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Les Misérables
Les Misérables

Chapter XXX

Chapter 30, section 1: These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Par
Context Illustration Reading 1/19 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.
These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.
They were four Oscars; for, at that epoch, Arthurs did not yet exist.
_Burn for him the perfumes of Araby!_ exclaimed romance.
_Oscar advances.
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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 XXX

Reading 1/19 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.
Line 2
These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.
Line 3
They were four Oscars; for, at that epoch, Arthurs did not yet exist.
Line 4
_Burn for him the perfumes of Araby!_ exclaimed romance.
Line 5
_Oscar advances.

Learner Dictionary

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

parisians noun US /pərˈɪsiənz/

plural of “parisian” — a native or resident of Paris

From this reading “These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.”

Collocations
These ParisiansA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
Parisians cameA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
All words in this reading · 77

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

advances

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

From this reading _Oscar advances.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

April

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

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

Araby

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

From this reading _Burn for him the perfumes of Araby!_ exclaimed romance.

Arthurs

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

From this reading They were four Oscars; for, at that epoch, Arthurs did not yet exist.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

bad

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

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

bornnounUS /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

BurnverbUS /bɜːrn/

To consume or be consumed by fire.

From this reading _Burn for him the perfumes of Araby!_ exclaimed romance.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

Cahors

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

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

called

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

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

came

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

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

charming

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

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading They were four Oscars; for, at that epoch, Arthurs did not yet exist.

epoch

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

From this reading They were four Oscars; for, at that epoch, Arthurs did not yet exist.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

exclaimed

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

From this reading _Burn for him the perfumes of Araby!_ exclaimed romance.

exist

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

From this reading They were four Oscars; for, at that epoch, Arthurs did not yet exist.

faces

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

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

fools

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

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading They were four Oscars; for, at that epoch, Arthurs did not yet exist.

four

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

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

fourthnounUS /fourth/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

geniuses

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

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

handsomenounUS /ˈhandsome/

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

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading _Burn for him the perfumes of Araby!_ exclaimed romance.

humanity

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

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

ignorantnounUS /ˈignorant/

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

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

insignificant

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

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

Limoges

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

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

men

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

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

Montauban

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

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading They were four Oscars; for, at that epoch, Arthurs did not yet exist.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

Oscar

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

From this reading _Oscar advances.

Oscars

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

From this reading They were four Oscars; for, at that epoch, Arthurs did not yet exist.

Paris

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

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

Parisian

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

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

ParisiansnounUS /pərˈɪsiənz/

plural of “parisian” — a native or resident of Paris

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

perfumes

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

From this reading _Burn for him the perfumes of Araby!_ exclaimed romance.

random

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

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

romance

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

From this reading _Burn for him the perfumes of Araby!_ exclaimed romance.

says

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

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

seen

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

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

specimens

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

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

student

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

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

students

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

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

study

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

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

taken

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

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

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

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

thirdnounUS /third/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

Toulouse

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

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

twenty

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

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

wise

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

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

years

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

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading They were four Oscars; for, at that epoch, Arthurs did not yet exist.

young

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

From this reading These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years.