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The Queen's Necklace
The Queen's Necklace

Chapter LXXIX

Chapter 79, section 1: THE PROCÈS-VERBAL. When the king reentered his room he signed the order to consign M. de Rohan to the Bastile. The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs
Context Illustration Reading 1/12 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE PROCÈS-VERBAL.
When the king reentered his room he signed the order to consign M. de Rohan to the Bastile.
The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.
This, however, the count did not care for, as his sole object was to attract the king’s attention.
He at last succeeded, and the king, after dismissing M. de Breteuil, said to him, “What was the meaning of all those signs you were making just now?
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Queen's Necklace

Chapter LXXIX

Reading 1/12 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE PROCÈS-VERBAL.
Line 2
When the king reentered his room he signed the order to consign M. de Rohan to the Bastile.
Line 3
The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.
Line 4
This, however, the count did not care for, as his sole object was to attract the king’s attention.
Line 5
He at last succeeded, and the king, after dismissing M. de Breteuil, said to him, “What was the meaning of all those signs you were making just now?

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “He at last succeeded, and the king, after dismissing M. de Breteuil, said to him, “What was the meaning of all those signs you were making just now?”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He at last succeeded, and the king, after dismissing M. de Breteuil, said to him, “What was the meaning of all those signs you were making just now?”

Order noun US /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When the king reentered his room he signed the order to consign M. de Rohan to the Bastile.”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “He at last succeeded, and the king, after dismissing M. de Breteuil, said to him, “What was the meaning of all those signs you were making just now?”

Understand noun US /understand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.”

All words in this reading · 62

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 The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading He at last succeeded, and the king, after dismissing M. de Breteuil, said to him, “What was the meaning of all those signs you were making just now?

all

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

From this reading He at last succeeded, and the king, after dismissing M. de Breteuil, said to him, “What was the meaning of all those signs you were making just now?

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading This, however, the count did not care for, as his sole object was to attract the king’s attention.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He at last succeeded, and the king, after dismissing M. de Breteuil, said to him, “What was the meaning of all those signs you were making just now?

attention

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

From this reading This, however, the count did not care for, as his sole object was to attract the king’s attention.

attract

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

From this reading This, however, the count did not care for, as his sole object was to attract the king’s attention.

Bastile

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

From this reading When the king reentered his room he signed the order to consign M. de Rohan to the Bastile.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.

Breteuil

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

From this reading The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.

came

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

From this reading The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.

care

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

From this reading This, however, the count did not care for, as his sole object was to attract the king’s attention.

consign

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

From this reading When the king reentered his room he signed the order to consign M. de Rohan to the Bastile.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.

Count

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

From this reading The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.

de

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

From this reading When the king reentered his room he signed the order to consign M. de Rohan to the Bastile.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading This, however, the count did not care for, as his sole object was to attract the king’s attention.

dismissing

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

From this reading He at last succeeded, and the king, after dismissing M. de Breteuil, said to him, “What was the meaning of all those signs you were making just now?

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading This, however, the count did not care for, as his sole object was to attract the king’s attention.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading When the king reentered his room he signed the order to consign M. de Rohan to the Bastile.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading He at last succeeded, and the king, after dismissing M. de Breteuil, said to him, “What was the meaning of all those signs you were making just now?

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading When the king reentered his room he signed the order to consign M. de Rohan to the Bastile.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.

just

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

From this reading He at last succeeded, and the king, after dismissing M. de Breteuil, said to him, “What was the meaning of all those signs you were making just now?

king

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

From this reading When the king reentered his room he signed the order to consign M. de Rohan to the Bastile.

king's

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

From this reading This, however, the count did not care for, as his sole object was to attract the king’s attention.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He at last succeeded, and the king, after dismissing M. de Breteuil, said to him, “What was the meaning of all those signs you were making just now?

M

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

From this reading When the king reentered his room he signed the order to consign M. de Rohan to the Bastile.

making

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

From this reading The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.

meaning

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

From this reading The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.

now

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

From this reading He at last succeeded, and the king, after dismissing M. de Breteuil, said to him, “What was the meaning of all those signs you were making just now?

object

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

From this reading This, however, the count did not care for, as his sole object was to attract the king’s attention.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.

ordernounUS /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When the king reentered his room he signed the order to consign M. de Rohan to the Bastile.

PROCÈS-VERBAL

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

From this reading THE PROCÈS-VERBAL.

Provence

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

From this reading The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.

reentered

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

From this reading When the king reentered his room he signed the order to consign M. de Rohan to the Bastile.

Rohan

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

From this reading When the king reentered his room he signed the order to consign M. de Rohan to the Bastile.

room

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

From this reading When the king reentered his room he signed the order to consign M. de Rohan to the Bastile.

said

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

From this reading He at last succeeded, and the king, after dismissing M. de Breteuil, said to him, “What was the meaning of all those signs you were making just now?

series

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

From this reading The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.

signed

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

From this reading When the king reentered his room he signed the order to consign M. de Rohan to the Bastile.

signs

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

From this reading The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.

sole

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

From this reading This, however, the count did not care for, as his sole object was to attract the king’s attention.

soon

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

From this reading The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.

succeeded

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

From this reading He at last succeeded, and the king, after dismissing M. de Breteuil, said to him, “What was the meaning of all those signs you were making just now?

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE PROCÈS-VERBAL.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This, however, the count did not care for, as his sole object was to attract the king’s attention.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading He at last succeeded, and the king, after dismissing M. de Breteuil, said to him, “What was the meaning of all those signs you were making just now?

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading When the king reentered his room he signed the order to consign M. de Rohan to the Bastile.

understandnounUS /understand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading This, however, the count did not care for, as his sole object was to attract the king’s attention.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading He at last succeeded, and the king, after dismissing M. de Breteuil, said to him, “What was the meaning of all those signs you were making just now?

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He at last succeeded, and the king, after dismissing M. de Breteuil, said to him, “What was the meaning of all those signs you were making just now?

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When the king reentered his room he signed the order to consign M. de Rohan to the Bastile.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.

willing

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

From this reading The Count de Provence soon came in and began making a series of signs to M. de Breteuil, who, however willing, could not understand their meaning.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading He at last succeeded, and the king, after dismissing M. de Breteuil, said to him, “What was the meaning of all those signs you were making just now?