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Germinal
Germinal

Chapter XXXIII

Cover illustration for Germinal
Context Illustration Reading 1/48 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When they came out of Rasseneur's, Étienne and Catherine walked on in silence.
The thaw was beginning, a slow cold thaw which stained the snow without melting it.
In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.
Étienne was embarrassed by this woman who had been given to him, and in his disquiet he could find nothing to say.
The idea of taking her with him to hide at Réquillart seemed absurd.
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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.

Germinal

Chapter XXXIII

Reading 1/48 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When they came out of Rasseneur's, Étienne and Catherine walked on in silence.
Line 2
The thaw was beginning, a slow cold thaw which stained the snow without melting it.
Line 3
In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.
Line 4
Étienne was embarrassed by this woman who had been given to him, and in his disquiet he could find nothing to say.
Line 5
The idea of taking her with him to hide at Réquillart seemed absurd.

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 “In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Étienne was embarrassed by this woman who had been given to him, and in his disquiet he could find nothing to say.”

Beginning noun US /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading “The thaw was beginning, a slow cold thaw which stained the snow without melting it.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.”

Melting noun US /ˈmelting/

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

From this reading “The thaw was beginning, a slow cold thaw which stained the snow without melting it.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The idea of taking her with him to hide at Réquillart seemed absurd.”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “When they came out of Rasseneur's, Étienne and Catherine walked on in silence.”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “The thaw was beginning, a slow cold thaw which stained the snow without melting it.”

All words in this reading · 84

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 thaw was beginning, a slow cold thaw which stained the snow without melting it.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

absurd

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

From this reading The idea of taking her with him to hide at Réquillart seemed absurd.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading When they came out of Rasseneur's, Étienne and Catherine walked on in silence.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The idea of taking her with him to hide at Réquillart seemed absurd.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Étienne was embarrassed by this woman who had been given to him, and in his disquiet he could find nothing to say.

beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading The thaw was beginning, a slow cold thaw which stained the snow without melting it.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

black

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

breath

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

came

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

From this reading When they came out of Rasseneur's, Étienne and Catherine walked on in silence.

Catherine

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

From this reading When they came out of Rasseneur's, Étienne and Catherine walked on in silence.

clouds

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

cold

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

From this reading The thaw was beginning, a slow cold thaw which stained the snow without melting it.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

disquiet

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

From this reading Étienne was embarrassed by this woman who had been given to him, and in his disquiet he could find nothing to say.

drippings

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

driven

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

earth

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

embarrassed

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

From this reading Étienne was embarrassed by this woman who had been given to him, and in his disquiet he could find nothing to say.

faintly

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

falling

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

far

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

find

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

From this reading Étienne was embarrassed by this woman who had been given to him, and in his disquiet he could find nothing to say.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

full

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

furiously

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

given

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

From this reading Étienne was embarrassed by this woman who had been given to him, and in his disquiet he could find nothing to say.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Étienne was embarrassed by this woman who had been given to him, and in his disquiet he could find nothing to say.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Étienne was embarrassed by this woman who had been given to him, and in his disquiet he could find nothing to say.

heard

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading The idea of taking her with him to hide at Réquillart seemed absurd.

hide

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

From this reading The idea of taking her with him to hide at Réquillart seemed absurd.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Étienne was embarrassed by this woman who had been given to him, and in his disquiet he could find nothing to say.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Étienne was embarrassed by this woman who had been given to him, and in his disquiet he could find nothing to say.

idea

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

From this reading The idea of taking her with him to hide at Réquillart seemed absurd.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading When they came out of Rasseneur's, Étienne and Catherine walked on in silence.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The thaw was beginning, a slow cold thaw which stained the snow without melting it.

livid

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

lumps

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

meltingnounUS /ˈmelting/

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

From this reading The thaw was beginning, a slow cold thaw which stained the snow without melting it.

moon

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When they came out of Rasseneur's, Étienne and Catherine walked on in silence.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading When they came out of Rasseneur's, Étienne and Catherine walked on in silence.

out

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

From this reading When they came out of Rasseneur's, Étienne and Catherine walked on in silence.

rags

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

Rasseneur's

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

From this reading When they came out of Rasseneur's, Étienne and Catherine walked on in silence.

roofs

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

Réquillart

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

From this reading The idea of taking her with him to hide at Réquillart seemed absurd.

say

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

From this reading Étienne was embarrassed by this woman who had been given to him, and in his disquiet he could find nothing to say.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The idea of taking her with him to hide at Réquillart seemed absurd.

seen

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading When they came out of Rasseneur's, Étienne and Catherine walked on in silence.

sky

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

slow

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

From this reading The thaw was beginning, a slow cold thaw which stained the snow without melting it.

snow

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

From this reading The thaw was beginning, a slow cold thaw which stained the snow without melting it.

soft

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

stained

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

From this reading The thaw was beginning, a slow cold thaw which stained the snow without melting it.

stirring

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

taking

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

From this reading The idea of taking her with him to hide at Réquillart seemed absurd.

tempestuous

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

thaw

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

From this reading The thaw was beginning, a slow cold thaw which stained the snow without melting it.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The thaw was beginning, a slow cold thaw which stained the snow without melting it.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading When they came out of Rasseneur's, Étienne and Catherine walked on in silence.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Étienne was embarrassed by this woman who had been given to him, and in his disquiet he could find nothing to say.

thud

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Étienne was embarrassed by this woman who had been given to him, and in his disquiet he could find nothing to say.

walked

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

From this reading When they came out of Rasseneur's, Étienne and Catherine walked on in silence.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The thaw was beginning, a slow cold thaw which stained the snow without melting it.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When they came out of Rasseneur's, Étienne and Catherine walked on in silence.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The thaw was beginning, a slow cold thaw which stained the snow without melting it.

white

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

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Étienne was embarrassed by this woman who had been given to him, and in his disquiet he could find nothing to say.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading In the livid sky a full moon could be faintly seen behind great clouds, black rags driven furiously by a tempestuous wind far above; and on the earth no breath was stirring, nothing could be heard but drippings from the roofs, the falling of white lumps with a soft thud.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading The thaw was beginning, a slow cold thaw which stained the snow without melting it.

woman

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

From this reading Étienne was embarrassed by this woman who had been given to him, and in his disquiet he could find nothing to say.

Étienne

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

From this reading When they came out of Rasseneur's, Étienne and Catherine walked on in silence.