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Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1
Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1 is here in full — 421 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1
Context Illustration Reading 1/84 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
ROMANCE AND THE DRAMA.
They first read Walter Scott.
It was like the surprise of a new world.
The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.
Landscapes artistically arranged formed backgrounds for the narratives, like the scenery of a theatre.
0:00 / 0:00
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1 is here in full — 421 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
ROMANCE AND THE DRAMA.
/roʊˈmæns ənd ðə ˈdrɑːmə/
Line 2
They first read Walter Scott.
/ðeɪ fɜːrst red ˈwɔːltər skɑːt/
Line 3
It was like the surprise of a new world.
/ɪt wɑːz laɪk ðə sərˈpraɪz ʌv ə nuː wɜːrld/
Line 4
The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.
Line 5
Landscapes artistically arranged formed backgrounds for the narratives, like the scenery of a theatre.
/ˈlændskeɪps ɑːrˈtɪstɪkli ərˈeɪndʒd fɔːrmd ˈbækɡraʊndz fɔːr ðə ˈnærətɪvz laɪk ðə ˈsiːnəri ʌv ə ˈθiːətər/

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

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

artistically adverb US /ɑːrˈtɪstɪkli/

in an artistic manner

From this reading “Landscapes artistically arranged formed backgrounds for the narratives, like the scenery of a theatre.”

backgrounds noun US /ˈbækɡraʊndz/

plural of “background” — a person's social heritage: previous experience or training

From this reading “Landscapes artistically arranged formed backgrounds for the narratives, like the scenery of a theatre.”

booths noun US /buːθs/

plural of “booth” — a table (in a restaurant or bar) surrounded by two high-backed benches

From this reading “The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.”

cloisters noun US /ˈklɔɪstərz/

plural of “cloister” — residence that is a place of religious seclusion (such as a monastery)

From this reading “The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.”

gamekeepers noun US /ˈɡeɪmkiːpərs/

plural of “gamekeeper” — a person employed to take care of game and wildlife

From this reading “The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.”

monasteries noun US /ˈmɑːnəsteriz/

plural of “monastery” — the residence of a religious community

From this reading “The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.”

narratives noun US /ˈnærətɪvz/

plural of “narrative” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading “Landscapes artistically arranged formed backgrounds for the narratives, like the scenery of a theatre.”

wizards noun US /ˈwɪzərdz/

plural of “wizard” — someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field

From this reading “The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.”

All words in this reading · 72

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

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 It was like the surprise of a new world.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading ROMANCE AND THE DRAMA.

armouries

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

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

arrangedadjectiveUS /ərˈeɪndʒd/

disposed or placed in a particular kind of order

From this reading Landscapes artistically arranged formed backgrounds for the narratives, like the scenery of a theatre.

artisticallyadverbUS /ɑːrˈtɪstɪkli/

in an artistic manner

From this reading Landscapes artistically arranged formed backgrounds for the narratives, like the scenery of a theatre.

backgroundsnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊndz/

plural of “background” — a person's social heritage: previous experience or training

From this reading Landscapes artistically arranged formed backgrounds for the narratives, like the scenery of a theatre.

becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

beingsnounUS /ˈbiːɪŋz/

plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

benchesnounUS /ˈbentʃɪz/

plural of “bench” — a long seat for more than one person

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

blackenedadjectiveUS /ˈblækənd/

darkened by smoke

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

boothsnounUS /buːθs/

plural of “booth” — a table (in a restaurant or bar) surrounded by two high-backed benches

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

castlesnounUS /ˈkæsəlz/

plural of “castle” — a large and stately mansion

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

citiesnounUS /ˈsɪtiz/

plural of “city” — a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

cloistersnounUS /ˈklɔɪstərz/

plural of “cloister” — residence that is a place of religious seclusion (such as a monastery)

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

deliberateadjectiveUS /dɪˈlɪbərət/

carefully thought out in advance

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

DRAMAnounUS /ˈdrɑːmə/

a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage

From this reading ROMANCE AND THE DRAMA.

drinkverbUS /drɪŋk/

take in liquids

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

eatverbUS /iːt/

take in solid food

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

fightverbUS /faɪt/

be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading They first read Walter Scott.

