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The American
The American

Chapter IX

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Context Illustration Reading 1/43 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
He went to see Madame de Cintré the next day, and was informed by the servant that she was at home.
He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.
It was empty, and the servant told him that Madame la Comtesse would presently appear.
He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.
In this case Madame de Cintré’s receiving him was an encouragement.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The American

Chapter IX

Reading 1/43 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
He went to see Madame de Cintré the next day, and was informed by the servant that she was at home.
Line 2
He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.
Line 3
It was empty, and the servant told him that Madame la Comtesse would presently appear.
Line 4
He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.
Line 5
In this case Madame de Cintré’s receiving him was an encouragement.

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 “He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.”

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He went to see Madame de Cintré the next day, and was informed by the servant that she was at home.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was empty, and the servant told him that Madame la Comtesse would presently appear.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He went to see Madame de Cintré the next day, and was informed by the servant that she was at home.”

Whence adverb US /wens/

an old word meaning “from where”

From this reading “He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.”

Whether conjunction US /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading “He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “It was empty, and the servant told him that Madame la Comtesse would presently appear.”

All words in this reading · 85

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 He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

all

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading In this case Madame de Cintré’s receiving him was an encouragement.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He went to see Madame de Cintré the next day, and was informed by the servant that she was at home.

appear

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

From this reading It was empty, and the servant told him that Madame la Comtesse would presently appear.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He went to see Madame de Cintré the next day, and was informed by the servant that she was at home.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.

Bellegarde

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

From this reading He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He went to see Madame de Cintré the next day, and was informed by the servant that she was at home.

case

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

From this reading He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.

Cintré

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

From this reading He went to see Madame de Cintré the next day, and was informed by the servant that she was at home.

Cintré's

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

From this reading In this case Madame de Cintré’s receiving him was an encouragement.

cold

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

composed

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

Comtesse

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

From this reading It was empty, and the servant told him that Madame la Comtesse would presently appear.

day

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

From this reading He went to see Madame de Cintré the next day, and was informed by the servant that she was at home.

de

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

From this reading He went to see Madame de Cintré the next day, and was informed by the servant that she was at home.

door

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

empty

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

From this reading It was empty, and the servant told him that Madame la Comtesse would presently appear.

encouragement

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

From this reading In this case Madame de Cintré’s receiving him was an encouragement.

evening

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

From this reading He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.

gilding

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He went to see Madame de Cintré the next day, and was informed by the servant that she was at home.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading It was empty, and the servant told him that Madame la Comtesse would presently appear.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.

home

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

From this reading He went to see Madame de Cintré the next day, and was informed by the servant that she was at home.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

informed

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

From this reading He went to see Madame de Cintré the next day, and was informed by the servant that she was at home.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was empty, and the servant told him that Madame la Comtesse would presently appear.

la

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

From this reading It was empty, and the servant told him that Madame la Comtesse would presently appear.

large

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

long-faded

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

Madame

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

From this reading He went to see Madame de Cintré the next day, and was informed by the servant that she was at home.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He went to see Madame de Cintré the next day, and was informed by the servant that she was at home.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

panels

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

presently

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

From this reading It was empty, and the servant told him that Madame la Comtesse would presently appear.

received

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

receiving

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

From this reading In this case Madame de Cintré’s receiving him was an encouragement.

see

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

From this reading He went to see Madame de Cintré the next day, and was informed by the servant that she was at home.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

seen

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

From this reading He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.

servant

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

From this reading He went to see Madame de Cintré the next day, and was informed by the servant that she was at home.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He went to see Madame de Cintré the next day, and was informed by the servant that she was at home.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.

sister

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

From this reading He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.

sitting-room

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

small

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

spacious

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

spoken

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

From this reading He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.

staircase

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

talk

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

From this reading He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He went to see Madame de Cintré the next day, and was informed by the servant that she was at home.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading He went to see Madame de Cintré the next day, and was informed by the servant that she was at home.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He went to see Madame de Cintré the next day, and was informed by the servant that she was at home.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was empty, and the servant told him that Madame la Comtesse would presently appear.

touched

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

up

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

ushered

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

usual

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

vestibule

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

waited

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

From this reading He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.

walls

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He went to see Madame de Cintré the next day, and was informed by the servant that she was at home.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He went to see Madame de Cintré the next day, and was informed by the servant that she was at home.

whenceadverbUS /wens/

an old word meaning “from where”

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He passed as usual up the large, cold staircase and through a spacious vestibule above, where the walls seemed all composed of small door panels, touched with long-faded gilding; whence he was ushered into the sitting-room in which he had already been received.

wonder

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

From this reading He had time, while he waited, to wonder whether Bellegarde had seen his sister since the evening before, and whether in this case he had spoken to her of their talk.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading It was empty, and the servant told him that Madame la Comtesse would presently appear.