.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I knew that Najine’s position was dangerous, and that Catherine’s folly had turned the scale in Zotof’s favor.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

away

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

From this reading I WALKED away from Mentchikof’s house with a heavy heart.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

best

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

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

betrayed

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

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

bewitched

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

birth

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

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

Catherine's

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

From this reading I knew that Najine’s position was dangerous, and that Catherine’s folly had turned the scale in Zotof’s favor.

choice

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

closely

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

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

czar

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

Czarina

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

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

dangerous

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

From this reading I knew that Najine’s position was dangerous, and that Catherine’s folly had turned the scale in Zotof’s favor.

declaring

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

education

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

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

Eudoxia

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

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

favor

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

From this reading I knew that Najine’s position was dangerous, and that Catherine’s folly had turned the scale in Zotof’s favor.

favorite

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

felt

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtɪd/

prepared and equipped for a particular purpose

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

follynounUS /ˈfɑːli/

an action or decision that shows a lack of good judgment

From this reading I knew that Najine’s position was dangerous, and that Catherine’s folly had turned the scale in Zotof’s favor.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I WALKED away from Mentchikof’s house with a heavy heart.

girl

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

govern

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading I knew that Najine’s position was dangerous, and that Catherine’s folly had turned the scale in Zotof’s favor.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

heart

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

From this reading I WALKED away from Mentchikof’s house with a heavy heart.

heavy

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

From this reading I WALKED away from Mentchikof’s house with a heavy heart.

held

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

house

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

From this reading I WALKED away from Mentchikof’s house with a heavy heart.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I WALKED away from Mentchikof’s house with a heavy heart.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I knew that Najine’s position was dangerous, and that Catherine’s folly had turned the scale in Zotof’s favor.

inclinations

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

key

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

knew

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

From this reading I knew that Najine’s position was dangerous, and that Catherine’s folly had turned the scale in Zotof’s favor.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

latter

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

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

loved

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

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

mademoiselle

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

Mentchikof's

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

From this reading I WALKED away from Mentchikof’s house with a heavy heart.

Najine's

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

From this reading I knew that Najine’s position was dangerous, and that Catherine’s folly had turned the scale in Zotof’s favor.

naturally

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

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

now

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

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

position

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

From this reading I knew that Najine’s position was dangerous, and that Catherine’s folly had turned the scale in Zotof’s favor.

prepared

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

publicly

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

savored

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

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

scale

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

From this reading I knew that Najine’s position was dangerous, and that Catherine’s folly had turned the scale in Zotof’s favor.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

situation

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

some

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

stepnounUS /step/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

succeed

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

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I knew that Najine’s position was dangerous, and that Catherine’s folly had turned the scale in Zotof’s favor.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I knew that Najine’s position was dangerous, and that Catherine’s folly had turned the scale in Zotof’s favor.

threat

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

treason

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

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

turn

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

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

turned

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

From this reading I knew that Najine’s position was dangerous, and that Catherine’s folly had turned the scale in Zotof’s favor.

TWO

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

From this reading TWO WARNINGS.

unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/

except if; if not

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

utterednounUS /ˈuttered/

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

veiled

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

WALKED

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

From this reading I WALKED away from Mentchikof’s house with a heavy heart.

WARNINGS

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

From this reading TWO WARNINGS.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I knew that Najine’s position was dangerous, and that Catherine’s folly had turned the scale in Zotof’s favor.

wavered

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

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I WALKED away from Mentchikof’s house with a heavy heart.

woman

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

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

women

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

From this reading I knew that he had wavered between the two women, the one whom he already loved and the one who loved him; but now that the latter had been betrayed into something that savored so closely of treason, he would naturally turn to the young woman who by birth and education was best fitted to succeed the Czarina Eudoxia.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

young

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

From this reading The favorite would never have uttered his veiled threat against mademoiselle unless he felt that she held the key to the situation, that the czar was prepared to let his inclinations govern him at last, and would take some step towards publicly declaring his choice to be the young girl who had bewitched him.

Zotof's

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

From this reading I knew that Najine’s position was dangerous, and that Catherine’s folly had turned the scale in Zotof’s favor.