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Cousin Betty
Cousin Betty

Chapter XXXIX

Cover illustration for Cousin Betty
Context Illustration Reading 1/38 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“The slave was here, He showed his order, but he nothing gained.
“_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.
I admire that passage--I cannot say of his life, but of his death--the passage--another joke!--The passage from life to death--the Passage Montesquieu!”
Victorin gazed sadly at his father-in-law, wondering whether folly and vanity were not forces on a par with true greatness of soul.
The causes that act on the springs of the soul seem to be quite independent of the results.
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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.

Cousin Betty

Chapter XXXIX

Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“The slave was here, He showed his order, but he nothing gained.
Line 2
“_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.
Line 3
I admire that passage--I cannot say of his life, but of his death--the passage--another joke!--The passage from life to death--the Passage Montesquieu!”
Line 4
Victorin gazed sadly at his father-in-law, wondering whether folly and vanity were not forces on a par with true greatness of soul.
Line 5
The causes that act on the springs of the soul seem to be quite independent of the results.

Learner Dictionary

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

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “I admire that passage--I cannot say of his life, but of his death--the passage--another joke!--The passage from life to death--the Passage Montesquieu!””

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.”

Folly noun US /ˈfɑːli/

an action or decision that shows a lack of good judgment

From this reading “Victorin gazed sadly at his father-in-law, wondering whether folly and vanity were not forces on a par with true greatness of soul.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““The slave was here, He showed his order, but he nothing gained.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I admire that passage--I cannot say of his life, but of his death--the passage--another joke!--The passage from life to death--the Passage Montesquieu!””

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading ““The slave was here, He showed his order, but he nothing gained.”

Order noun US /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““The slave was here, He showed his order, but he nothing gained.”

Passage noun US /ˈpassage/

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

From this reading “I admire that passage--I cannot say of his life, but of his death--the passage--another joke!--The passage from life to death--the Passage Montesquieu!””

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The causes that act on the springs of the soul seem to be quite independent of the results.”

Whether conjunction US /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading “Victorin gazed sadly at his father-in-law, wondering whether folly and vanity were not forces on a par with true greatness of soul.”

All words in this reading · 72

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 “_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.

act

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

From this reading The causes that act on the springs of the soul seem to be quite independent of the results.

admire

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

From this reading I admire that passage--I cannot say of his life, but of his death--the passage--another joke!--The passage from life to death--the Passage Montesquieu!”

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Victorin gazed sadly at his father-in-law, wondering whether folly and vanity were not forces on a par with true greatness of soul.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading I admire that passage--I cannot say of his life, but of his death--the passage--another joke!--The passage from life to death--the Passage Montesquieu!”

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Victorin gazed sadly at his father-in-law, wondering whether folly and vanity were not forces on a par with true greatness of soul.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The causes that act on the springs of the soul seem to be quite independent of the results.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “The slave was here, He showed his order, but he nothing gained.

cannot

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

From this reading I admire that passage--I cannot say of his life, but of his death--the passage--another joke!--The passage from life to death--the Passage Montesquieu!”

causes

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

From this reading The causes that act on the springs of the soul seem to be quite independent of the results.

de

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

From this reading “_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.

death

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

From this reading “_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.

elegant

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

From this reading “_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.

father-in-law

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

From this reading Victorin gazed sadly at his father-in-law, wondering whether folly and vanity were not forces on a par with true greatness of soul.

follynounUS /ˈfɑːli/

an action or decision that shows a lack of good judgment

From this reading Victorin gazed sadly at his father-in-law, wondering whether folly and vanity were not forces on a par with true greatness of soul.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.

forces

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

From this reading Victorin gazed sadly at his father-in-law, wondering whether folly and vanity were not forces on a par with true greatness of soul.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I admire that passage--I cannot say of his life, but of his death--the passage--another joke!--The passage from life to death--the Passage Montesquieu!”

gained

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

From this reading “The slave was here, He showed his order, but he nothing gained.

gazed

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

From this reading Victorin gazed sadly at his father-in-law, wondering whether folly and vanity were not forces on a par with true greatness of soul.

greatness

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

From this reading Victorin gazed sadly at his father-in-law, wondering whether folly and vanity were not forces on a par with true greatness of soul.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading “_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading “The slave was here, He showed his order, but he nothing gained.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The slave was here, He showed his order, but he nothing gained.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading “_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading “The slave was here, He showed his order, but he nothing gained.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I admire that passage--I cannot say of his life, but of his death--the passage--another joke!--The passage from life to death--the Passage Montesquieu!”

