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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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From this reading I WALKED away from Mentchikof’s house with a heavy heart.
heavy
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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
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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
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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
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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
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From this reading I WALKED away from Mentchikof’s house with a heavy heart.
WARNINGS
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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
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From this reading I knew that Najine’s position was dangerous, and that Catherine’s folly had turned the scale in Zotof’s favor.