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The Downfall (La Débâcle)
The Downfall (La Débâcle)

Chapter XI

Cover illustration for The Downfall (La Débâcle)
Context Illustration Reading 1/74 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
INSIDE SEDAN: NAPOLEON'S MIDNIGHT AGONY--TWO WOMEN Henriette was unable to sleep that night.
She was worried by the thought that her husband was at Bazeilles so near the German lines.
In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.
Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.
The night was very dark, and down below she could scarcely distinguish the pavement of the Rue des Voyards, a narrow, gloomy passage hemmed in by old houses.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Downfall (La Débâcle)

Chapter XI

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

Line 1
INSIDE SEDAN: NAPOLEON'S MIDNIGHT AGONY--TWO WOMEN Henriette was unable to sleep that night.
Line 2
She was worried by the thought that her husband was at Bazeilles so near the German lines.
Line 3
In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.
Line 4
Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.
Line 5
The night was very dark, and down below she could scarcely distinguish the pavement of the Rue des Voyards, a narrow, gloomy passage hemmed in by old houses.

Learner Dictionary

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

AGONY noun US /ˈæɡ.ə.ni/

Extreme physical or mental suffering; intense anguish.

From this reading “INSIDE SEDAN: NAPOLEON'S MIDNIGHT AGONY--TWO WOMEN Henriette was unable to sleep that night.”

Below preposition US /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading “The night was very dark, and down below she could scarcely distinguish the pavement of the Rue des Voyards, a narrow, gloomy passage hemmed in by old houses.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.”

Hear noun US /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.”

Passage noun US /ˈpassage/

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

From this reading “The night was very dark, and down below she could scarcely distinguish the pavement of the Rue des Voyards, a narrow, gloomy passage hemmed in by old houses.”

Remained noun US /ˈremained/

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

From this reading “Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.”

Resting noun US /ˈresting/

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

From this reading “Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was worried by the thought that her husband was at Bazeilles so near the German lines.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.”

All words in this reading · 89

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 night was very dark, and down below she could scarcely distinguish the pavement of the Rue des Voyards, a narrow, gloomy passage hemmed in by old houses.

AGONYnounUS /ˈæɡ.ə.ni/

Extreme physical or mental suffering; intense anguish.

From this reading INSIDE SEDAN: NAPOLEON'S MIDNIGHT AGONY--TWO WOMEN Henriette was unable to sleep that night.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She was worried by the thought that her husband was at Bazeilles so near the German lines.

Bazeilles

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

From this reading She was worried by the thought that her husband was at Bazeilles so near the German lines.

bed

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

From this reading Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.

belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading The night was very dark, and down below she could scarcely distinguish the pavement of the Rue des Voyards, a narrow, gloomy passage hemmed in by old houses.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading She was worried by the thought that her husband was at Bazeilles so near the German lines.

coming

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

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

danger

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

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

dark

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

From this reading The night was very dark, and down below she could scarcely distinguish the pavement of the Rue des Voyards, a narrow, gloomy passage hemmed in by old houses.

des

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

From this reading The night was very dark, and down below she could scarcely distinguish the pavement of the Rue des Voyards, a narrow, gloomy passage hemmed in by old houses.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

distinguish

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

From this reading The night was very dark, and down below she could scarcely distinguish the pavement of the Rue des Voyards, a narrow, gloomy passage hemmed in by old houses.

down

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

From this reading The night was very dark, and down below she could scarcely distinguish the pavement of the Rue des Voyards, a narrow, gloomy passage hemmed in by old houses.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

elbow

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

From this reading Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.

fancying

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

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.

German

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

From this reading She was worried by the thought that her husband was at Bazeilles so near the German lines.

gloomy

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

From this reading The night was very dark, and down below she could scarcely distinguish the pavement of the Rue des Voyards, a narrow, gloomy passage hemmed in by old houses.

go

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

From this reading Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

hearnounUS /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

hemmed

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

From this reading The night was very dark, and down below she could scarcely distinguish the pavement of the Rue des Voyards, a narrow, gloomy passage hemmed in by old houses.

