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Father Goriot
Father Goriot

Chapter XIII

Cover illustration for Father Goriot
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“I do not know,” answered Eugene.
“I will go to Mme. de Beauseant and ask her for an introduction to the Marechale.”
Eugene felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of appearing before the Vicomtesse, dressed as henceforward he always meant to be.
The “abysses of the human heart,” in the moralists’ phrase, are only insidious thoughts, involuntary promptings of personal interest.
The instinct of enjoyment turns the scale; those rapid changes of purpose which have furnished the text for so much rhetoric are calculations prompted by the hope of pleasure.
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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.

Father Goriot

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“I do not know,” answered Eugene.
Line 2
“I will go to Mme. de Beauseant and ask her for an introduction to the Marechale.”
Line 3
Eugene felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of appearing before the Vicomtesse, dressed as henceforward he always meant to be.
Line 4
The “abysses of the human heart,” in the moralists’ phrase, are only insidious thoughts, involuntary promptings of personal interest.
Line 5
The instinct of enjoyment turns the scale; those rapid changes of purpose which have furnished the text for so much rhetoric are calculations prompted by the hope of pleasure.

Learner Dictionary

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

Answered noun US /ˈanswered/

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

From this reading ““I do not know,” answered Eugene.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Eugene felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of appearing before the Vicomtesse, dressed as henceforward he always meant to be.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “The instinct of enjoyment turns the scale; those rapid changes of purpose which have furnished the text for so much rhetoric are calculations prompted by the hope of pleasure.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““I do not know,” answered Eugene.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading “The instinct of enjoyment turns the scale; those rapid changes of purpose which have furnished the text for so much rhetoric are calculations prompted by the hope of pleasure.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Eugene felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of appearing before the Vicomtesse, dressed as henceforward he always meant to be.”

All words in this reading · 70

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 Eugene felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of appearing before the Vicomtesse, dressed as henceforward he always meant to be.

abysses

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

From this reading The “abysses of the human heart,” in the moralists’ phrase, are only insidious thoughts, involuntary promptings of personal interest.

always

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

From this reading Eugene felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of appearing before the Vicomtesse, dressed as henceforward he always meant to be.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading “I will go to Mme. de Beauseant and ask her for an introduction to the Marechale.”

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading “I will go to Mme. de Beauseant and ask her for an introduction to the Marechale.”

answerednounUS /ˈanswered/

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

From this reading “I do not know,” answered Eugene.

appearing

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

From this reading Eugene felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of appearing before the Vicomtesse, dressed as henceforward he always meant to be.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading The “abysses of the human heart,” in the moralists’ phrase, are only insidious thoughts, involuntary promptings of personal interest.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Eugene felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of appearing before the Vicomtesse, dressed as henceforward he always meant to be.

ask

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

From this reading “I will go to Mme. de Beauseant and ask her for an introduction to the Marechale.”

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Eugene felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of appearing before the Vicomtesse, dressed as henceforward he always meant to be.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Eugene felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of appearing before the Vicomtesse, dressed as henceforward he always meant to be.

Beauseant

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

From this reading “I will go to Mme. de Beauseant and ask her for an introduction to the Marechale.”

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Eugene felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of appearing before the Vicomtesse, dressed as henceforward he always meant to be.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The instinct of enjoyment turns the scale; those rapid changes of purpose which have furnished the text for so much rhetoric are calculations prompted by the hope of pleasure.

calculations

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

From this reading The instinct of enjoyment turns the scale; those rapid changes of purpose which have furnished the text for so much rhetoric are calculations prompted by the hope of pleasure.

changes

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

From this reading The instinct of enjoyment turns the scale; those rapid changes of purpose which have furnished the text for so much rhetoric are calculations prompted by the hope of pleasure.

de

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

From this reading “I will go to Mme. de Beauseant and ask her for an introduction to the Marechale.”

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading “I do not know,” answered Eugene.

dressed

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

From this reading Eugene felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of appearing before the Vicomtesse, dressed as henceforward he always meant to be.

enjoyment

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

From this reading The instinct of enjoyment turns the scale; those rapid changes of purpose which have furnished the text for so much rhetoric are calculations prompted by the hope of pleasure.

Eugene

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

From this reading “I do not know,” answered Eugene.

felt

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

From this reading Eugene felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of appearing before the Vicomtesse, dressed as henceforward he always meant to be.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “I will go to Mme. de Beauseant and ask her for an introduction to the Marechale.”

furnished

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

From this reading The instinct of enjoyment turns the scale; those rapid changes of purpose which have furnished the text for so much rhetoric are calculations prompted by the hope of pleasure.

go

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

From this reading “I will go to Mme. de Beauseant and ask her for an introduction to the Marechale.”

