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 “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “Yes, he certainly is,” answered one of the young men who had been present on the occasion of the reading; “he is a good-looking fellow, he has some brains, and Mme. de Bargeton is quite wild about him.”
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Perhaps after yesterday’s soirée, Louise would be kinder than usual, and her kindness might lead to a moment of happiness.
airs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Lucien had waited impatiently until he could be sure of finding Louise alone.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
answerednounUS /ˈanswered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Yes, he certainly is,” answered one of the young men who had been present on the occasion of the reading; “he is a good-looking fellow, he has some brains, and Mme. de Bargeton is quite wild about him.”
arbitress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had to break the tidings of his sister’s marriage to the arbitress of his destinies.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
attorney's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
Bargeton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes, he certainly is,” answered one of the young men who had been present on the occasion of the reading; “he is a good-looking fellow, he has some brains, and Mme. de Bargeton is quite wild about him.”
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Lucien had waited impatiently until he could be sure of finding Louise alone.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
brains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes, he certainly is,” answered one of the young men who had been present on the occasion of the reading; “he is a good-looking fellow, he has some brains, and Mme. de Bargeton is quite wild about him.”
break
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had to break the tidings of his sister’s marriage to the arbitress of his destinies.
certainly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes, he certainly is,” answered one of the young men who had been present on the occasion of the reading; “he is a good-looking fellow, he has some brains, and Mme. de Bargeton is quite wild about him.”
clerk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Lucien had waited impatiently until he could be sure of finding Louise alone.
de
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes, he certainly is,” answered one of the young men who had been present on the occasion of the reading; “he is a good-looking fellow, he has some brains, and Mme. de Bargeton is quite wild about him.”
destinies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had to break the tidings of his sister’s marriage to the arbitress of his destinies.
fellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
finding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucien had waited impatiently until he could be sure of finding Louise alone.
good-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes, he certainly is,” answered one of the young men who had been present on the occasion of the reading; “he is a good-looking fellow, he has some brains, and Mme. de Bargeton is quite wild about him.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
happiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps after yesterday’s soirée, Louise would be kinder than usual, and her kindness might lead to a moment of happiness.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Yes, he certainly is,” answered one of the young men who had been present on the occasion of the reading; “he is a good-looking fellow, he has some brains, and Mme. de Bargeton is quite wild about him.”
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Yes, he certainly is,” answered one of the young men who had been present on the occasion of the reading; “he is a good-looking fellow, he has some brains, and Mme. de Bargeton is quite wild about him.”
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Perhaps after yesterday’s soirée, Louise would be kinder than usual, and her kindness might lead to a moment of happiness.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had to break the tidings of his sister’s marriage to the arbitress of his destinies.
impatiently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucien had waited impatiently until he could be sure of finding Louise alone.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
kinder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps after yesterday’s soirée, Louise would be kinder than usual, and her kindness might lead to a moment of happiness.
kindness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps after yesterday’s soirée, Louise would be kinder than usual, and her kindness might lead to a moment of happiness.
lead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps after yesterday’s soirée, Louise would be kinder than usual, and her kindness might lead to a moment of happiness.
Louise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucien had waited impatiently until he could be sure of finding Louise alone.
Lucien
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
lucky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
marriage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had to break the tidings of his sister’s marriage to the arbitress of his destinies.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes, he certainly is,” answered one of the young men who had been present on the occasion of the reading; “he is a good-looking fellow, he has some brains, and Mme. de Bargeton is quite wild about him.”
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Perhaps after yesterday’s soirée, Louise would be kinder than usual, and her kindness might lead to a moment of happiness.
Mme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes, he certainly is,” answered one of the young men who had been present on the occasion of the reading; “he is a good-looking fellow, he has some brains, and Mme. de Bargeton is quite wild about him.”
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps after yesterday’s soirée, Louise would be kinder than usual, and her kindness might lead to a moment of happiness.
named
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
occasion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes, he certainly is,” answered one of the young men who had been present on the occasion of the reading; “he is a good-looking fellow, he has some brains, and Mme. de Bargeton is quite wild about him.”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Yes, he certainly is,” answered one of the young men who had been present on the occasion of the reading; “he is a good-looking fellow, he has some brains, and Mme. de Bargeton is quite wild about him.”
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Yes, he certainly is,” answered one of the young men who had been present on the occasion of the reading; “he is a good-looking fellow, he has some brains, and Mme. de Bargeton is quite wild about him.”
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Yes, he certainly is,” answered one of the young men who had been present on the occasion of the reading; “he is a good-looking fellow, he has some brains, and Mme. de Bargeton is quite wild about him.”
patronizing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
Perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps after yesterday’s soirée, Louise would be kinder than usual, and her kindness might lead to a moment of happiness.
Petit-Claud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
plain-featured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes, he certainly is,” answered one of the young men who had been present on the occasion of the reading; “he is a good-looking fellow, he has some brains, and Mme. de Bargeton is quite wild about him.”
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Yes, he certainly is,” answered one of the young men who had been present on the occasion of the reading; “he is a good-looking fellow, he has some brains, and Mme. de Bargeton is quite wild about him.”
reading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes, he certainly is,” answered one of the young men who had been present on the occasion of the reading; “he is a good-looking fellow, he has some brains, and Mme. de Bargeton is quite wild about him.”
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
school
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
sister's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had to break the tidings of his sister’s marriage to the arbitress of his destinies.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
soirée
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps after yesterday’s soirée, Louise would be kinder than usual, and her kindness might lead to a moment of happiness.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes, he certainly is,” answered one of the young men who had been present on the occasion of the reading; “he is a good-looking fellow, he has some brains, and Mme. de Bargeton is quite wild about him.”
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Lucien had waited impatiently until he could be sure of finding Louise alone.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Perhaps after yesterday’s soirée, Louise would be kinder than usual, and her kindness might lead to a moment of happiness.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Yes, he certainly is,” answered one of the young men who had been present on the occasion of the reading; “he is a good-looking fellow, he has some brains, and Mme. de Bargeton is quite wild about him.”
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
tidings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had to break the tidings of his sister’s marriage to the arbitress of his destinies.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had to break the tidings of his sister’s marriage to the arbitress of his destinies.
treated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Lucien had waited impatiently until he could be sure of finding Louise alone.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps after yesterday’s soirée, Louise would be kinder than usual, and her kindness might lead to a moment of happiness.
waited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucien had waited impatiently until he could be sure of finding Louise alone.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes, he certainly is,” answered one of the young men who had been present on the occasion of the reading; “he is a good-looking fellow, he has some brains, and Mme. de Bargeton is quite wild about him.”
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Perhaps after yesterday’s soirée, Louise would be kinder than usual, and her kindness might lead to a moment of happiness.
Yes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes, he certainly is,” answered one of the young men who had been present on the occasion of the reading; “he is a good-looking fellow, he has some brains, and Mme. de Bargeton is quite wild about him.”
yesterday's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps after yesterday’s soirée, Louise would be kinder than usual, and her kindness might lead to a moment of happiness.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
youth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There is a lucky young fellow!” said an attorney’s clerk, named Petit-Claud, a plain-featured youth who had been at school with Lucien, and treated him with small, patronizing airs.