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.

independent

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

From this reading The causes that act on the springs of the soul seem to be quite independent of the results.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.

jest

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

From this reading “_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.

Jesuit

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

From this reading “_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.

joke

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

From this reading I admire that passage--I cannot say of his life, but of his death--the passage--another joke!--The passage from life to death--the Passage Montesquieu!”

le

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

From this reading “_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I admire that passage--I cannot say of his life, but of his death--the passage--another joke!--The passage from life to death--the Passage Montesquieu!”

Monsieur

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

From this reading “_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.

Montesquieu

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

From this reading “_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Victorin gazed sadly at his father-in-law, wondering whether folly and vanity were not forces on a par with true greatness of soul.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “The slave was here, He showed his order, but he nothing gained.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I admire that passage--I cannot say of his life, but of his death--the passage--another joke!--The passage from life to death--the Passage Montesquieu!”

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Victorin gazed sadly at his father-in-law, wondering whether folly and vanity were not forces on a par with true greatness of soul.

ordernounUS /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The slave was here, He showed his order, but he nothing gained.

par

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

From this reading Victorin gazed sadly at his father-in-law, wondering whether folly and vanity were not forces on a par with true greatness of soul.

passagenounUS /ˈpassage/

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

From this reading I admire that passage--I cannot say of his life, but of his death--the passage--another joke!--The passage from life to death--the Passage Montesquieu!”

preserved

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

From this reading “_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.

President

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

From this reading “_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.

pretty

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

From this reading “_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The causes that act on the springs of the soul seem to be quite independent of the results.

results

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

From this reading The causes that act on the springs of the soul seem to be quite independent of the results.

sadly

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

From this reading Victorin gazed sadly at his father-in-law, wondering whether folly and vanity were not forces on a par with true greatness of soul.

say

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

From this reading I admire that passage--I cannot say of his life, but of his death--the passage--another joke!--The passage from life to death--the Passage Montesquieu!”

seem

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

From this reading The causes that act on the springs of the soul seem to be quite independent of the results.

sent

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

From this reading “_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.

showed

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

From this reading “The slave was here, He showed his order, but he nothing gained.

showing

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

From this reading “_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.

slave

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

From this reading “The slave was here, He showed his order, but he nothing gained.

soul

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

From this reading Victorin gazed sadly at his father-in-law, wondering whether folly and vanity were not forces on a par with true greatness of soul.

springs

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

From this reading The causes that act on the springs of the soul seem to be quite independent of the results.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “The slave was here, He showed his order, but he nothing gained.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading “_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I admire that passage--I cannot say of his life, but of his death--the passage--another joke!--The passage from life to death--the Passage Montesquieu!”

true

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

From this reading Victorin gazed sadly at his father-in-law, wondering whether folly and vanity were not forces on a par with true greatness of soul.

vanity

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

From this reading Victorin gazed sadly at his father-in-law, wondering whether folly and vanity were not forces on a par with true greatness of soul.

Victorin

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

From this reading Victorin gazed sadly at his father-in-law, wondering whether folly and vanity were not forces on a par with true greatness of soul.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading “The slave was here, He showed his order, but he nothing gained.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Victorin gazed sadly at his father-in-law, wondering whether folly and vanity were not forces on a par with true greatness of soul.

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading Victorin gazed sadly at his father-in-law, wondering whether folly and vanity were not forces on a par with true greatness of soul.

wit

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

From this reading “_His order_ is a pretty jest, showing that even in death Monsieur le President de Montesquieu preserved his elegant wit, for they had sent him a Jesuit.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Victorin gazed sadly at his father-in-law, wondering whether folly and vanity were not forces on a par with true greatness of soul.

wondering

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

From this reading Victorin gazed sadly at his father-in-law, wondering whether folly and vanity were not forces on a par with true greatness of soul.