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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He saw himself stagnating in Angoulême like a frog under a stone in a marsh.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
alluring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
Angoulême
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw himself stagnating in Angoulême like a frog under a stone in a marsh.
arms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
bewilderednounUS /bewildered/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
bird's-eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
brain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
brows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
diadem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
Eldorado
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
EverythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Everything smiled upon genius.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
frog
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw himself stagnating in Angoulême like a frog under a stone in a marsh.
genius
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From this reading Everything smiled upon genius.
golden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
GreatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Great men would greet him there as one of their order.
greet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Great men would greet him there as one of their order.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He saw himself stagnating in Angoulême like a frog under a stone in a marsh.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
hitherto
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
ideas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
imaginings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He saw himself stagnating in Angoulême like a frog under a stone in a marsh.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw himself stagnating in Angoulême like a frog under a stone in a marsh.
listening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
Lucien
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
marsh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw himself stagnating in Angoulême like a frog under a stone in a marsh.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Great men would greet him there as one of their order.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Great men would greet him there as one of their order.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
ordernounUS /order/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Great men would greet him there as one of their order.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
outstretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
Paris
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
provincial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
rapid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
robes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
royal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw himself stagnating in Angoulême like a frog under a stone in a marsh.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
smiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything smiled upon genius.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
splendorsplural nounUS /ˈsplendərz/
impressive and beautiful signs of wealth or importance
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
stagnating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw himself stagnating in Angoulême like a frog under a stone in a marsh.
stone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw himself stagnating in Angoulême like a frog under a stone in a marsh.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
swiftly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
talent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Great men would greet him there as one of their order.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Great men would greet him there as one of their order.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
ToparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading He saw himself stagnating in Angoulême like a frog under a stone in a marsh.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Everything smiled upon genius.
using
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
view
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
widened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Great men would greet him there as one of their order.
