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Four Short Stories By Emile Zola
Four Short Stories By Emile Zola

Chapter III

Cover illustration for Four Short Stories By Emile Zola
Context Illustration Reading 1/114 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.
It was a great square building, and the Muffats had lived in it for a hundred years or more.
On the side of the street its frontage seemed to slumber, so lofty was it and dark, so sad and convent-like, with its great outer shutters, which were nearly always closed.
And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.
This particular Tuesday, toward ten o’clock in the evening, there were scarcely a dozen people in the drawing room.
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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.

Four Short Stories By Emile Zola

Chapter III

Reading 1/114 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.
Line 2
It was a great square building, and the Muffats had lived in it for a hundred years or more.
Line 3
On the side of the street its frontage seemed to slumber, so lofty was it and dark, so sad and convent-like, with its great outer shutters, which were nearly always closed.
Line 4
And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.
Line 5
This particular Tuesday, toward ten o’clock in the evening, there were scarcely a dozen people in the drawing room.

Learner Dictionary

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

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was a great square building, and the Muffats had lived in it for a hundred years or more.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.”

Order noun US /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On the side of the street its frontage seemed to slumber, so lofty was it and dark, so sad and convent-like, with its great outer shutters, which were nearly always closed.”

Toward preposition US /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading “And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.”

All words in this reading · 100

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 It was a great square building, and the Muffats had lived in it for a hundred years or more.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.

always

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

From this reading On the side of the street its frontage seemed to slumber, so lofty was it and dark, so sad and convent-like, with its great outer shutters, which were nearly always closed.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was a great square building, and the Muffats had lived in it for a hundred years or more.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

back

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

From this reading And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.

become

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

Beuville

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

branches

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

From this reading And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.

building

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

From this reading It was a great square building, and the Muffats had lived in it for a hundred years or more.

call

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

closed

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

From this reading On the side of the street its frontage seemed to slumber, so lofty was it and dark, so sad and convent-like, with its great outer shutters, which were nearly always closed.

convent-like

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

From this reading On the side of the street its frontage seemed to slumber, so lofty was it and dark, so sad and convent-like, with its great outer shutters, which were nearly always closed.

corner

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

count's

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

Countess

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

customary

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

dark

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

From this reading On the side of the street its frontage seemed to slumber, so lofty was it and dark, so sad and convent-like, with its great outer shutters, which were nearly always closed.

de

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

died

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

distinguish

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

dozen

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

From this reading This particular Tuesday, toward ten o’clock in the evening, there were scarcely a dozen people in the drawing room.

drawing

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

From this reading This particular Tuesday, toward ten o’clock in the evening, there were scarcely a dozen people in the drawing room.

evening

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

From this reading This particular Tuesday, toward ten o’clock in the evening, there were scarcely a dozen people in the drawing room.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was a great square building, and the Muffats had lived in it for a hundred years or more.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

frontage

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

From this reading On the side of the street its frontage seemed to slumber, so lofty was it and dark, so sad and convent-like, with its great outer shutters, which were nearly always closed.

garden

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

From this reading And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a great square building, and the Muffats had lived in it for a hundred years or more.

grown

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

From this reading And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

house

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

hundred

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

From this reading It was a great square building, and the Muffats had lived in it for a hundred years or more.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading On the side of the street its frontage seemed to slumber, so lofty was it and dark, so sad and convent-like, with its great outer shutters, which were nearly always closed.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.

lived

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

From this reading It was a great square building, and the Muffats had lived in it for a hundred years or more.

lofty

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

From this reading On the side of the street its frontage seemed to slumber, so lofty was it and dark, so sad and convent-like, with its great outer shutters, which were nearly always closed.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.

