Four Short Stories By Emile Zola

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Four Short Stories By Emile Zola is here in full — 825 sentences across 165 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Émile Zola • Curated US English Learning Edition

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Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

Brebant was to supply everything, from the supper, the plates and dishes, the glass, the linen, the flowers, down to the seats and footstools.

Nana could not have mustered a dozen napkins out of all her cupboards, and not having had time to get a proper outfit after her new start in life and scorning to go to the restaurant, she had decided to make the restaurant come to her.

It struck her as being more the thing.

She wanted to celebrate her great success as an actress with a supper which should set people talking.

Narrator

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LEARNER DICTIONARY

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Chapter IV Reading 1/165

Four Short Stories By Emile Zola Émile Zola

Chapter IV

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Four Short Stories By Emile Zola is here in full — 825 sentences across 165 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters. Brebant was to supply everything, from the supper, the plates and dishes, the glass, the linen, the flowers, down to the seats and footstools. Nana could not have mustered a dozen napkins out of all her cupboards, and not having had time to get a proper outfit after her new start in life and scorning to go to the restaurant, she had decided to make the restaurant come to her. It struck her as being more the thing. She wanted to celebrate her great success as an actress with a supper which should set people talking.

Four Short Stories By Emile Zola

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Four Short Stories By Emile Zola is here in full — 825 sentences across 165 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/165 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

Line 2

Brebant was to supply everything, from the supper, the plates and dishes, the glass, the linen, the flowers, down to the seats and footstools.

Line 3

Line 4

It struck her as being more the thing.

/ɪt strʌk hɜːr æz ˈbiːɪŋ mɔːr ðə θɪŋ/

Line 5

She wanted to celebrate her great success as an actress with a supper which should set people talking.

/ʃiː ˈwɔːntɪd tuː ˈseləbreɪt hɜːr ɡreɪt səkˈses æz æn ˈæktrəs wɪð ə ˈsʌpər wɪtʃ ʃʊd set ˈpiːpəl ˈtɔːkɪŋ/

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.

actress noun US /ˈæktrəs/

a female actor

From this reading “She wanted to celebrate her great success as an actress with a supper which should set people talking.”

celebrate verb US /ˈseləbreɪt/

behave as expected during of holidays or rites

From this reading “She wanted to celebrate her great success as an actress with a supper which should set people talking.”

cupboards noun US /ˈkʌbərdz/

plural of “cupboard” — a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space

From this reading “Nana could not have mustered a dozen napkins out of all her cupboards, and not having had time to get a proper outfit after her new start in life and scorning to go to the restaurant, she had decided to make the restaurant come to her.”

helpers noun US /ˈhelpərz/

plural of “helper” — a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose

From this reading “Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.”

managing verb US /ˈmænədʒɪŋ/

-ing form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal

From this reading “Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.”

mustered verb US /ˈmʌstərd/

past form of “muster” — gather or bring together

napkins noun US /ˈnæpkɪnz/

plural of “napkin” — a small piece of table linen that is used to wipe the mouth and to cover the lap in order to protect clothing

waiters noun US /ˈweɪtərz/

plural of “waiter” — a person whose occupation is to serve at table (as in a restaurant)

From this reading “Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.”

All words in this reading · 79

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 Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

actressnounUS /ˈæktrəs/

a female actor

From this reading She wanted to celebrate her great success as an actress with a supper which should set people talking.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Nana could not have mustered a dozen napkins out of all her cupboards, and not having had time to get a proper outfit after her new start in life and scorning to go to the restaurant, she had decided to make the restaurant come to her.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

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

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading She wanted to celebrate her great success as an actress with a supper which should set people talking.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It struck her as being more the thing.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading It struck her as being more the thing.

Brebant

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

From this reading Brebant was to supply everything, from the supper, the plates and dishes, the glass, the linen, the flowers, down to the seats and footstools.

Brebant's

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

From this reading Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

celebrateverbUS /ˈseləbreɪt/

behave as expected during of holidays or rites

From this reading She wanted to celebrate her great success as an actress with a supper which should set people talking.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

cupboardsnounUS /ˈkʌbərdz/

plural of “cupboard” — a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space

decidedadjectiveUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪd/

recognizable; marked

deliveredverbUS /dɪˈlɪvərd/

past form of “deliver” — deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)

From this reading Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

dishesnounUS /ˈdɪʃəz/

plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food

From this reading Brebant was to supply everything, from the supper, the plates and dishes, the glass, the linen, the flowers, down to the seats and footstools.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Brebant was to supply everything, from the supper, the plates and dishes, the glass, the linen, the flowers, down to the seats and footstools.

dozennounUS /ˈdʌzən/

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading Brebant was to supply everything, from the supper, the plates and dishes, the glass, the linen, the flowers, down to the seats and footstools.

