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A Tale of Two Cities
A Tale of Two Cities

Book II · Chapter XV · Knitting

There had been earlier drinking than usual in the wine-shop of Monsieur Defarge.

Knitting, reading 1: There had been earlier drinking than usual in the wine-shop of Monsieur Defarge.
Context Illustration Reading 1/45 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
There had been earlier drinking than usual in the wine-shop of Monsieur Defarge.
As early as six o’clock in the morning, sallow faces peeping through its barred windows had descried other faces within, bending over measures of wine.
Monsieur Defarge sold a very thin wine at the best of times, but it would seem to have been an unusually thin wine that he sold at this time.
A sour wine, moreover, or a souring, for its influence on the mood of those who drank it was to make them gloomy.
No vivacious Bacchanalian flame leaped out of the pressed grape of Monsieur Defarge: but, a smouldering fire that burnt in the dark, lay hidden in the dregs of it.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Tale of Two Cities

Book II · Chapter XV · Knitting

Reading 1/45 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
There had been earlier drinking than usual in the wine-shop of Monsieur Defarge.
Line 2
As early as six o’clock in the morning, sallow faces peeping through its barred windows had descried other faces within, bending over measures of wine.
Line 3
Monsieur Defarge sold a very thin wine at the best of times, but it would seem to have been an unusually thin wine that he sold at this time.
Line 4
A sour wine, moreover, or a souring, for its influence on the mood of those who drank it was to make them gloomy.
Line 5
No vivacious Bacchanalian flame leaped out of the pressed grape of Monsieur Defarge: but, a smouldering fire that burnt in the dark, lay hidden in the dregs of it.

Learner Dictionary

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

influence noun US /ˈɪnfluəns/

the power or effect that someone or something has on a person, event, or situation

From this reading “A sour wine, moreover, or a souring, for its influence on the mood of those who drank it was to make them gloomy.”

Collocations
There hadA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
had beenA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
monsieur noun US /məˈsjɝː/

a French title or polite form of address for a man

From this reading “There had been earlier drinking than usual in the wine-shop of Monsieur Defarge.”

moreover adverb US /mɔˈroʊvər/

in addition

From this reading “A sour wine, moreover, or a souring, for its influence on the mood of those who drank it was to make them gloomy.”

All words in this reading · 81

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 Monsieur Defarge sold a very thin wine at the best of times, but it would seem to have been an unusually thin wine that he sold at this time.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Monsieur Defarge sold a very thin wine at the best of times, but it would seem to have been an unusually thin wine that he sold at this time.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading As early as six o’clock in the morning, sallow faces peeping through its barred windows had descried other faces within, bending over measures of wine.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Monsieur Defarge sold a very thin wine at the best of times, but it would seem to have been an unusually thin wine that he sold at this time.

Bacchanalian

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

From this reading No vivacious Bacchanalian flame leaped out of the pressed grape of Monsieur Defarge: but, a smouldering fire that burnt in the dark, lay hidden in the dregs of it.

barred

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

From this reading As early as six o’clock in the morning, sallow faces peeping through its barred windows had descried other faces within, bending over measures of wine.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading There had been earlier drinking than usual in the wine-shop of Monsieur Defarge.

bending

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

From this reading As early as six o’clock in the morning, sallow faces peeping through its barred windows had descried other faces within, bending over measures of wine.

best

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

From this reading Monsieur Defarge sold a very thin wine at the best of times, but it would seem to have been an unusually thin wine that he sold at this time.

burnt

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

From this reading No vivacious Bacchanalian flame leaped out of the pressed grape of Monsieur Defarge: but, a smouldering fire that burnt in the dark, lay hidden in the dregs of it.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Monsieur Defarge sold a very thin wine at the best of times, but it would seem to have been an unusually thin wine that he sold at this time.

dark

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

From this reading No vivacious Bacchanalian flame leaped out of the pressed grape of Monsieur Defarge: but, a smouldering fire that burnt in the dark, lay hidden in the dregs of it.

