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Caught in the Net
Caught in the Net

Chapter XIII

Cover illustration for Caught in the Net
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HUSBAND AND WIFE.
Ever since Mascarin’s visit, the Count de Mussidan had been in a deplorable state of mind.
Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.
He knew the necessity for immediate action, for he felt sure that this demand would only be the forerunner of numerous others of a similar character.
He thought over and dismissed many schemes.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Caught in the Net

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HUSBAND AND WIFE.
Line 2
Ever since Mascarin’s visit, the Count de Mussidan had been in a deplorable state of mind.
Line 3
Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.
Line 4
He knew the necessity for immediate action, for he felt sure that this demand would only be the forerunner of numerous others of a similar character.
Line 5
He thought over and dismissed many schemes.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Ever since Mascarin’s visit, the Count de Mussidan had been in a deplorable state of mind.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Ever since Mascarin’s visit, the Count de Mussidan had been in a deplorable state of mind.”

Foot noun US /foot/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Ever since Mascarin’s visit, the Count de Mussidan had been in a deplorable state of mind.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “He thought over and dismissed many schemes.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “Ever since Mascarin’s visit, the Count de Mussidan had been in a deplorable state of mind.”

Sure noun US /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He knew the necessity for immediate action, for he felt sure that this demand would only be the forerunner of numerous others of a similar character.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He thought over and dismissed many schemes.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “He knew the necessity for immediate action, for he felt sure that this demand would only be the forerunner of numerous others of a similar character.”

All words in this reading · 64

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 Ever since Mascarin’s visit, the Count de Mussidan had been in a deplorable state of mind.

action

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

From this reading He knew the necessity for immediate action, for he felt sure that this demand would only be the forerunner of numerous others of a similar character.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading He knew the necessity for immediate action, for he felt sure that this demand would only be the forerunner of numerous others of a similar character.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Ever since Mascarin’s visit, the Count de Mussidan had been in a deplorable state of mind.

brains

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

From this reading Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.

breaking

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

From this reading Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.

character

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

From this reading He knew the necessity for immediate action, for he felt sure that this demand would only be the forerunner of numerous others of a similar character.

Count

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

From this reading Ever since Mascarin’s visit, the Count de Mussidan had been in a deplorable state of mind.

cudgelling

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

From this reading Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.

de

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

From this reading Ever since Mascarin’s visit, the Count de Mussidan had been in a deplorable state of mind.

demand

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

From this reading He knew the necessity for immediate action, for he felt sure that this demand would only be the forerunner of numerous others of a similar character.

deplorable

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

From this reading Ever since Mascarin’s visit, the Count de Mussidan had been in a deplorable state of mind.

dismissed

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

From this reading He thought over and dismissed many schemes.

down

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

From this reading Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.

entangled

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

From this reading Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.

EvernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Ever since Mascarin’s visit, the Count de Mussidan had been in a deplorable state of mind.

felt

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

From this reading He knew the necessity for immediate action, for he felt sure that this demand would only be the forerunner of numerous others of a similar character.

footnounUS /foot/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.

forerunner

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

From this reading He knew the necessity for immediate action, for he felt sure that this demand would only be the forerunner of numerous others of a similar character.

Forgetting

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

From this reading Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Ever since Mascarin’s visit, the Count de Mussidan had been in a deplorable state of mind.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.

HUSBAND

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

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE.

immediate

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

From this reading He knew the necessity for immediate action, for he felt sure that this demand would only be the forerunner of numerous others of a similar character.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Ever since Mascarin’s visit, the Count de Mussidan had been in a deplorable state of mind.

injury

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

From this reading Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.

knew

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

From this reading He knew the necessity for immediate action, for he felt sure that this demand would only be the forerunner of numerous others of a similar character.

library

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

From this reading Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.

many

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

From this reading He thought over and dismissed many schemes.

Mascarin's

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

From this reading Ever since Mascarin’s visit, the Count de Mussidan had been in a deplorable state of mind.

means

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

From this reading Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.

meshes

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

From this reading Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Ever since Mascarin’s visit, the Count de Mussidan had been in a deplorable state of mind.

Mussidan

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

From this reading Ever since Mascarin’s visit, the Count de Mussidan had been in a deplorable state of mind.

necessity

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

From this reading He knew the necessity for immediate action, for he felt sure that this demand would only be the forerunner of numerous others of a similar character.

net

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

From this reading Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.

night

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

From this reading Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.

numerous

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

From this reading He knew the necessity for immediate action, for he felt sure that this demand would only be the forerunner of numerous others of a similar character.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Ever since Mascarin’s visit, the Count de Mussidan had been in a deplorable state of mind.

only

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

From this reading He knew the necessity for immediate action, for he felt sure that this demand would only be the forerunner of numerous others of a similar character.

others

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

From this reading He knew the necessity for immediate action, for he felt sure that this demand would only be the forerunner of numerous others of a similar character.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading He thought over and dismissed many schemes.

pacing

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

From this reading Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.

schemes

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

From this reading He thought over and dismissed many schemes.

similar

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

From this reading He knew the necessity for immediate action, for he felt sure that this demand would only be the forerunner of numerous others of a similar character.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Ever since Mascarin’s visit, the Count de Mussidan had been in a deplorable state of mind.

some

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

From this reading Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.

state

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

From this reading Ever since Mascarin’s visit, the Count de Mussidan had been in a deplorable state of mind.

surenounUS /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He knew the necessity for immediate action, for he felt sure that this demand would only be the forerunner of numerous others of a similar character.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He knew the necessity for immediate action, for he felt sure that this demand would only be the forerunner of numerous others of a similar character.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Ever since Mascarin’s visit, the Count de Mussidan had been in a deplorable state of mind.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading He knew the necessity for immediate action, for he felt sure that this demand would only be the forerunner of numerous others of a similar character.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He thought over and dismissed many schemes.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.

up

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

From this reading Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.

visit

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

From this reading Ever since Mascarin’s visit, the Count de Mussidan had been in a deplorable state of mind.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passed the night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for some means of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled.

WIFE

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

From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading He knew the necessity for immediate action, for he felt sure that this demand would only be the forerunner of numerous others of a similar character.