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A Tale of Two Cities
A Tale of Two Cities

Book III · Chapter X · The Substance of the Shadow

“I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

The Substance of the Shadow, reading 1: “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell…
Context Illustration Reading 1/60 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.
I write it at stolen intervals, under every difficulty.
I design to secrete it in the wall of the chimney, where I have slowly and laboriously made a place of concealment for it.
Some pitying hand may find it there, when I and my sorrows are dust.
“These words are formed by the rusty iron point with which I write with difficulty in scrapings of soot and charcoal from the chimney, mixed with blood, in the last month of the tenth year of my captivity.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Tale of Two Cities

Book III · Chapter X · The Substance of the Shadow

Reading 1/60 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.
Line 2
I write it at stolen intervals, under every difficulty.
Line 3
I design to secrete it in the wall of the chimney, where I have slowly and laboriously made a place of concealment for it.
Line 4
Some pitying hand may find it there, when I and my sorrows are dust.
Line 5
“These words are formed by the rusty iron point with which I write with difficulty in scrapings of soot and charcoal from the chimney, mixed with blood, in the last month of the tenth year of my captivity.

Learner Dictionary

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

laboriously adverb US /ləˈbɔːriəsli/

with a great deal of effort and difficulty

From this reading “I design to secrete it in the wall of the chimney, where I have slowly and laboriously made a place of concealment for it.”

Collocations
I AlexandreA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
Alexandre ManetteA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
melancholy adjective US /ˈmɛlənˌkɑli/

Deeply and quietly sad

From this reading ““I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.”

unfortunate adjective US /ʌnˈfɔːrtʃənət/

experiencing bad luck, hardship, or an unhappy situation

From this reading ““I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.”

All words in this reading · 75

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

1767

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From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading I design to secrete it in the wall of the chimney, where I have slowly and laboriously made a place of concealment for it.

afterwards

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

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

Alexandre

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

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Some pitying hand may find it there, when I and my sorrows are dust.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I write it at stolen intervals, under every difficulty.

Bastille

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

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

Beauvais

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

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

bloodnounUS /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “These words are formed by the rusty iron point with which I write with difficulty in scrapings of soot and charcoal from the chimney, mixed with blood, in the last month of the tenth year of my captivity.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading “These words are formed by the rusty iron point with which I write with difficulty in scrapings of soot and charcoal from the chimney, mixed with blood, in the last month of the tenth year of my captivity.

captivity

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

From this reading “These words are formed by the rusty iron point with which I write with difficulty in scrapings of soot and charcoal from the chimney, mixed with blood, in the last month of the tenth year of my captivity.

cellnounUS /sel/

A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

charcoal

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

From this reading “These words are formed by the rusty iron point with which I write with difficulty in scrapings of soot and charcoal from the chimney, mixed with blood, in the last month of the tenth year of my captivity.

chimney

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

From this reading I design to secrete it in the wall of the chimney, where I have slowly and laboriously made a place of concealment for it.

concealment

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

From this reading I design to secrete it in the wall of the chimney, where I have slowly and laboriously made a place of concealment for it.

design

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

From this reading I design to secrete it in the wall of the chimney, where I have slowly and laboriously made a place of concealment for it.

difficulty

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

From this reading I write it at stolen intervals, under every difficulty.

doleful

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

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

dust

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

From this reading Some pitying hand may find it there, when I and my sorrows are dust.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading I write it at stolen intervals, under every difficulty.

find

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

From this reading Some pitying hand may find it there, when I and my sorrows are dust.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I design to secrete it in the wall of the chimney, where I have slowly and laboriously made a place of concealment for it.

formed

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

From this reading “These words are formed by the rusty iron point with which I write with difficulty in scrapings of soot and charcoal from the chimney, mixed with blood, in the last month of the tenth year of my captivity.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading “These words are formed by the rusty iron point with which I write with difficulty in scrapings of soot and charcoal from the chimney, mixed with blood, in the last month of the tenth year of my captivity.

hand

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

From this reading Some pitying hand may find it there, when I and my sorrows are dust.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I design to secrete it in the wall of the chimney, where I have slowly and laboriously made a place of concealment for it.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

intervals

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

From this reading I write it at stolen intervals, under every difficulty.

iron

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

From this reading “These words are formed by the rusty iron point with which I write with difficulty in scrapings of soot and charcoal from the chimney, mixed with blood, in the last month of the tenth year of my captivity.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I write it at stolen intervals, under every difficulty.

laboriouslyadverbUS /ləˈbɔːriəsli/

with a great deal of effort and difficulty

From this reading I design to secrete it in the wall of the chimney, where I have slowly and laboriously made a place of concealment for it.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

made

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

From this reading I design to secrete it in the wall of the chimney, where I have slowly and laboriously made a place of concealment for it.

