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Cousin Betty
Cousin Betty

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of Cousin Betty is here in full — 190 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Cousin Betty
Context Illustration Reading 1/38 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.
Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.
A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.
At the christening of Poland, no doubt, the Fairy Carabosse, overlooked by the genii who endowed that attractive people with the most brilliant gifts, came in to say:
Keep all the gifts that my sisters have bestowed on you; but you shall never know what you wish for!”
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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.

Cousin Betty

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of Cousin Betty is here in full — 190 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressorsarms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.
/ðə poʊl səˈblaɪm ɪn ˈsʌfərɪŋ hæz ˈtaɪərd hɪz əˈpresərz ɑːrmz baɪ ʃɪr ˈendərəns ʌv ˈbiːtɪŋ ənd ɪn ðə ˈnaɪnˈtiːnθ ˈsentʃəri hæz ˌriːprəˈduːst ðə ˈspektəkəl priˈzentɪd baɪ ðə ˈɜːrli ˈkrɪstʃənz/
Line 2
Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.
Line 3
A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.
Line 4
At the christening of Poland, no doubt, the Fairy Carabosse, overlooked by the genii who endowed that attractive people with the most brilliant gifts, came in to say:
Line 5
Keep all the gifts that my sisters have bestowed on you; but you shall never know what you wish for!”
/kiːp ɔːl ðə ɡɪfts ðæt maɪ ˈsɪstərz hæv bɪˈstoʊd ɑːn juː bʌt juː ʃæl ˈnevər noʊ wʌt juː wɪʃ fɔːr/

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.

borrowing noun US /ˈbɑːroʊɪŋ/

the appropriation (of ideas or words etc) from another source

From this reading “A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.”

cautiousness noun US /ˈkɔːʃəsnəs/

the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger

From this reading “Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.”

christening noun US /ˈkrɪsənɪŋ/

giving a Christian name at baptism

From this reading “At the christening of Poland, no doubt, the Fairy Carabosse, overlooked by the genii who endowed that attractive people with the most brilliant gifts, came in to say:”

Infuse verb US /ˌɪnˈfjuːz/

teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions

From this reading “Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.”

oppressors noun US /əˈpresərz/

plural of “oppressor” — a person of authority who subjects others to undue pressures

From this reading “The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.”

reproduced verb US /ˌriːprəˈduːst/

past form of “reproduce” — make a copy or equivalent of

From this reading “The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.”

sneaked verb US /sniːkt/

past form of “sneak” — to go stealthily or furtively

From this reading “Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.”

undermined verb US /ˌʌndərˈmaɪnd/

past form of “undermine” — destroy property or hinder normal operations

From this reading “A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.”

All words in this reading · 106

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 A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading “Keep all the gifts that my sisters have bestowed on you; but you shall never know what you wish for!”

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.

armsnounUS /ɑːrmz/

weapons considered collectively

From this reading The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

attractiveadjectiveUS /əˈtræktɪv/

pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm

From this reading At the christening of Poland, no doubt, the Fairy Carabosse, overlooked by the genii who endowed that attractive people with the most brilliant gifts, came in to say:

AustrianounUS /ˈɔːstriə/

a mountainous republic in central Europe; under the Habsburgs (1278-1918) Austria maintained control of the Holy Roman Empire and was a leader in European politics until the 19th century

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

beatingnounUS /ˈbiːtɪŋ/

the act of overcoming or outdoing

From this reading The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.

bestowedverbUS /bɪˈstoʊd/

past form of “bestow” — present

From this reading “Keep all the gifts that my sisters have bestowed on you; but you shall never know what you wish for!”

borrowingnounUS /ˈbɑːroʊɪŋ/

the appropriation (of ideas or words etc) from another source

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

breakingnounUS /ˈbreɪkɪŋ/

the act of breaking something

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

brilliantadjectiveUS /ˈbrɪljənt/

of surpassing excellence

From this reading At the christening of Poland, no doubt, the Fairy Carabosse, overlooked by the genii who endowed that attractive people with the most brilliant gifts, came in to say:

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “Keep all the gifts that my sisters have bestowed on you; but you shall never know what you wish for!”

