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The Count of Monte Cristo
The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter XXXVI

Franz had so managed his route, that during the ride to the Colosseum they passed not a single ancient ruin, so that no preliminary impression interfered to mitigate the colossal proportions of the gigantic building they

Chapter 36, section 1: In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment. It seemed as though Rome, u
Context Illustration Reading 1/74 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.
It seemed as though Rome, under the magic breath of some demon of the night, had suddenly changed into a vast tomb.
By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.
The distance was short, and at the end of ten minutes his carriage, or rather the count’s, stopped before the Hôtel de Londres.
Dinner was waiting, but as Albert had told him that he should not return so soon, Franz sat down without him.
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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.

The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter XXXVI

Reading 1/74 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.
Line 2
It seemed as though Rome, under the magic breath of some demon of the night, had suddenly changed into a vast tomb.
Line 3
By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.
Line 4
The distance was short, and at the end of ten minutes his carriage, or rather the count’s, stopped before the Hôtel de Londres.
Line 5
Dinner was waiting, but as Albert had told him that he should not return so soon, Franz sat down without him.

Learner Dictionary

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

life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.”

Collocations
In hisA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
his wholeA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
All words in this reading · 96

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 In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

addednounUS /added/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

Albert

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

From this reading Dinner was waiting, but as Albert had told him that he should not return so soon, Franz sat down without him.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The distance was short, and at the end of ten minutes his carriage, or rather the count’s, stopped before the Hôtel de Londres.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

breath

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

From this reading It seemed as though Rome, under the magic breath of some demon of the night, had suddenly changed into a vast tomb.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Dinner was waiting, but as Albert had told him that he should not return so soon, Franz sat down without him.

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

carriage

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

From this reading The distance was short, and at the end of ten minutes his carriage, or rather the count’s, stopped before the Hôtel de Londres.

chance

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

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

changed

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

From this reading It seemed as though Rome, under the magic breath of some demon of the night, had suddenly changed into a vast tomb.

count's

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

From this reading The distance was short, and at the end of ten minutes his carriage, or rather the count’s, stopped before the Hôtel de Londres.

darkness

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

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

de

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

From this reading The distance was short, and at the end of ten minutes his carriage, or rather the count’s, stopped before the Hôtel de Londres.

deepest

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

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

demon

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

From this reading It seemed as though Rome, under the magic breath of some demon of the night, had suddenly changed into a vast tomb.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

Dinner

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

From this reading Dinner was waiting, but as Albert had told him that he should not return so soon, Franz sat down without him.

distance

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

From this reading The distance was short, and at the end of ten minutes his carriage, or rather the count’s, stopped before the Hôtel de Londres.

down

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

From this reading Dinner was waiting, but as Albert had told him that he should not return so soon, Franz sat down without him.

eleven

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

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

end

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

From this reading The distance was short, and at the end of ten minutes his carriage, or rather the count’s, stopped before the Hôtel de Londres.

experienced

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

From this reading In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

Franz

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

From this reading In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

gayety

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

From this reading In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Dinner was waiting, but as Albert had told him that he should not return so soon, Franz sat down without him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Dinner was waiting, but as Albert had told him that he should not return so soon, Franz sat down without him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

Hôtel

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

From this reading The distance was short, and at the end of ten minutes his carriage, or rather the count’s, stopped before the Hôtel de Londres.

impression

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

From this reading In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

intensity

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

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading It seemed as though Rome, under the magic breath of some demon of the night, had suddenly changed into a vast tomb.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It seemed as though Rome, under the magic breath of some demon of the night, had suddenly changed into a vast tomb.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

Londres

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

From this reading The distance was short, and at the end of ten minutes his carriage, or rather the count’s, stopped before the Hôtel de Londres.

magic

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

From this reading It seemed as though Rome, under the magic breath of some demon of the night, had suddenly changed into a vast tomb.

man

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

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

minutes

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

From this reading The distance was short, and at the end of ten minutes his carriage, or rather the count’s, stopped before the Hôtel de Londres.

moment

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

From this reading In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

moon

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

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

more

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

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

night

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

From this reading It seemed as though Rome, under the magic breath of some demon of the night, had suddenly changed into a vast tomb.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

o'clock

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

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

obscurity

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

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It seemed as though Rome, under the magic breath of some demon of the night, had suddenly changed into a vast tomb.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The distance was short, and at the end of ten minutes his carriage, or rather the count’s, stopped before the Hôtel de Londres.

perhaps

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

From this reading In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

plunged

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

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

rapid

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

From this reading In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

rather

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

From this reading The distance was short, and at the end of ten minutes his carriage, or rather the count’s, stopped before the Hôtel de Londres.

return

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

From this reading Dinner was waiting, but as Albert had told him that he should not return so soon, Franz sat down without him.

rise

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

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

Rome

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

From this reading It seemed as though Rome, under the magic breath of some demon of the night, had suddenly changed into a vast tomb.

sadness

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

From this reading In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

sat

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

From this reading Dinner was waiting, but as Albert had told him that he should not return so soon, Franz sat down without him.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It seemed as though Rome, under the magic breath of some demon of the night, had suddenly changed into a vast tomb.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading The distance was short, and at the end of ten minutes his carriage, or rather the count’s, stopped before the Hôtel de Londres.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Dinner was waiting, but as Albert had told him that he should not return so soon, Franz sat down without him.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

some

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

From this reading It seemed as though Rome, under the magic breath of some demon of the night, had suddenly changed into a vast tomb.

soon

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

From this reading Dinner was waiting, but as Albert had told him that he should not return so soon, Franz sat down without him.

stoppednounUS /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The distance was short, and at the end of ten minutes his carriage, or rather the count’s, stopped before the Hôtel de Londres.

streets

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

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading It seemed as though Rome, under the magic breath of some demon of the night, had suddenly changed into a vast tomb.

ten

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

From this reading The distance was short, and at the end of ten minutes his carriage, or rather the count’s, stopped before the Hôtel de Londres.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Dinner was waiting, but as Albert had told him that he should not return so soon, Franz sat down without him.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It seemed as though Rome, under the magic breath of some demon of the night, had suddenly changed into a vast tomb.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading It seemed as though Rome, under the magic breath of some demon of the night, had suddenly changed into a vast tomb.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Dinner was waiting, but as Albert had told him that he should not return so soon, Franz sat down without him.

tomb

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

From this reading It seemed as though Rome, under the magic breath of some demon of the night, had suddenly changed into a vast tomb.

transition

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

From this reading In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

traversed

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

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading It seemed as though Rome, under the magic breath of some demon of the night, had suddenly changed into a vast tomb.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

vast

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

From this reading It seemed as though Rome, under the magic breath of some demon of the night, had suddenly changed into a vast tomb.

waiting

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

From this reading Dinner was waiting, but as Albert had told him that he should not return so soon, Franz sat down without him.

wane

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

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

whole

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

From this reading In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so sudden an impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in this moment.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Dinner was waiting, but as Albert had told him that he should not return so soon, Franz sat down without him.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

young

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

From this reading By a chance, which added yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was on the wane, did not rise until eleven o’clock, and the streets which the young man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity.

Chapter Quiz

What is the central narrative or theme conveyed in this section of Chapter 034: The Colosseum?

Which core linguistic virtue or character attribute is emphasized in this passage?

According to the text: "Franz had so managed his route, that during the ride to the Colosseum...", what tone does the author establish?

Shadowing Practice

Narrator: Franz had so managed his route, that during the ride to the Colosseum
Narrator: unwilling to interfere with the pleasure he so evidently felt, took up