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 Paris is a maelstrom where everything is lost, and everything disappears in this belly of the world, as in the belly of the sea.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The events of which we have just beheld the reverse side, so to speak, had come about in the simplest possible manner.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Paris is a maelstrom where everything is lost, and everything disappears in this belly of the world, as in the belly of the sea.
arrested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Paris is a maelstrom where everything is lost, and everything disappears in this belly of the world, as in the belly of the sea.
beheld
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The events of which we have just beheld the reverse side, so to speak, had come about in the simplest possible manner.
belly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris is a maelstrom where everything is lost, and everything disappears in this belly of the world, as in the belly of the sea.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
betaken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The events of which we have just beheld the reverse side, so to speak, had come about in the simplest possible manner.
crowd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No forest hides a man as does that crowd.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
death-bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
disappears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris is a maelstrom where everything is lost, and everything disappears in this belly of the world, as in the belly of the sea.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading No forest hides a man as does that crowd.
escaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
eventsnounUS /ɪˈvents/
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading The events of which we have just beheld the reverse side, so to speak, had come about in the simplest possible manner.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Fugitives of every sort know this.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Paris is a maelstrom where everything is lost, and everything disappears in this belly of the world, as in the belly of the sea.
Fantine's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
forest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No forest hides a man as does that crowd.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
Fugitives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fugitives of every sort know this.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The events of which we have just beheld the reverse side, so to speak, had come about in the simplest possible manner.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The events of which we have just beheld the reverse side, so to speak, had come about in the simplest possible manner.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
hides
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No forest hides a man as does that crowd.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The events of which we have just beheld the reverse side, so to speak, had come about in the simplest possible manner.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Paris is a maelstrom where everything is lost, and everything disappears in this belly of the world, as in the belly of the sea.
jail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
Javert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
Jean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The events of which we have just beheld the reverse side, so to speak, had come about in the simplest possible manner.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Fugitives of every sort know this.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris is a maelstrom where everything is lost, and everything disappears in this belly of the world, as in the belly of the sea.
M
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
maelstromnounUS /ˈmeɪl.strɒm/
A powerful whirlpool in the sea or a river; a state of confused turmoil.
From this reading Paris is a maelstrom where everything is lost, and everything disappears in this belly of the world, as in the belly of the sea.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No forest hides a man as does that crowd.
manner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The events of which we have just beheld the reverse side, so to speak, had come about in the simplest possible manner.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No forest hides a man as does that crowd.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The events of which we have just beheld the reverse side, so to speak, had come about in the simplest possible manner.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
Paris
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
police
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The events of which we have just beheld the reverse side, so to speak, had come about in the simplest possible manner.
reverse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The events of which we have just beheld the reverse side, so to speak, had come about in the simplest possible manner.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris is a maelstrom where everything is lost, and everything disappears in this belly of the world, as in the belly of the sea.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The events of which we have just beheld the reverse side, so to speak, had come about in the simplest possible manner.
simplest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The events of which we have just beheld the reverse side, so to speak, had come about in the simplest possible manner.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The events of which we have just beheld the reverse side, so to speak, had come about in the simplest possible manner.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fugitives of every sort know this.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The events of which we have just beheld the reverse side, so to speak, had come about in the simplest possible manner.
supposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
sur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The events of which we have just beheld the reverse side, so to speak, had come about in the simplest possible manner.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Paris is a maelstrom where everything is lost, and everything disappears in this belly of the world, as in the belly of the sea.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The events of which we have just beheld the reverse side, so to speak, had come about in the simplest possible manner.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
Valjean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The events of which we have just beheld the reverse side, so to speak, had come about in the simplest possible manner.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When Jean Valjean, on the evening of the very day when Javert had arrested him beside Fantine’s death-bed, had escaped from the town jail of M. sur M., the police had supposed that he had betaken himself to Paris.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Paris is a maelstrom where everything is lost, and everything disappears in this belly of the world, as in the belly of the sea.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The events of which we have just beheld the reverse side, so to speak, had come about in the simplest possible manner.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris is a maelstrom where everything is lost, and everything disappears in this belly of the world, as in the belly of the sea.