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading At the christening of Poland, no doubt, the Fairy Carabosse, overlooked by the genii who endowed that attractive people with the most brilliant gifts, came in to say:

Carabosse

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

From this reading At the christening of Poland, no doubt, the Fairy Carabosse, overlooked by the genii who endowed that attractive people with the most brilliant gifts, came in to say:

cautiousnessnounUS /ˈkɔːʃəsnəs/

the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

centnounUS /sent/

a fractional monetary unit of several countries

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

centurynounUS /ˈsentʃəri/

a period of 100 years

From this reading The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.

christeningnounUS /ˈkrɪsənɪŋ/

giving a Christian name at baptism

From this reading At the christening of Poland, no doubt, the Fairy Carabosse, overlooked by the genii who endowed that attractive people with the most brilliant gifts, came in to say:

ChristiansnounUS /ˈkrɪstʃənz/

plural of “christian” — a religious person who believes Jesus is the Christ and who is a member of a Christian denomination

From this reading The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

divisionnounUS /dɪˈvɪʒən/

an army unit large enough to sustain combat

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

doubtnounUS /daʊt/

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading At the christening of Poland, no doubt, the Fairy Carabosse, overlooked by the genii who endowed that attractive people with the most brilliant gifts, came in to say:

eaglenounUS /ˈiːɡəl/

any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.

endowedadjectiveUS /enˈdaʊd/

provided or supplied or equipped with (especially as by inheritance or nature)

From this reading At the christening of Poland, no doubt, the Fairy Carabosse, overlooked by the genii who endowed that attractive people with the most brilliant gifts, came in to say:

endurancenounUS /ˈendərəns/

the power to withstand hardship or stress

From this reading The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.

EnglishnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ/

an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

FairynounUS /ˈferi/

a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers

From this reading At the christening of Poland, no doubt, the Fairy Carabosse, overlooked by the genii who endowed that attractive people with the most brilliant gifts, came in to say:

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “Keep all the gifts that my sisters have bestowed on you; but you shall never know what you wish for!”

frankadjectiveUS /fræŋk/

characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

genii

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

From this reading At the christening of Poland, no doubt, the Fairy Carabosse, overlooked by the genii who endowed that attractive people with the most brilliant gifts, came in to say:

giftsnounUS /ɡɪfts/

plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation

From this reading At the christening of Poland, no doubt, the Fairy Carabosse, overlooked by the genii who endowed that attractive people with the most brilliant gifts, came in to say:

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

helpingnounUS /ˈhelpɪŋ/

an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

hinderedverbUS /ˈhɪndərd/

past form of “hinder” — be a hindrance or obstacle to

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.

InfuseverbUS /ˌɪnˈfjuːz/

teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

KeepverbUS /kiːp/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading “Keep all the gifts that my sisters have bestowed on you; but you shall never know what you wish for!”

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading “Keep all the gifts that my sisters have bestowed on you; but you shall never know what you wish for!”

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

Machiavelism

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

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

magnanimousadjectiveUS /mæɡˈnænəməs/

noble and generous in spirit

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading At the christening of Poland, no doubt, the Fairy Carabosse, overlooked by the genii who endowed that attractive people with the most brilliant gifts, came in to say:

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “Keep all the gifts that my sisters have bestowed on you; but you shall never know what you wish for!”

naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading “Keep all the gifts that my sisters have bestowed on you; but you shall never know what you wish for!”

nineteenthadjectiveUS /ˈnaɪnˈtiːnθ/

coming next after the eighteenth in position

From this reading The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading At the christening of Poland, no doubt, the Fairy Carabosse, overlooked by the genii who endowed that attractive people with the most brilliant gifts, came in to say:

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “Keep all the gifts that my sisters have bestowed on you; but you shall never know what you wish for!”

