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Les Misérables, V. 5/5: Jean Valjean
Les Misérables, V. 5/5: Jean Valjean

Chapter XXV

Cover illustration for Les Misérables, V. 5/5: Jean Valjean
Context Illustration Reading 1/44 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
JAVERT DERAILED.
Javert retired slowly from the Rue de l'Homme Armé.
He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.
Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.
Now a change had taken place, and his whole person, slow and sombre, was stamped with anxiety.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Les Misérables, V. 5/5: Jean Valjean

Chapter XXV

Reading 1/44 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
JAVERT DERAILED.
Line 2
Javert retired slowly from the Rue de l'Homme Armé.
Line 3
He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.
Line 4
Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.
Line 5
Now a change had taken place, and his whole person, slow and sombre, was stamped with anxiety.

Learner Dictionary

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

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.”

Equally noun US /ˈequally/

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

From this reading “He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.”

Retired verb US /rɪˈtaɪərd/

went away to a private place

From this reading “Javert retired slowly from the Rue de l'Homme Armé.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.”

All words in this reading · 61

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 Now a change had taken place, and his whole person, slow and sombre, was stamped with anxiety.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.

anxiety

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

From this reading Now a change had taken place, and his whole person, slow and sombre, was stamped with anxiety.

arms

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

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

Armé

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

From this reading Javert retired slowly from the Rue de l'Homme Armé.

assumed

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

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

attitudes

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

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

back

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

From this reading He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.

change

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

From this reading Now a change had taken place, and his whole person, slow and sombre, was stamped with anxiety.

chest

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

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

day

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

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

de

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

From this reading Javert retired slowly from the Rue de l'Homme Armé.

DERAILED

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

From this reading JAVERT DERAILED.

drooping

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

From this reading He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.

equallynounUS /ˈequally/

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

From this reading He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.

expresses

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

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.

folded

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

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Javert retired slowly from the Rue de l'Homme Armé.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.

head

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

From this reading He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.

indicating

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

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

JAVERT

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

From this reading JAVERT DERAILED.

l'Homme

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

From this reading Javert retired slowly from the Rue de l'Homme Armé.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.

Napoleon's

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

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

Now

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

From this reading Now a change had taken place, and his whole person, slow and sombre, was stamped with anxiety.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

only

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

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

person

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

From this reading Now a change had taken place, and his whole person, slow and sombre, was stamped with anxiety.

place

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

From this reading Now a change had taken place, and his whole person, slow and sombre, was stamped with anxiety.

resolution

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

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

retiredverbUS /rɪˈtaɪərd/

went away to a private place

From this reading Javert retired slowly from the Rue de l'Homme Armé.

Rue

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

From this reading Javert retired slowly from the Rue de l'Homme Armé.

slow

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

From this reading Now a change had taken place, and his whole person, slow and sombre, was stamped with anxiety.

slowly

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

From this reading Javert retired slowly from the Rue de l'Homme Armé.

sombre

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

From this reading Now a change had taken place, and his whole person, slow and sombre, was stamped with anxiety.

stamped

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

From this reading Now a change had taken place, and his whole person, slow and sombre, was stamped with anxiety.

taken

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

From this reading Now a change had taken place, and his whole person, slow and sombre, was stamped with anxiety.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Javert retired slowly from the Rue de l'Homme Armé.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

two

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

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

uncertainty

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

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

unknown

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

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

Up

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

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

walked

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

From this reading He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Up to that day Javert had only assumed, of Napoleon's two attitudes, the one which expresses resolution, the arms folded on the chest; the one indicating uncertainty, the arms behind the back, was unknown to him.

whole

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

From this reading Now a change had taken place, and his whole person, slow and sombre, was stamped with anxiety.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He walked with drooping head for the first time in his life, and equally for the first time in his life with his hands behind his back.