Henriette

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

From this reading INSIDE SEDAN: NAPOLEON'S MIDNIGHT AGONY--TWO WOMEN Henriette was unable to sleep that night.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading She was worried by the thought that her husband was at Bazeilles so near the German lines.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

houses

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

From this reading The night was very dark, and down below she could scarcely distinguish the pavement of the Rue des Voyards, a narrow, gloomy passage hemmed in by old houses.

husband

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

From this reading She was worried by the thought that her husband was at Bazeilles so near the German lines.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

INSIDE

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

From this reading INSIDE SEDAN: NAPOLEON'S MIDNIGHT AGONY--TWO WOMEN Henriette was unable to sleep that night.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.

lines

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

From this reading She was worried by the thought that her husband was at Bazeilles so near the German lines.

listen

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

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

looking

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

From this reading Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.

made

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

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

MIDNIGHT

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

From this reading INSIDE SEDAN: NAPOLEON'S MIDNIGHT AGONY--TWO WOMEN Henriette was unable to sleep that night.

moment

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

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

NAPOLEON'S

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

From this reading INSIDE SEDAN: NAPOLEON'S MIDNIGHT AGONY--TWO WOMEN Henriette was unable to sleep that night.

narrow

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

From this reading The night was very dark, and down below she could scarcely distinguish the pavement of the Rue des Voyards, a narrow, gloomy passage hemmed in by old houses.

near

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

From this reading She was worried by the thought that her husband was at Bazeilles so near the German lines.

night

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

From this reading INSIDE SEDAN: NAPOLEON'S MIDNIGHT AGONY--TWO WOMEN Henriette was unable to sleep that night.

o'clock

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

From this reading Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

old

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

From this reading The night was very dark, and down below she could scarcely distinguish the pavement of the Rue des Voyards, a narrow, gloomy passage hemmed in by old houses.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.

opened

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

From this reading Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.

out

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

From this reading Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.

passagenounUS /ˈpassage/

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

From this reading The night was very dark, and down below she could scarcely distinguish the pavement of the Rue des Voyards, a narrow, gloomy passage hemmed in by old houses.

pause

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

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

pavement

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

From this reading The night was very dark, and down below she could scarcely distinguish the pavement of the Rue des Voyards, a narrow, gloomy passage hemmed in by old houses.

promise

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

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

remainednounUS /ˈremained/

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

From this reading Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.

repeat

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

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

restingnounUS /ˈresting/

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

From this reading Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.

return

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

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

Rue

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

From this reading The night was very dark, and down below she could scarcely distinguish the pavement of the Rue des Voyards, a narrow, gloomy passage hemmed in by old houses.

scarcely

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

From this reading The night was very dark, and down below she could scarcely distinguish the pavement of the Rue des Voyards, a narrow, gloomy passage hemmed in by old houses.

SEDAN

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

From this reading INSIDE SEDAN: NAPOLEON'S MIDNIGHT AGONY--TWO WOMEN Henriette was unable to sleep that night.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She was worried by the thought that her husband was at Bazeilles so near the German lines.

sign

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

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

sill

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

From this reading Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.

sleep

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

From this reading INSIDE SEDAN: NAPOLEON'S MIDNIGHT AGONY--TWO WOMEN Henriette was unable to sleep that night.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading She was worried by the thought that her husband was at Bazeilles so near the German lines.

ten

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

From this reading Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading INSIDE SEDAN: NAPOLEON'S MIDNIGHT AGONY--TWO WOMEN Henriette was unable to sleep that night.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading She was worried by the thought that her husband was at Bazeilles so near the German lines.

there

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

From this reading Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She was worried by the thought that her husband was at Bazeilles so near the German lines.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading INSIDE SEDAN: NAPOLEON'S MIDNIGHT AGONY--TWO WOMEN Henriette was unable to sleep that night.

TowardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.

TWO

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

From this reading INSIDE SEDAN: NAPOLEON'S MIDNIGHT AGONY--TWO WOMEN Henriette was unable to sleep that night.

unable

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

From this reading INSIDE SEDAN: NAPOLEON'S MIDNIGHT AGONY--TWO WOMEN Henriette was unable to sleep that night.

vain

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

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

very

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

From this reading The night was very dark, and down below she could scarcely distinguish the pavement of the Rue des Voyards, a narrow, gloomy passage hemmed in by old houses.

Voyards

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

From this reading The night was very dark, and down below she could scarcely distinguish the pavement of the Rue des Voyards, a narrow, gloomy passage hemmed in by old houses.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading INSIDE SEDAN: NAPOLEON'S MIDNIGHT AGONY--TWO WOMEN Henriette was unable to sleep that night.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.

window

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

From this reading Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Towards ten o'clock, when it was time for her to go to bed, she opened the window, and remained there, looking out, with her elbow resting on the sill.

WOMEN

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

From this reading INSIDE SEDAN: NAPOLEON'S MIDNIGHT AGONY--TWO WOMEN Henriette was unable to sleep that night.

work

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

From this reading In vain did she repeat to herself the promise he had made her to return at the first sign of danger; and in vain at each moment did she pause in her work to listen, fancying she could hear him coming.

worried

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

From this reading She was worried by the thought that her husband was at Bazeilles so near the German lines.