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

oppressorsnounUS /əˈpresərz/

plural of “oppressor” — a person of authority who subjects others to undue pressures

From this reading The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.

overlookedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərlʊkt/

not taken into account

From this reading At the christening of Poland, no doubt, the Fairy Carabosse, overlooked by the genii who endowed that attractive people with the most brilliant gifts, came in to say:

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading At the christening of Poland, no doubt, the Fairy Carabosse, overlooked by the genii who endowed that attractive people with the most brilliant gifts, came in to say:

perprepositionUS /pɜːr/

for each

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

PolandnounUS /ˈpoʊlənd/

a republic in central Europe; the invasion of Poland by Germany in 1939 started World War II

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

PolenounUS /poʊl/

a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic

From this reading The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.

PolishnounUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃ/

the property of being smooth and shiny

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

presentedverbUS /priˈzentɪd/

past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.

PrussianounUS /ˈprʌʃə/

a former kingdom in north-central Europe including present-day northern Germany and northern Poland

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

reproducedverbUS /ˌriːprəˈduːst/

past form of “reproduce” — make a copy or equivalent of

From this reading The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.

saveprepositionUS /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading At the christening of Poland, no doubt, the Fairy Carabosse, overlooked by the genii who endowed that attractive people with the most brilliant gifts, came in to say:

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading “Keep all the gifts that my sisters have bestowed on you; but you shall never know what you wish for!”

shareverbUS /ʃer/

have in common

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/

complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers

From this reading The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.

sistersnounUS /ˈsɪstərz/

plural of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading “Keep all the gifts that my sisters have bestowed on you; but you shall never know what you wish for!”

sneakedverbUS /sniːkt/

past form of “sneak” — to go stealthily or furtively

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

soonadverbUS /suːn/

in the near future

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

spectaclenounUS /ˈspektəkəl/

something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight)

From this reading The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.

sublimeadjectiveUS /səˈblaɪm/

inspiring awe

From this reading The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.

sufferingnounUS /ˈsʌfərɪŋ/

a state of acute pain

From this reading The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.

supremeadjectiveUS /səˈpriːm/

final or last in your life or progress

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

tennounUS /ten/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading At the christening of Poland, no doubt, the Fairy Carabosse, overlooked by the genii who endowed that attractive people with the most brilliant gifts, came in to say:

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/

depleted of strength or energy

From this reading The Pole, sublime in suffering, has tired his oppressors’ arms by sheer endurance of beating; and, in the nineteenth century, has reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

two-headed

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

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

underminedverbUS /ˌʌndərˈmaɪnd/

past form of “undermine” — destroy property or hinder normal operations

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

usurernoun

someone who lends money at excessive rates of interest

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “Keep all the gifts that my sisters have bestowed on you; but you shall never know what you wish for!”

whereverconjunctionUS /weˈrevər/

in or to any place at all

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading A little Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria, who has taken a share of it; from borrowing from Prussia, the usurer who had undermined it; and from breaking up as soon as a division was first made.

wishverbUS /wɪʃ/

hope for; have a wish

From this reading “Keep all the gifts that my sisters have bestowed on you; but you shall never know what you wish for!”

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading At the christening of Poland, no doubt, the Fairy Carabosse, overlooked by the genii who endowed that attractive people with the most brilliant gifts, came in to say:

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Infuse only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open Polish nature, and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be supreme wherever the two-headed eagle has sneaked in.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Keep all the gifts that my sisters have bestowed on you; but you shall never know what you wish for!”

Chapter 20 of Cousin Betty by Honoré de Balzac holds 190 sentences, grouped into 38 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 20 of Cousin Betty contain?

Chapter 20 holds 190 sentences of Cousin Betty, unabridged, divided into 38 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of Cousin Betty by Honoré de Balzac exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 190 sentences, grouped into 38 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 20 of Cousin Betty?

Work through the 38 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 38 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 20 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 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 Cousin Betty

Common questions about reading Cousin Betty by Honoré de Balzac on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Cousin Betty?

Yes. All 7747 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1749 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Cousin Betty is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1749, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Cousin Betty take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1550 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Cousin Betty section by section

How to work through Cousin Betty section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of Cousin Betty 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 Cousin Betty

Words and structures a reader meets early in Cousin Betty, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Michele
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Cousin Betty; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Angelo
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Cousin Betty; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cajetani
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Cousin Betty; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Prince
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Cousin Betty; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.