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A Tale of Two Cities
A Tale of Two Cities

Book I · Chapter VI · The Shoemaker

Read and study this complete chapter with synchronized narration, pronunciation, and vocabulary support.

By Charles Dickens • Curated US English Learning Edition

“Good day!” said Monsieur Defarge, looking down at the white head that bent low over the shoemaking.

The Shoemaker, reading 1: “Good day!” said Monsieur Defarge, looking down at the white head that bent low over the shoemaking.
Context Illustration Reading 1/46 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“Good day!” said Monsieur Defarge, looking down at the white head that bent low over the shoemaking.
It was raised for a moment, and a very faint voice responded to the salutation, as if it were at a distance: “Good day!”
“You are still hard at work, I see?”
After a long silence, the head was lifted for another moment, and the voice replied, “Yes--I am working.”
This time, a pair of haggard eyes had looked at the questioner, before the face had dropped again.
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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.

A Tale of Two Cities

Book I · Chapter VI · The Shoemaker

Study this chapter through synchronized reading, listening, pronunciation, and contextual vocabulary.

Reading 1/46 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“Good day!” said Monsieur Defarge, looking down at the white head that bent low over the shoemaking.
Line 2
It was raised for a moment, and a very faint voice responded to the salutation, as if it were at a distance: “Good day!”
Line 3
“You are still hard at work, I see?”
Line 4
After a long silence, the head was lifted for another moment, and the voice replied, “Yes--I am working.”
Line 5
This time, a pair of haggard eyes had looked at the questioner, before the face had dropped again.

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.

distance noun US /ˈdɪstəns/

the amount of space or time between two people, places, or events

From this reading “It was raised for a moment, and a very faint voice responded to the salutation, as if it were at a distance: “Good day!””

Velmora Academy editorial learner gloss; Oxford-style entry order
monsieur noun US /məˈsjɝː/

a French title or polite form of address for a man

From this reading ““Good day!” said Monsieur Defarge, looking down at the white head that bent low over the shoemaking.”

Velmora Academy editorial learner gloss; Oxford-style entry order
responded verb US /rɪˈspɑːndɪd/

answered or reacted to someone, something said, or an event

From this reading “It was raised for a moment, and a very faint voice responded to the salutation, as if it were at a distance: “Good day!””

Velmora Academy editorial learner gloss; Oxford-style entry order
All words in this reading · 62

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

a

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

From this reading It was raised for a moment, and a very faint voice responded to the salutation, as if it were at a distance: “Good day!”

Pending verification
After

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From this reading After a long silence, the head was lifted for another moment, and the voice replied, “Yes--I am working.”

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again

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From this reading This time, a pair of haggard eyes had looked at the questioner, before the face had dropped again.

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am

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From this reading After a long silence, the head was lifted for another moment, and the voice replied, “Yes--I am working.”

Pending verification
and

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From this reading It was raised for a moment, and a very faint voice responded to the salutation, as if it were at a distance: “Good day!”

Pending verification
another

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From this reading After a long silence, the head was lifted for another moment, and the voice replied, “Yes--I am working.”

Pending verification
are

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

From this reading “You are still hard at work, I see?”

Pending verification
as

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

From this reading It was raised for a moment, and a very faint voice responded to the salutation, as if it were at a distance: “Good day!”

Pending verification
at

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From this reading “Good day!” said Monsieur Defarge, looking down at the white head that bent low over the shoemaking.

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before

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From this reading This time, a pair of haggard eyes had looked at the questioner, before the face had dropped again.

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bent

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From this reading “Good day!” said Monsieur Defarge, looking down at the white head that bent low over the shoemaking.

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day

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From this reading “Good day!” said Monsieur Defarge, looking down at the white head that bent low over the shoemaking.

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Defarge

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From this reading “Good day!” said Monsieur Defarge, looking down at the white head that bent low over the shoemaking.

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distancenounUS /ˈdɪstəns/

the amount of space or time between two people, places, or events

From this reading It was raised for a moment, and a very faint voice responded to the salutation, as if it were at a distance: “Good day!”

Velmora Academy editorial learner gloss; Oxford-style entry order
down

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From this reading “Good day!” said Monsieur Defarge, looking down at the white head that bent low over the shoemaking.

Pending verification
dropped

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From this reading This time, a pair of haggard eyes had looked at the questioner, before the face had dropped again.

Pending verification
eyes

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From this reading This time, a pair of haggard eyes had looked at the questioner, before the face had dropped again.

Pending verification
face

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From this reading This time, a pair of haggard eyes had looked at the questioner, before the face had dropped again.

Pending verification
faint

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

From this reading It was raised for a moment, and a very faint voice responded to the salutation, as if it were at a distance: “Good day!”

Pending verification
for

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

From this reading It was raised for a moment, and a very faint voice responded to the salutation, as if it were at a distance: “Good day!”

Pending verification
Good

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From this reading “Good day!” said Monsieur Defarge, looking down at the white head that bent low over the shoemaking.

Pending verification
had

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From this reading This time, a pair of haggard eyes had looked at the questioner, before the face had dropped again.

