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Chapter 11, section 1: In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of he
Context Illustration Reading 1/85 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.
They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.
What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.
Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Grey Fairy Book: The Demon of the Well

Chapter XI

Reading 1/85 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
Line 2
But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.
Line 3
They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.
Line 4
What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.
Line 5
Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.

Learner Dictionary

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

Accounts noun US /ˈaccounts/

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

From this reading “They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.”

Astonished adjective US /əˈstɑːnɪʃt/

very surprised

From this reading “Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.”

Handsome noun US /ˈhandsome/

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

From this reading “What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.”

Meantime noun US /ˈmiːntaɪm/

the period of time while something else is happening

From this reading “In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.”

Sudden noun US /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.”

Themselves pronoun US /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading “What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.”

Therefore adverb US /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading “What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.”

All words in this reading · 99

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

accountsnounUS /ˈaccounts/

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

From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.

actually

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

From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.

amazement

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

From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

armies

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

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

arrived

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

From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.

astonishedadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃt/

very surprised

From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

away

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

From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.

baby

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

From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.

back

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

From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.

Bagota

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

From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.

beauty

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

From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.

busily

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

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.

change

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

From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.

collecting

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

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

command

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

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

Cornichon

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

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

courtiers

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

From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.

daughter

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

From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.

declared

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

From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.

elderly

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

From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.

fact

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

From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.

faded

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

From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.

famous

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

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

finding

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

From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.

forces

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

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.

general

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

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

genius

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

From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.

girl

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

From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.

given

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

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

handsomenounUS /ˈhandsome/

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

From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.

hardly

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

From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.

head

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

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

hidden

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

From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

indeed

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

From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.

instead

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

From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.

joke

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

From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.

Kristopo

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

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

lady

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

From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.

less

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

From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.

looking

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

From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.

lovely

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

From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.

meantimenounUS /ˈmiːntaɪm/

the period of time while something else is happening

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

middle-aged

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

From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

older

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

From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.

parents

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

From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.

parted

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

From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.

place

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

From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.

placed

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

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

put

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

From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.

Ratibouf

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

From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.

seen

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

From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.

Selnozoura

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

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

sides

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

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.

summoned

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

From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.

thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

Toupette

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

From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.

Toupette's

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

From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.

travellers

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

From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.

war

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

From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.

woman

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

From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.