Manette

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

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Some pitying hand may find it there, when I and my sorrows are dust.

melancholyadjectiveUS /ˈmɛlənˌkɑli/

Deeply and quietly sad

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

mixedverbUS /mɪkst/

involved with or connected to

From this reading “These words are formed by the rusty iron point with which I write with difficulty in scrapings of soot and charcoal from the chimney, mixed with blood, in the last month of the tenth year of my captivity.

month

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

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

native

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

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

paper

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

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

Paris

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

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

physician

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

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

pitying

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

From this reading Some pitying hand may find it there, when I and my sorrows are dust.

place

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

From this reading I design to secrete it in the wall of the chimney, where I have slowly and laboriously made a place of concealment for it.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading “These words are formed by the rusty iron point with which I write with difficulty in scrapings of soot and charcoal from the chimney, mixed with blood, in the last month of the tenth year of my captivity.

resident

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

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

rusty

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

From this reading “These words are formed by the rusty iron point with which I write with difficulty in scrapings of soot and charcoal from the chimney, mixed with blood, in the last month of the tenth year of my captivity.

scrapings

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

From this reading “These words are formed by the rusty iron point with which I write with difficulty in scrapings of soot and charcoal from the chimney, mixed with blood, in the last month of the tenth year of my captivity.

secrete

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

From this reading I design to secrete it in the wall of the chimney, where I have slowly and laboriously made a place of concealment for it.

slowly

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

From this reading I design to secrete it in the wall of the chimney, where I have slowly and laboriously made a place of concealment for it.

Some

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

From this reading Some pitying hand may find it there, when I and my sorrows are dust.

soot

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

From this reading “These words are formed by the rusty iron point with which I write with difficulty in scrapings of soot and charcoal from the chimney, mixed with blood, in the last month of the tenth year of my captivity.

sorrows

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

From this reading Some pitying hand may find it there, when I and my sorrows are dust.

stolen

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

From this reading I write it at stolen intervals, under every difficulty.

tenth

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

From this reading “These words are formed by the rusty iron point with which I write with difficulty in scrapings of soot and charcoal from the chimney, mixed with blood, in the last month of the tenth year of my captivity.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

there

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

From this reading Some pitying hand may find it there, when I and my sorrows are dust.

ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “These words are formed by the rusty iron point with which I write with difficulty in scrapings of soot and charcoal from the chimney, mixed with blood, in the last month of the tenth year of my captivity.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I design to secrete it in the wall of the chimney, where I have slowly and laboriously made a place of concealment for it.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading I write it at stolen intervals, under every difficulty.

unfortunateadjectiveUS /ʌnˈfɔːrtʃənət/

experiencing bad luck, hardship, or an unhappy situation

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

wall

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

From this reading I design to secrete it in the wall of the chimney, where I have slowly and laboriously made a place of concealment for it.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Some pitying hand may find it there, when I and my sorrows are dust.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading I design to secrete it in the wall of the chimney, where I have slowly and laboriously made a place of concealment for it.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading “These words are formed by the rusty iron point with which I write with difficulty in scrapings of soot and charcoal from the chimney, mixed with blood, in the last month of the tenth year of my captivity.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading “These words are formed by the rusty iron point with which I write with difficulty in scrapings of soot and charcoal from the chimney, mixed with blood, in the last month of the tenth year of my captivity.

words

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

From this reading “These words are formed by the rusty iron point with which I write with difficulty in scrapings of soot and charcoal from the chimney, mixed with blood, in the last month of the tenth year of my captivity.

write

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

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.

year

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

From this reading “I, Alexandre Manette, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year, 1767.