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The Regent's Daughter
The Regent's Daughter

Chapter VIII

Cover illustration for The Regent's Daughter
Context Illustration Reading 1/23 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE UTILITY OF A SEAL.
Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.
He was leaning on the table thoughtfully.
The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.
He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Regent's Daughter

Chapter VIII

Reading 1/23 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE UTILITY OF A SEAL.
Line 2
Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.
Line 3
He was leaning on the table thoughtfully.
Line 4
The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.
Line 5
He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

Learner Dictionary

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

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.”

Whether conjunction US /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading “Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.”

All words in this reading · 70

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 UTILITY OF A SEAL.

age

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

From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.

alarming

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

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

almost

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

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.

asserts

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

From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.

attention

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

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.

curiosity

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

From this reading The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.

curled

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

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

darted

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

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

demon

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

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

despair

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

From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.

Dubois

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

From this reading The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.

enabled

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

From this reading The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.

eye

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

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

face

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

From this reading The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.

Gaston

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

From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.

gave

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

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

gratify

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

From this reading The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was leaning on the table thoughtfully.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.

idea

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

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.

just

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

From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.

lamp

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

From this reading The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.

leaning

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

From this reading He was leaning on the table thoughtfully.

light

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

From this reading The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.

lip

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

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

love

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

From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.

man

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

From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.

nature

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

From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE UTILITY OF A SEAL.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He was leaning on the table thoughtfully.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.

own

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

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

perdition

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

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

quick

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

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

rights

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

From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.

SEAL

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

From this reading THE UTILITY OF A SEAL.

seem

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

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

sight

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

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

smile

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

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

smiling

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

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

supped

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

From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.

table

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

From this reading He was leaning on the table thoughtfully.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE UTILITY OF A SEAL.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

thoughtfully

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

From this reading He was leaning on the table thoughtfully.

threw

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

From this reading The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.

UTILITY

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

From this reading THE UTILITY OF A SEAL.

victims

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

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

vowed

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

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was leaning on the table thoughtfully.

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.