Miromesnil

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

Mme

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

more

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

From this reading It was a great square building, and the Muffats had lived in it for a hundred years or more.

mother

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

Muffat

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

Muffats

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

From this reading It was a great square building, and the Muffats had lived in it for a hundred years or more.

nearly

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

From this reading On the side of the street its frontage seemed to slumber, so lofty was it and dark, so sad and convent-like, with its great outer shutters, which were nearly always closed.

o'clock

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

From this reading This particular Tuesday, toward ten o’clock in the evening, there were scarcely a dozen people in the drawing room.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the side of the street its frontage seemed to slumber, so lofty was it and dark, so sad and convent-like, with its great outer shutters, which were nearly always closed.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It was a great square building, and the Muffats had lived in it for a hundred years or more.

ordernounUS /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

outer

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

From this reading On the side of the street its frontage seemed to slumber, so lofty was it and dark, so sad and convent-like, with its great outer shutters, which were nearly always closed.

particular

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

From this reading This particular Tuesday, toward ten o’clock in the evening, there were scarcely a dozen people in the drawing room.

Pentièvre

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

people

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

From this reading This particular Tuesday, toward ten o’clock in the evening, there were scarcely a dozen people in the drawing room.

receive

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

roof

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

From this reading And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.

room

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

From this reading This particular Tuesday, toward ten o’clock in the evening, there were scarcely a dozen people in the drawing room.

Rue

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

Sabine

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

sad

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

From this reading On the side of the street its frontage seemed to slumber, so lofty was it and dark, so sad and convent-like, with its great outer shutters, which were nearly always closed.

scarcely

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

From this reading This particular Tuesday, toward ten o’clock in the evening, there were scarcely a dozen people in the drawing room.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On the side of the street its frontage seemed to slumber, so lofty was it and dark, so sad and convent-like, with its great outer shutters, which were nearly always closed.

shutters

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

From this reading On the side of the street its frontage seemed to slumber, so lofty was it and dark, so sad and convent-like, with its great outer shutters, which were nearly always closed.

side

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

From this reading On the side of the street its frontage seemed to slumber, so lofty was it and dark, so sad and convent-like, with its great outer shutters, which were nearly always closed.

slender

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

From this reading And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.

slumber

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

From this reading On the side of the street its frontage seemed to slumber, so lofty was it and dark, so sad and convent-like, with its great outer shutters, which were nearly always closed.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading On the side of the street its frontage seemed to slumber, so lofty was it and dark, so sad and convent-like, with its great outer shutters, which were nearly always closed.

some

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

From this reading And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.

square

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

From this reading It was a great square building, and the Muffats had lived in it for a hundred years or more.

straining

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

From this reading And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.

street

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

From this reading On the side of the street its frontage seemed to slumber, so lofty was it and dark, so sad and convent-like, with its great outer shutters, which were nearly always closed.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.

sunlight

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

From this reading And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.

ten

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

From this reading This particular Tuesday, toward ten o’clock in the evening, there were scarcely a dozen people in the drawing room.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.

there

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

From this reading This particular Tuesday, toward ten o’clock in the evening, there were scarcely a dozen people in the drawing room.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This particular Tuesday, toward ten o’clock in the evening, there were scarcely a dozen people in the drawing room.

tips

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

From this reading And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.

trees

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

From this reading And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.

Tuesday

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

up

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

From this reading And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.

visible

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

From this reading And at the back in a little dark garden some trees had grown up and were straining toward the sunlight with such long slender branches that their tips were visible above the roof.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading On the side of the street its frontage seemed to slumber, so lofty was it and dark, so sad and convent-like, with its great outer shutters, which were nearly always closed.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading On the side of the street its frontage seemed to slumber, so lofty was it and dark, so sad and convent-like, with its great outer shutters, which were nearly always closed.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading On the side of the street its frontage seemed to slumber, so lofty was it and dark, so sad and convent-like, with its great outer shutters, which were nearly always closed.

wont

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

year

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

From this reading The Countess Sabine, as it had become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order to distinguish her from the count’s mother, who had died the year before, was wont to receive every Tuesday in her house in the Rue Miromesnil at the corner of the Rue de Pentièvre.

years

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

From this reading It was a great square building, and the Muffats had lived in it for a hundred years or more.