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Chapter IV

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Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Oh! that midnight mass!
He had had the unfortunate idea of going to it at Christmas.
He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.
He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.
It had seemed to him superfluous to try St. Germain-des-Pres, for he held that church in horror.
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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.

En Route

Chapter IV

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Oh! that midnight mass!
Line 2
He had had the unfortunate idea of going to it at Christmas.
Line 3
He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.
Line 4
He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.
Line 5
It had seemed to him superfluous to try St. Germain-des-Pres, for he held that church in horror.

Learner Dictionary

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

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It had seemed to him superfluous to try St. Germain-des-Pres, for he held that church in horror.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.”

All words in this reading · 71

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 He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.

air

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

From this reading He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He had had the unfortunate idea of going to it at Christmas.

away

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

From this reading He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.

canticles

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

From this reading He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.

choir

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

From this reading He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.

choral-society

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

From this reading He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.

Christmas

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

From this reading He had had the unfortunate idea of going to it at Christmas.

church

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

From this reading It had seemed to him superfluous to try St. Germain-des-Pres, for he held that church in horror.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.

crowd

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

From this reading He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.

day

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

From this reading He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.

firework

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

From this reading He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.

fled

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

From this reading He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It had seemed to him superfluous to try St. Germain-des-Pres, for he held that church in horror.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.

Germain-des-Pres

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

From this reading It had seemed to him superfluous to try St. Germain-des-Pres, for he held that church in horror.

going

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

From this reading He had had the unfortunate idea of going to it at Christmas.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He had had the unfortunate idea of going to it at Christmas.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He had had the unfortunate idea of going to it at Christmas.

heard

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

From this reading He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.

held

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

From this reading It had seemed to him superfluous to try St. Germain-des-Pres, for he held that church in horror.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading It had seemed to him superfluous to try St. Germain-des-Pres, for he held that church in horror.

horror

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

From this reading It had seemed to him superfluous to try St. Germain-des-Pres, for he held that church in horror.

idea

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

From this reading He had had the unfortunate idea of going to it at Christmas.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.

installed

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

From this reading He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.

instead

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

From this reading He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He had had the unfortunate idea of going to it at Christmas.

knitted

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

From this reading He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.

ladies

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

From this reading He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.

like

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

From this reading He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.

marches

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

From this reading He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.

mass

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

From this reading Oh! that midnight mass!

midnight

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

From this reading Oh! that midnight mass!

needles

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

From this reading He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He had had the unfortunate idea of going to it at Christmas.

Oh

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

From this reading Oh! that midnight mass!

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.

plunged

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

From this reading He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.

rage

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

From this reading He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.

school

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

From this reading He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It had seemed to him superfluous to try St. Germain-des-Pres, for he held that church in horror.

Severin

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

From this reading He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.

sharp

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

From this reading He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.

skeins

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

From this reading He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.

St

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

From this reading He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.

Sulpice

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

From this reading He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.

superfluous

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

From this reading It had seemed to him superfluous to try St. Germain-des-Pres, for he held that church in horror.

talked

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

From this reading He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.

tea-garden

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

From this reading He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Oh! that midnight mass!

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading He had had the unfortunate idea of going to it at Christmas.

there

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

From this reading He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He had had the unfortunate idea of going to it at Christmas.

try

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

From this reading It had seemed to him superfluous to try St. Germain-des-Pres, for he held that church in horror.

tunes

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

From this reading He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.

unfortunate

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

From this reading He had had the unfortunate idea of going to it at Christmas.

voices

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

From this reading He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.

walked

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

From this reading He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.

waltzes

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

From this reading He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading He had fled to St. Sulpice, and plunged into a crowd which walked and talked as if in the open air; had heard there choral-society marches, tea-garden waltzes, firework tunes, and had come away in a rage.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.

worn-out

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

From this reading He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.

young

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

From this reading He went to St. Severin, and found a young ladies' day school installed there, instead of the choir, who, with sharp voices like needles, knitted the worn-out skeins of the canticles.