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haggard

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From this reading This time, a pair of haggard eyes had looked at the questioner, before the face had dropped again.

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hard

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From this reading “You are still hard at work, I see?”

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head

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From this reading “Good day!” said Monsieur Defarge, looking down at the white head that bent low over the shoemaking.

Pending verification
I

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

From this reading “You are still hard at work, I see?”

Pending verification
if

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

From this reading It was raised for a moment, and a very faint voice responded to the salutation, as if it were at a distance: “Good day!”

Pending verification
It

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

From this reading It was raised for a moment, and a very faint voice responded to the salutation, as if it were at a distance: “Good day!”

Pending verification
lifted

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From this reading After a long silence, the head was lifted for another moment, and the voice replied, “Yes--I am working.”

Pending verification
long

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

From this reading After a long silence, the head was lifted for another moment, and the voice replied, “Yes--I am working.”

Pending verification
looked

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

From this reading This time, a pair of haggard eyes had looked at the questioner, before the face had dropped again.

Pending verification
looking

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

From this reading “Good day!” said Monsieur Defarge, looking down at the white head that bent low over the shoemaking.

Pending verification
low

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

From this reading “Good day!” said Monsieur Defarge, looking down at the white head that bent low over the shoemaking.

Pending verification
moment

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

From this reading It was raised for a moment, and a very faint voice responded to the salutation, as if it were at a distance: “Good day!”

Pending verification
MonsieurnounUS /məˈsjɝː/

a French title or polite form of address for a man

From this reading “Good day!” said Monsieur Defarge, looking down at the white head that bent low over the shoemaking.

Velmora Academy editorial learner gloss; Oxford-style entry order
of

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

From this reading This time, a pair of haggard eyes had looked at the questioner, before the face had dropped again.

Pending verification
over

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From this reading “Good day!” said Monsieur Defarge, looking down at the white head that bent low over the shoemaking.

Pending verification
pair

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From this reading This time, a pair of haggard eyes had looked at the questioner, before the face had dropped again.

Pending verification
questioner

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From this reading This time, a pair of haggard eyes had looked at the questioner, before the face had dropped again.

Pending verification
raised

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

From this reading It was raised for a moment, and a very faint voice responded to the salutation, as if it were at a distance: “Good day!”

Pending verification
replied

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

From this reading After a long silence, the head was lifted for another moment, and the voice replied, “Yes--I am working.”

Pending verification
respondedverbUS /rɪˈspɑːndɪd/

answered or reacted to someone, something said, or an event

From this reading It was raised for a moment, and a very faint voice responded to the salutation, as if it were at a distance: “Good day!”

Velmora Academy editorial learner gloss; Oxford-style entry order
said

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

From this reading “Good day!” said Monsieur Defarge, looking down at the white head that bent low over the shoemaking.

Pending verification
salutation

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

From this reading It was raised for a moment, and a very faint voice responded to the salutation, as if it were at a distance: “Good day!”

Pending verification
see

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

From this reading “You are still hard at work, I see?”

Pending verification
shoemaking

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From this reading “Good day!” said Monsieur Defarge, looking down at the white head that bent low over the shoemaking.

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silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading After a long silence, the head was lifted for another moment, and the voice replied, “Yes--I am working.”

Velmora curated lexicon
still

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

From this reading “You are still hard at work, I see?”

Pending verification
that

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

From this reading “Good day!” said Monsieur Defarge, looking down at the white head that bent low over the shoemaking.

Pending verification
the

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

From this reading “Good day!” said Monsieur Defarge, looking down at the white head that bent low over the shoemaking.

Pending verification
This

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

From this reading This time, a pair of haggard eyes had looked at the questioner, before the face had dropped again.

Pending verification
time

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

From this reading This time, a pair of haggard eyes had looked at the questioner, before the face had dropped again.

Pending verification
to

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

From this reading It was raised for a moment, and a very faint voice responded to the salutation, as if it were at a distance: “Good day!”

Pending verification
very

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

From this reading It was raised for a moment, and a very faint voice responded to the salutation, as if it were at a distance: “Good day!”

Pending verification
voice

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

From this reading It was raised for a moment, and a very faint voice responded to the salutation, as if it were at a distance: “Good day!”

Pending verification
was

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

From this reading It was raised for a moment, and a very faint voice responded to the salutation, as if it were at a distance: “Good day!”

Pending verification
were

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

From this reading It was raised for a moment, and a very faint voice responded to the salutation, as if it were at a distance: “Good day!”

Pending verification
white

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From this reading “Good day!” said Monsieur Defarge, looking down at the white head that bent low over the shoemaking.

Pending verification
work

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

From this reading “You are still hard at work, I see?”

Pending verification
working

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

From this reading After a long silence, the head was lifted for another moment, and the voice replied, “Yes--I am working.”

Pending verification
Yes

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

From this reading After a long silence, the head was lifted for another moment, and the voice replied, “Yes--I am working.”

Pending verification
You

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

From this reading “You are still hard at work, I see?”

Pending verification