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Les Misérables
Les Misérables

Chapter CXXV

Chapter 125, section 1: In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged;
Context Illustration Reading 1/8 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.
It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.
When the Empire was established, all these poor old dispersed and exiled women had been accorded permission to come and take shelter under the wings of the Bernardines-Benedictines.
The government paid them a small pension, the ladies of the Petit-Picpus received them cordially.
It was a singular pell-mell.
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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.

Les Misérables

Chapter CXXV

Reading 1/8 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.
Line 2
It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.
Line 3
When the Empire was established, all these poor old dispersed and exiled women had been accorded permission to come and take shelter under the wings of the Bernardines-Benedictines.
Line 4
The government paid them a small pension, the ladies of the Petit-Picpus received them cordially.
Line 5
It was a singular pell-mell.

Learner Dictionary

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

enclosure noun US /ˈenclosure/

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

From this reading “In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.”

Collocations
In thisA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
this enclosureA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
All words in this reading · 91

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 It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

accorded

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

From this reading When the Empire was established, all these poor old dispersed and exiled women had been accorded permission to come and take shelter under the wings of the Bernardines-Benedictines.

aged

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

all

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading When the Empire was established, all these poor old dispersed and exiled women had been accorded permission to come and take shelter under the wings of the Bernardines-Benedictines.

Bernardines-Benedictines

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

From this reading When the Empire was established, all these poor old dispersed and exiled women had been accorded permission to come and take shelter under the wings of the Bernardines-Benedictines.

black

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

Boarding-school

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

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

building

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

buildings

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

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

called

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

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

cloisters

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When the Empire was established, all these poor old dispersed and exiled women had been accorded permission to come and take shelter under the wings of the Bernardines-Benedictines.

communities

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

Convent

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

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

cordially

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

From this reading The government paid them a small pension, the ladies of the Petit-Picpus received them cordially.

coupling

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

destroyed

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

dispersed

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

From this reading When the Empire was established, all these poor old dispersed and exiled women had been accorded permission to come and take shelter under the wings of the Bernardines-Benedictines.

distinct

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

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

Empire

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

From this reading When the Empire was established, all these poor old dispersed and exiled women had been accorded permission to come and take shelter under the wings of the Bernardines-Benedictines.

enclosurenounUS /ˈenclosure/

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

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

established

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

From this reading When the Empire was established, all these poor old dispersed and exiled women had been accorded permission to come and take shelter under the wings of the Bernardines-Benedictines.

exiled

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

From this reading When the Empire was established, all these poor old dispersed and exiled women had been accorded permission to come and take shelter under the wings of the Bernardines-Benedictines.

garden

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

government

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

From this reading The government paid them a small pension, the ladies of the Petit-Picpus received them cordially.

gray

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

GreatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading When the Empire was established, all these poor old dispersed and exiled women had been accorded permission to come and take shelter under the wings of the Bernardines-Benedictines.

harlequin

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

inhabited

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

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

ladies

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

From this reading The government paid them a small pension, the ladies of the Petit-Picpus received them cordially.

lastly

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

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

LittlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

lived

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

lodged

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

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

medleys

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

nuns

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

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

old

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

From this reading When the Empire was established, all these poor old dispersed and exiled women had been accorded permission to come and take shelter under the wings of the Bernardines-Benedictines.

orders

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

paid

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

From this reading The government paid them a small pension, the ladies of the Petit-Picpus received them cordially.

pell-mell

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

From this reading It was a singular pell-mell.

pension

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

From this reading The government paid them a small pension, the ladies of the Petit-Picpus received them cordially.

perfectly

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

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

permissible

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

permission

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

From this reading When the Empire was established, all these poor old dispersed and exiled women had been accorded permission to come and take shelter under the wings of the Bernardines-Benedictines.

Petit-Picpus

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

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

poornounUS /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When the Empire was established, all these poor old dispersed and exiled women had been accorded permission to come and take shelter under the wings of the Bernardines-Benedictines.

possible

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

received

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

From this reading The government paid them a small pension, the ladies of the Petit-Picpus received them cordially.

relics

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

reunion

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

Revolution

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

scholars

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

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

shelter

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

From this reading When the Empire was established, all these poor old dispersed and exiled women had been accorded permission to come and take shelter under the wings of the Bernardines-Benedictines.

singular

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

From this reading It was a singular pell-mell.

small

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

From this reading The government paid them a small pension, the ladies of the Petit-Picpus received them cordially.

sort

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

sorts

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When the Empire was established, all these poor old dispersed and exiled women had been accorded permission to come and take shelter under the wings of the Bernardines-Benedictines.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The government paid them a small pension, the ladies of the Petit-Picpus received them cordially.

there

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

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

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

From this reading When the Empire was established, all these poor old dispersed and exiled women had been accorded permission to come and take shelter under the wings of the Bernardines-Benedictines.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

three

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

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading When the Empire was established, all these poor old dispersed and exiled women had been accorded permission to come and take shelter under the wings of the Bernardines-Benedictines.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading When the Empire was established, all these poor old dispersed and exiled women had been accorded permission to come and take shelter under the wings of the Bernardines-Benedictines.

varieties

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

various

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When the Empire was established, all these poor old dispersed and exiled women had been accorded permission to come and take shelter under the wings of the Bernardines-Benedictines.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading In this enclosure of the Petit-Picpus there were three perfectly distinct buildings,—the Great Convent, inhabited by the nuns, the Boarding-school, where the scholars were lodged; and lastly, what was called the Little Convent.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

white

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

wings

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

From this reading When the Empire was established, all these poor old dispersed and exiled women had been accorded permission to come and take shelter under the wings of the Bernardines-Benedictines.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.

women

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

From this reading When the Empire was established, all these poor old dispersed and exiled women had been accorded permission to come and take shelter under the wings of the Bernardines-Benedictines.

words

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

From this reading It was a building with a garden, in which lived all sorts of aged nuns of various orders, the relics of cloisters destroyed in the Revolution; a reunion of all the black, gray, and white medleys of all communities and all possible varieties; what might be called, if such a coupling of words is permissible, a sort of harlequin convent.