footmen

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

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

formedadjectiveUS /fɔːrmd/

having or given a form or shape

From this reading Landscapes artistically arranged formed backgrounds for the narratives, like the scenery of a theatre.

gamekeepersnounUS /ˈɡeɪmkiːpərs/

plural of “gamekeeper” — a person employed to take care of game and wildlife

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

gipsies

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

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

innsnounUS /ɪnz/

plural of “inn” — a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was like the surprise of a new world.

kingsnounUS /kɪŋz/

plural of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

LandscapesnounUS /ˈlændskeɪps/

plural of “landscape” — an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view

From this reading Landscapes artistically arranged formed backgrounds for the narratives, like the scenery of a theatre.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading It was like the surprise of a new world.

livingnounUS /ˈlɪvɪŋ/

the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

merchantsnounUS /ˈmɜːrtʃənts/

plural of “merchant” — a businessperson engaged in retail trade

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

monasteriesnounUS /ˈmɑːnəsteriz/

plural of “monastery” — the residence of a religious community

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

monksnounUS /mʌŋks/

plural of “monk” — a male religious living in a cloister and devoting himself to contemplation and prayer and work

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

namesnounUS /neɪmz/

verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

narrativesnounUS /ˈnærətɪvz/

plural of “narrative” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading Landscapes artistically arranged formed backgrounds for the narratives, like the scenery of a theatre.

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading It was like the surprise of a new world.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was like the surprise of a new world.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

pastnounUS /pæst/

the time that has elapsed

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

phantomsnounUS /ˈfæntəmz/

plural of “phantom” — a ghostly appearing figure

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

prayverbUS /preɪ/

address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

princesnounUS /ˈprɪnsəz/

plural of “prince” — a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

readverbUS /red/

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading They first read Walter Scott.

ROMANCEnounUS /roʊˈmæns/

a relationship between two lovers

From this reading ROMANCE AND THE DRAMA.

roofsnounUS /ruːfs/

plural of “roof” — a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

scenerynounUS /ˈsiːnəri/

the painted structures of a stage set that are intended to suggest a particular locale

From this reading Landscapes artistically arranged formed backgrounds for the narratives, like the scenery of a theatre.

ScottnounUS /skɑːt/

award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)

From this reading They first read Walter Scott.

singverbUS /sɪŋ/

deliver by singing

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

slopingadjectiveUS /ˈsloʊpɪŋ/

having an oblique or slanted direction

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

soldiersnounUS /ˈsoʊldʒərz/

plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

streetsnounUS /striːts/

plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

surprisenounUS /sərˈpraɪz/

the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading It was like the surprise of a new world.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading ROMANCE AND THE DRAMA.

theatrenounUS /ˈθiːətər/

a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented

From this reading Landscapes artistically arranged formed backgrounds for the narratives, like the scenery of a theatre.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They first read Walter Scott.

tradenounUS /treɪd/

the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

travelverbUS /ˈtrævəl/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

WalternounUS /ˈwɔːltər/

German conductor (1876-1962)

From this reading They first read Walter Scott.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was like the surprise of a new world.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

windingadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪndɪŋ/

marked by repeated turns and bends

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

wizardsnounUS /ˈwɪzərdz/

plural of “wizard” — someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field

From this reading The men of the past who had for them been only phantoms or names, became living beings, kings, princes, wizards, footmen, gamekeepers, monks, gipsies, merchants, and soldiers, who deliberate, fight, travel, trade, eat and drink, sing and pray, in the armouries of castles, on the blackened benches of inns, in the winding streets of cities, under the sloping roofs of booths, in the cloisters of monasteries.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading It was like the surprise of a new world.

Chapter 5 of Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1 by Gustave Flaubert holds 421 sentences, grouped into 85 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 5 of Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1 contain?

Chapter 5 holds 421 sentences of Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1, unabridged, divided into 85 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1 by Gustave Flaubert exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 421 sentences, grouped into 85 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 5 of Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1?

Work through the 85 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 85 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1

Common questions about reading Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1 by Gustave Flaubert on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1?

Yes. All 4933 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #25014 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #25014, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1 take to read?

About 411 minutes of reading across 987 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1 section by section

How to work through Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 8 chapters of Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1 to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1

Words and structures a reader meets early in Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Complete
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Please
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Bottom
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Document
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Bouvard and Pécuchet — part 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.