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The instinct of enjoyment turns the scale; those rapid changes of purpose which have furnished the text for so much rhetoric are calculations prompted by the hope of pleasure.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Eugene felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of appearing before the Vicomtesse, dressed as henceforward he always meant to be.

heart

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

From this reading The “abysses of the human heart,” in the moralists’ phrase, are only insidious thoughts, involuntary promptings of personal interest.

henceforward

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

From this reading Eugene felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of appearing before the Vicomtesse, dressed as henceforward he always meant to be.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading “I will go to Mme. de Beauseant and ask her for an introduction to the Marechale.”

hope

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

From this reading The instinct of enjoyment turns the scale; those rapid changes of purpose which have furnished the text for so much rhetoric are calculations prompted by the hope of pleasure.

human

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

From this reading The “abysses of the human heart,” in the moralists’ phrase, are only insidious thoughts, involuntary promptings of personal interest.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “I do not know,” answered Eugene.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The “abysses of the human heart,” in the moralists’ phrase, are only insidious thoughts, involuntary promptings of personal interest.

insidious

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

From this reading The “abysses of the human heart,” in the moralists’ phrase, are only insidious thoughts, involuntary promptings of personal interest.

instinct

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

From this reading The instinct of enjoyment turns the scale; those rapid changes of purpose which have furnished the text for so much rhetoric are calculations prompted by the hope of pleasure.

interest

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

From this reading The “abysses of the human heart,” in the moralists’ phrase, are only insidious thoughts, involuntary promptings of personal interest.

introduction

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

From this reading “I will go to Mme. de Beauseant and ask her for an introduction to the Marechale.”

involuntary

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

From this reading The “abysses of the human heart,” in the moralists’ phrase, are only insidious thoughts, involuntary promptings of personal interest.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I do not know,” answered Eugene.

Marechale

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

From this reading “I will go to Mme. de Beauseant and ask her for an introduction to the Marechale.”

meant

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

From this reading Eugene felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of appearing before the Vicomtesse, dressed as henceforward he always meant to be.

Mme

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

From this reading “I will go to Mme. de Beauseant and ask her for an introduction to the Marechale.”

moralists

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

From this reading The “abysses of the human heart,” in the moralists’ phrase, are only insidious thoughts, involuntary promptings of personal interest.

much

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

From this reading The instinct of enjoyment turns the scale; those rapid changes of purpose which have furnished the text for so much rhetoric are calculations prompted by the hope of pleasure.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading “I do not know,” answered Eugene.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Eugene felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of appearing before the Vicomtesse, dressed as henceforward he always meant to be.

only

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

From this reading The “abysses of the human heart,” in the moralists’ phrase, are only insidious thoughts, involuntary promptings of personal interest.

personal

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

From this reading The “abysses of the human heart,” in the moralists’ phrase, are only insidious thoughts, involuntary promptings of personal interest.

phrase

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

From this reading The “abysses of the human heart,” in the moralists’ phrase, are only insidious thoughts, involuntary promptings of personal interest.

pleasure

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

From this reading Eugene felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of appearing before the Vicomtesse, dressed as henceforward he always meant to be.

prompted

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

From this reading The instinct of enjoyment turns the scale; those rapid changes of purpose which have furnished the text for so much rhetoric are calculations prompted by the hope of pleasure.

promptings

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

From this reading The “abysses of the human heart,” in the moralists’ phrase, are only insidious thoughts, involuntary promptings of personal interest.

purpose

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

From this reading The instinct of enjoyment turns the scale; those rapid changes of purpose which have furnished the text for so much rhetoric are calculations prompted by the hope of pleasure.

rapid

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

From this reading The instinct of enjoyment turns the scale; those rapid changes of purpose which have furnished the text for so much rhetoric are calculations prompted by the hope of pleasure.

rhetoric

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

From this reading The instinct of enjoyment turns the scale; those rapid changes of purpose which have furnished the text for so much rhetoric are calculations prompted by the hope of pleasure.

scale

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

From this reading The instinct of enjoyment turns the scale; those rapid changes of purpose which have furnished the text for so much rhetoric are calculations prompted by the hope of pleasure.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The instinct of enjoyment turns the scale; those rapid changes of purpose which have furnished the text for so much rhetoric are calculations prompted by the hope of pleasure.

text

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

From this reading The instinct of enjoyment turns the scale; those rapid changes of purpose which have furnished the text for so much rhetoric are calculations prompted by the hope of pleasure.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “I will go to Mme. de Beauseant and ask her for an introduction to the Marechale.”

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading The instinct of enjoyment turns the scale; those rapid changes of purpose which have furnished the text for so much rhetoric are calculations prompted by the hope of pleasure.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Eugene felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of appearing before the Vicomtesse, dressed as henceforward he always meant to be.

thoughts

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

From this reading The “abysses of the human heart,” in the moralists’ phrase, are only insidious thoughts, involuntary promptings of personal interest.

thrill

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

From this reading Eugene felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of appearing before the Vicomtesse, dressed as henceforward he always meant to be.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “I will go to Mme. de Beauseant and ask her for an introduction to the Marechale.”

turns

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

From this reading The instinct of enjoyment turns the scale; those rapid changes of purpose which have furnished the text for so much rhetoric are calculations prompted by the hope of pleasure.

Vicomtesse

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

From this reading Eugene felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of appearing before the Vicomtesse, dressed as henceforward he always meant to be.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The instinct of enjoyment turns the scale; those rapid changes of purpose which have furnished the text for so much rhetoric are calculations prompted by the hope of pleasure.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading “I will go to Mme. de Beauseant and ask her for an introduction to the Marechale.”