flatadjectiveUS /flæt/

having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another

From this reading Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

flowersnounUS /ˈflaʊərz/

plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms

From this reading Brebant was to supply everything, from the supper, the plates and dishes, the glass, the linen, the flowers, down to the seats and footstools.

footstools

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

From this reading Brebant was to supply everything, from the supper, the plates and dishes, the glass, the linen, the flowers, down to the seats and footstools.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

glassnounUS /ɡlæs/

a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure

From this reading Brebant was to supply everything, from the supper, the plates and dishes, the glass, the linen, the flowers, down to the seats and footstools.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading She wanted to celebrate her great success as an actress with a supper which should set people talking.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

helpersnounUS /ˈhelpərz/

plural of “helper” — a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose

From this reading Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It struck her as being more the thing.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

linennounUS /ˈlɪnən/

a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant

From this reading Brebant was to supply everything, from the supper, the plates and dishes, the glass, the linen, the flowers, down to the seats and footstools.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

managingverbUS /ˈmænədʒɪŋ/

-ing form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal

From this reading Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading It struck her as being more the thing.

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

musteredverbUS /ˈmʌstərd/

past form of “muster” — gather or bring together

Nana

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

napkinsnounUS /ˈnæpkɪnz/

plural of “napkin” — a small piece of table linen that is used to wipe the mouth and to cover the lap in order to protect clothing

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

outfitnounUS /ˈaʊtfɪt/

any cohesive unit such as a military company

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

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

From this reading She wanted to celebrate her great success as an actress with a supper which should set people talking.

platesnounUS /pleɪts/

plural of “plate” — (baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score

From this reading Brebant was to supply everything, from the supper, the plates and dishes, the glass, the linen, the flowers, down to the seats and footstools.

properadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːpər/

marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness

restaurantnounUS /ˈrestərɑːnt/

a building where people go to eat

scorning

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

seatsnounUS /siːts/

an area that includes places where several people can sit

From this reading Brebant was to supply everything, from the supper, the plates and dishes, the glass, the linen, the flowers, down to the seats and footstools.

setverbUS /set/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading She wanted to celebrate her great success as an actress with a supper which should set people talking.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading She wanted to celebrate her great success as an actress with a supper which should set people talking.

SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

staffnounUS /stæf/

personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task

From this reading Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

startverbUS /stɑːrt/

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

struckadjectiveUS /strʌk/

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading It struck her as being more the thing.

successnounUS /səkˈses/

an event that accomplishes its intended purpose

From this reading She wanted to celebrate her great success as an actress with a supper which should set people talking.

suppernounUS /ˈsʌpər/

a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime

From this reading Brebant was to supply everything, from the supper, the plates and dishes, the glass, the linen, the flowers, down to the seats and footstools.

supplyverbUS /səˈplaɪ/

give something useful or necessary to

From this reading Brebant was to supply everything, from the supper, the plates and dishes, the glass, the linen, the flowers, down to the seats and footstools.

talkingnounUS /ˈtɔːkɪŋ/

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading She wanted to celebrate her great success as an actress with a supper which should set people talking.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading It struck her as being more the thing.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

waitersnounUS /ˈweɪtərz/

plural of “waiter” — a person whose occupation is to serve at table (as in a restaurant)

From this reading Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

wantedadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːntɪd/

desired or wished for or sought

From this reading She wanted to celebrate her great success as an actress with a supper which should set people talking.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Brebant was to supply everything, from the supper, the plates and dishes, the glass, the linen, the flowers, down to the seats and footstools.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading She wanted to celebrate her great success as an actress with a supper which should set people talking.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

Zoé

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

From this reading Since morning Zoé had delivered up the flat to a managing man who had come from Brebant’s with a staff of helpers and waiters.

Chapter 4 of Four Short Stories By Emile Zola by Émile Zola holds 825 sentences, grouped into 165 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 4 of Four Short Stories By Emile Zola contain?

Chapter 4 holds 825 sentences of Four Short Stories By Emile Zola, unabridged, divided into 165 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of Four Short Stories By Emile Zola by Émile Zola exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 825 sentences, grouped into 165 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 4 of Four Short Stories By Emile Zola?

Work through the 165 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 165 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 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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.

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Yes. All 13142 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1069 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #1069, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 600 minutes of reading across 2629 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in Four Short Stories By Emile Zola

Words and structures a reader meets early in Four Short Stories By Emile Zola, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Clock: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Four Short Stories By Emile Zola; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Evening: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Four Short Stories By Emile Zola; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
House: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Four Short Stories By Emile Zola; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Theatres: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Four Short Stories By Emile Zola; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

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