Defarge

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

From this reading There had been earlier drinking than usual in the wine-shop of Monsieur Defarge.

descried

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

From this reading As early as six o’clock in the morning, sallow faces peeping through its barred windows had descried other faces within, bending over measures of wine.

drank

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

From this reading A sour wine, moreover, or a souring, for its influence on the mood of those who drank it was to make them gloomy.

dregs

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

From this reading No vivacious Bacchanalian flame leaped out of the pressed grape of Monsieur Defarge: but, a smouldering fire that burnt in the dark, lay hidden in the dregs of it.

drinking

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

From this reading There had been earlier drinking than usual in the wine-shop of Monsieur Defarge.

earlier

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

From this reading There had been earlier drinking than usual in the wine-shop of Monsieur Defarge.

early

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

From this reading As early as six o’clock in the morning, sallow faces peeping through its barred windows had descried other faces within, bending over measures of wine.

faces

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

From this reading As early as six o’clock in the morning, sallow faces peeping through its barred windows had descried other faces within, bending over measures of wine.

fire

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

From this reading No vivacious Bacchanalian flame leaped out of the pressed grape of Monsieur Defarge: but, a smouldering fire that burnt in the dark, lay hidden in the dregs of it.

flamenounUS /fleɪm/

A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.

From this reading No vivacious Bacchanalian flame leaped out of the pressed grape of Monsieur Defarge: but, a smouldering fire that burnt in the dark, lay hidden in the dregs of it.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A sour wine, moreover, or a souring, for its influence on the mood of those who drank it was to make them gloomy.

gloomy

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

From this reading A sour wine, moreover, or a souring, for its influence on the mood of those who drank it was to make them gloomy.

grape

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

From this reading No vivacious Bacchanalian flame leaped out of the pressed grape of Monsieur Defarge: but, a smouldering fire that burnt in the dark, lay hidden in the dregs of it.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading There had been earlier drinking than usual in the wine-shop of Monsieur Defarge.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Monsieur Defarge sold a very thin wine at the best of times, but it would seem to have been an unusually thin wine that he sold at this time.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Monsieur Defarge sold a very thin wine at the best of times, but it would seem to have been an unusually thin wine that he sold at this time.

hidden

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

From this reading No vivacious Bacchanalian flame leaped out of the pressed grape of Monsieur Defarge: but, a smouldering fire that burnt in the dark, lay hidden in the dregs of it.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading There had been earlier drinking than usual in the wine-shop of Monsieur Defarge.

influencenounUS /ˈɪnfluəns/

the power or effect that someone or something has on a person, event, or situation

From this reading A sour wine, moreover, or a souring, for its influence on the mood of those who drank it was to make them gloomy.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Monsieur Defarge sold a very thin wine at the best of times, but it would seem to have been an unusually thin wine that he sold at this time.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading As early as six o’clock in the morning, sallow faces peeping through its barred windows had descried other faces within, bending over measures of wine.

lay

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

From this reading No vivacious Bacchanalian flame leaped out of the pressed grape of Monsieur Defarge: but, a smouldering fire that burnt in the dark, lay hidden in the dregs of it.

leaped

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

From this reading No vivacious Bacchanalian flame leaped out of the pressed grape of Monsieur Defarge: but, a smouldering fire that burnt in the dark, lay hidden in the dregs of it.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A sour wine, moreover, or a souring, for its influence on the mood of those who drank it was to make them gloomy.

measures

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

From this reading As early as six o’clock in the morning, sallow faces peeping through its barred windows had descried other faces within, bending over measures of wine.

MonsieurnounUS /məˈsjɝː/

a French title or polite form of address for a man

From this reading There had been earlier drinking than usual in the wine-shop of Monsieur Defarge.

mood

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

From this reading A sour wine, moreover, or a souring, for its influence on the mood of those who drank it was to make them gloomy.

moreoveradverbUS /mɔˈroʊvər/

in addition

From this reading A sour wine, moreover, or a souring, for its influence on the mood of those who drank it was to make them gloomy.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As early as six o’clock in the morning, sallow faces peeping through its barred windows had descried other faces within, bending over measures of wine.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No vivacious Bacchanalian flame leaped out of the pressed grape of Monsieur Defarge: but, a smouldering fire that burnt in the dark, lay hidden in the dregs of it.

o'clock

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

From this reading As early as six o’clock in the morning, sallow faces peeping through its barred windows had descried other faces within, bending over measures of wine.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There had been earlier drinking than usual in the wine-shop of Monsieur Defarge.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A sour wine, moreover, or a souring, for its influence on the mood of those who drank it was to make them gloomy.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading A sour wine, moreover, or a souring, for its influence on the mood of those who drank it was to make them gloomy.

other

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

From this reading As early as six o’clock in the morning, sallow faces peeping through its barred windows had descried other faces within, bending over measures of wine.

