Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Queen's Necklace
The Queen's Necklace

Chapter LXXXIV

Chapter 84, section 1: IN WHICH IT IS EXPLAINED WHY THE BARON DE TAVERNEY GREW FAT. Meanwhile Philippe was hastening the preparations for his departure. He did not wish to witness the dishonor of the que
Context Illustration Reading 1/10 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
IN WHICH IT IS EXPLAINED WHY THE BARON DE TAVERNEY GREW FAT.
Meanwhile Philippe was hastening the preparations for his departure.
He did not wish to witness the dishonor of the queen, his first and only passion.
When all was ready, he requested an interview with his father.
For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Queen's Necklace

Chapter LXXXIV

Reading 1/10 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
IN WHICH IT IS EXPLAINED WHY THE BARON DE TAVERNEY GREW FAT.
Line 2
Meanwhile Philippe was hastening the preparations for his departure.
Line 3
He did not wish to witness the dishonor of the queen, his first and only passion.
Line 4
When all was ready, he requested an interview with his father.
Line 5
For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.

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 “For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.”

Drink noun US /drink/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He did not wish to witness the dishonor of the queen, his first and only passion.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.”

Meanwhile noun US /ˈmeanwhile/

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

From this reading “Meanwhile Philippe was hastening the preparations for his departure.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.”

All words in this reading · 59

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

all

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

From this reading When all was ready, he requested an interview with his father.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading When all was ready, he requested an interview with his father.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He did not wish to witness the dishonor of the queen, his first and only passion.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.

BARON

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

From this reading IN WHICH IT IS EXPLAINED WHY THE BARON DE TAVERNEY GREW FAT.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.

circulating

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

From this reading For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.

court

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

From this reading For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.

DE

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

From this reading IN WHICH IT IS EXPLAINED WHY THE BARON DE TAVERNEY GREW FAT.

departure

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

From this reading Meanwhile Philippe was hastening the preparations for his departure.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading He did not wish to witness the dishonor of the queen, his first and only passion.

dishonor

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

From this reading He did not wish to witness the dishonor of the queen, his first and only passion.

drink

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

From this reading For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.

EXPLAINED

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

From this reading IN WHICH IT IS EXPLAINED WHY THE BARON DE TAVERNEY GREW FAT.

FAT

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

From this reading IN WHICH IT IS EXPLAINED WHY THE BARON DE TAVERNEY GREW FAT.

father

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

From this reading When all was ready, he requested an interview with his father.

feed

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

From this reading For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He did not wish to witness the dishonor of the queen, his first and only passion.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Meanwhile Philippe was hastening the preparations for his departure.

GREW

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

From this reading IN WHICH IT IS EXPLAINED WHY THE BARON DE TAVERNEY GREW FAT.

growing

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

From this reading For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.

hastening

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

From this reading Meanwhile Philippe was hastening the preparations for his departure.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He did not wish to witness the dishonor of the queen, his first and only passion.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Meanwhile Philippe was hastening the preparations for his departure.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading IN WHICH IT IS EXPLAINED WHY THE BARON DE TAVERNEY GREW FAT.

interview

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

From this reading When all was ready, he requested an interview with his father.

ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading IN WHICH IT IS EXPLAINED WHY THE BARON DE TAVERNEY GREW FAT.

ITpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading IN WHICH IT IS EXPLAINED WHY THE BARON DE TAVERNEY GREW FAT.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.

MeanwhilenounUS /ˈmeanwhile/

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

From this reading Meanwhile Philippe was hastening the preparations for his departure.

meat

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

From this reading For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.

months

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

From this reading For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He did not wish to witness the dishonor of the queen, his first and only passion.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He did not wish to witness the dishonor of the queen, his first and only passion.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.

only

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

From this reading He did not wish to witness the dishonor of the queen, his first and only passion.

passion

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

From this reading He did not wish to witness the dishonor of the queen, his first and only passion.

Philippe

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

From this reading Meanwhile Philippe was hastening the preparations for his departure.

preparations

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

From this reading Meanwhile Philippe was hastening the preparations for his departure.

queen

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

From this reading He did not wish to witness the dishonor of the queen, his first and only passion.

ready

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

From this reading When all was ready, he requested an interview with his father.

requested

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

From this reading When all was ready, he requested an interview with his father.

scandals

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

From this reading For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.

TAVERNEY

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

From this reading IN WHICH IT IS EXPLAINED WHY THE BARON DE TAVERNEY GREW FAT.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading IN WHICH IT IS EXPLAINED WHY THE BARON DE TAVERNEY GREW FAT.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.

three

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

From this reading For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He did not wish to witness the dishonor of the queen, his first and only passion.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Meanwhile Philippe was hastening the preparations for his departure.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When all was ready, he requested an interview with his father.

WHICHpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading IN WHICH IT IS EXPLAINED WHY THE BARON DE TAVERNEY GREW FAT.

WHY

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

From this reading IN WHICH IT IS EXPLAINED WHY THE BARON DE TAVERNEY GREW FAT.

wish

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

From this reading He did not wish to witness the dishonor of the queen, his first and only passion.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading When all was ready, he requested an interview with his father.

witness

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

From this reading He did not wish to witness the dishonor of the queen, his first and only passion.