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Les Misérables
Les Misérables

Chapter LXXIII

Chapter 73, section 1: Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the firs
Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
It was a château; it is no longer anything but a farm.
For the antiquary, Hougomont is _Hugomons_.
This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.
The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.
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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 LXXIII

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
Line 2
It was a château; it is no longer anything but a farm.
Line 3
For the antiquary, Hougomont is _Hugomons_.
Line 4
This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.
Line 5
The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.

Learner Dictionary

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

spot noun US /spɑːt/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading “Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.”

Collocations
Hougomont thisA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
this wasA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
All words in this reading · 63

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 Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

Abbey

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

From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.

ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.

antiquary

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

From this reading For the antiquary, Hougomont is _Hugomons_.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading It was a château; it is no longer anything but a farm.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

axe

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

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

blows

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

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

built

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

From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It was a château; it is no longer anything but a farm.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.

calash

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

From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.

called

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

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

chaplaincy

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

From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.

châteaunounUS /ʃæˈtoʊ/

A large French country house or castle, often surrounded by expansive estates and private galleries.

From this reading It was a château; it is no longer anything but a farm.

courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrtjɑːrd/

an open area surrounded by the walls of a building

From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.

door

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

From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.

elbowed

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

From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.

encountered

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

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

endowed

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

From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.

entered

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

From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.

Europe

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

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

farm

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

From this reading It was a château; it is no longer anything but a farm.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For the antiquary, Hougomont is _Hugomons_.

funereal

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

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

Hougomont

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

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

Hugo

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

From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.

Hugomons

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

From this reading For the antiquary, Hougomont is _Hugomons_.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It was a château; it is no longer anything but a farm.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a château; it is no longer anything but a farm.

knot

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

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

longer

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

From this reading It was a château; it is no longer anything but a farm.

manor

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

From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.

Napoleon

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

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading It was a château; it is no longer anything but a farm.

obstacle

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

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.

porch

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

From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.

pushed

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

From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.

resistance

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

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.

Sire

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

From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.

sixthnounUS /sixth/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.

Somerel

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

From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.

spotnounUS /spɑːt/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

traveller

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

From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

Villiers

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

From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

Waterloo

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

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.

wood-cutter

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

From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.