out

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

From this reading No vivacious Bacchanalian flame leaped out of the pressed grape of Monsieur Defarge: but, a smouldering fire that burnt in the dark, lay hidden in the dregs of it.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading As early as six o’clock in the morning, sallow faces peeping through its barred windows had descried other faces within, bending over measures of wine.

peeping

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

From this reading As early as six o’clock in the morning, sallow faces peeping through its barred windows had descried other faces within, bending over measures of wine.

pressed

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

From this reading No vivacious Bacchanalian flame leaped out of the pressed grape of Monsieur Defarge: but, a smouldering fire that burnt in the dark, lay hidden in the dregs of it.

sallow

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

From this reading As early as six o’clock in the morning, sallow faces peeping through its barred windows had descried other faces within, bending over measures of wine.

seem

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

From this reading Monsieur Defarge sold a very thin wine at the best of times, but it would seem to have been an unusually thin wine that he sold at this time.

six

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

From this reading As early as six o’clock in the morning, sallow faces peeping through its barred windows had descried other faces within, bending over measures of wine.

smouldering

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

From this reading No vivacious Bacchanalian flame leaped out of the pressed grape of Monsieur Defarge: but, a smouldering fire that burnt in the dark, lay hidden in the dregs of it.

sold

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

From this reading Monsieur Defarge sold a very thin wine at the best of times, but it would seem to have been an unusually thin wine that he sold at this time.

sour

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

From this reading A sour wine, moreover, or a souring, for its influence on the mood of those who drank it was to make them gloomy.

souring

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

From this reading A sour wine, moreover, or a souring, for its influence on the mood of those who drank it was to make them gloomy.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading There had been earlier drinking than usual in the wine-shop of Monsieur Defarge.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Monsieur Defarge sold a very thin wine at the best of times, but it would seem to have been an unusually thin wine that he sold at this time.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading There had been earlier drinking than usual in the wine-shop of Monsieur Defarge.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading A sour wine, moreover, or a souring, for its influence on the mood of those who drank it was to make them gloomy.

There

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

From this reading There had been earlier drinking than usual in the wine-shop of Monsieur Defarge.

thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading Monsieur Defarge sold a very thin wine at the best of times, but it would seem to have been an unusually thin wine that he sold at this time.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Monsieur Defarge sold a very thin wine at the best of times, but it would seem to have been an unusually thin wine that he sold at this time.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading A sour wine, moreover, or a souring, for its influence on the mood of those who drank it was to make them gloomy.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading As early as six o’clock in the morning, sallow faces peeping through its barred windows had descried other faces within, bending over measures of wine.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Monsieur Defarge sold a very thin wine at the best of times, but it would seem to have been an unusually thin wine that he sold at this time.

times

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

From this reading Monsieur Defarge sold a very thin wine at the best of times, but it would seem to have been an unusually thin wine that he sold at this time.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Monsieur Defarge sold a very thin wine at the best of times, but it would seem to have been an unusually thin wine that he sold at this time.

unusually

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

From this reading Monsieur Defarge sold a very thin wine at the best of times, but it would seem to have been an unusually thin wine that he sold at this time.

usual

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

From this reading There had been earlier drinking than usual in the wine-shop of Monsieur Defarge.

very

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

From this reading Monsieur Defarge sold a very thin wine at the best of times, but it would seem to have been an unusually thin wine that he sold at this time.

vivacious

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

From this reading No vivacious Bacchanalian flame leaped out of the pressed grape of Monsieur Defarge: but, a smouldering fire that burnt in the dark, lay hidden in the dregs of it.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A sour wine, moreover, or a souring, for its influence on the mood of those who drank it was to make them gloomy.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading A sour wine, moreover, or a souring, for its influence on the mood of those who drank it was to make them gloomy.

windows

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

From this reading As early as six o’clock in the morning, sallow faces peeping through its barred windows had descried other faces within, bending over measures of wine.

wine

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

From this reading As early as six o’clock in the morning, sallow faces peeping through its barred windows had descried other faces within, bending over measures of wine.

wine-shop

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

From this reading There had been earlier drinking than usual in the wine-shop of Monsieur Defarge.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading As early as six o’clock in the morning, sallow faces peeping through its barred windows had descried other faces within, bending over measures of wine.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Monsieur Defarge sold a very thin wine at the best of times, but it would seem to have been an unusually thin wine that he sold at this time.