Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Cosmopolis — Complete
Cosmopolis — Complete

Chapter II · The Beginning of a Drama

Cover illustration for Cosmopolis — Complete
Context Illustration Reading 1/74 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.
"He is like the Socialists.
What vigor of mind in that old wornout machine!"
And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.
They follow their thoughts instead of heeding objects.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Cosmopolis — Complete

Chapter II · The Beginning of a Drama

Reading 1/74 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.
Line 2
"He is like the Socialists.
Line 3
What vigor of mind in that old wornout machine!"
Line 4
And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.
Line 5
They follow their thoughts instead of heeding objects.

Learner Dictionary

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

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “"There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “What vigor of mind in that old wornout machine!"”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.”

All words in this reading · 66

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 And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

admiration

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

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading "There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

brief

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

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

characteristic

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

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

de

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

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

disappearing

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

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

Dorsenne

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

From this reading "There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.

down

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

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

follow

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

From this reading They follow their thoughts instead of heeding objects.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

glance

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

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading "There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "He is like the Socialists.

heeding

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

From this reading They follow their thoughts instead of heeding objects.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading "There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading "There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading "There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.

ideas

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

From this reading "There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading What vigor of mind in that old wornout machine!"

instead

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

From this reading They follow their thoughts instead of heeding objects.

intelligent

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

From this reading "There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.

la

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

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.

like

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

From this reading "He is like the Socialists.

machine

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

From this reading What vigor of mind in that old wornout machine!"

man

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

From this reading "There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.

Marquis

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

From this reading "There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading What vigor of mind in that old wornout machine!"

moment

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

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

monomaniacs

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

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

much

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

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.

objects

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

From this reading They follow their thoughts instead of heeding objects.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading What vigor of mind in that old wornout machine!"

old

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

From this reading What vigor of mind in that old wornout machine!"

pace

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

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

pity

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

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

Propagande

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

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

questions

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

From this reading "There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.

rapid

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

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

Rue

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

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

said

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

From this reading "There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.

Socialists

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

From this reading "He is like the Socialists.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading What vigor of mind in that old wornout machine!"

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They follow their thoughts instead of heeding objects.

There

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

From this reading "There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They follow their thoughts instead of heeding objects.

thoughts

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

From this reading They follow their thoughts instead of heeding objects.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.

vigor

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

From this reading What vigor of mind in that old wornout machine!"

walked

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

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

watched

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

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What vigor of mind in that old wornout machine!"

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading "There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading "There is an intelligent man, who never questions his ideas," said Dorsenne to himself, when the Marquis had left him.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading And for a brief moment he watched, with a glance in which there was at least as much admiration as pity, the Marquis, who was disappearing down the Rue de la Propagande, and who walked at the rapid pace characteristic of monomaniacs.

wornout

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

From this reading What vigor of mind in that old wornout machine!"