adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
absolutelyadverbUS /ˌæbsəˈluːtli/
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
alightverbUS /əˈlaɪt/
to come to rest, settle
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
annumnounUS /ˈænəm/
(Latin) year
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
apartmentnounUS /əˈpɑːrtmənt/
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
bednounUS /bed/
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
Burle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
CharlesnounUS /tʃɑːrlz/
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
chillyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪli/
not characterized by emotion
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
consistedverbUS /kənˈsɪstəd/
past form of “consist” — originate
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
damagedadjectiveUS /ˈdæmədʒd/
harmed or injured or spoiled
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
darknounUS /dɑːrk/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
desnounUS /des/
a potent estrogen used in medicine and in feed for livestock and poultry
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
desertedadjectiveUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
districtnounUS /ˈdɪstrɪkt/
a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
fallingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlɪŋ/
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/
start firing a weapon
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
floornounUS /flɔːr/
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
fournounUS /fɔːr/
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
francsnounUS /fræŋks/
plural of “franc” — the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 centimes
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
grandsonnounUS /ˈɡrændsʌn/
a male grandchild
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
guttersnounUS /ˈɡʌtərz/
plural of “gutter” — a channel along the eaves or on the roof; collects and carries away rainwater
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
hundrednounUS /ˈhʌndrəd/
ten 10s
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
impossibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɑːsəbəl/
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE SWINDLE It was nine o’clock.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
keepverbUS /kiːp/
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
lampnounUS /læmp/
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
lessonsnounUS /ˈlesənz/
plural of “lesson” — a unit of instruction
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
meageradjectiveUS /ˈmiːɡər/
deficient in amount or quality or extent
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
Mme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
narrowestadjectiveUS /ˈneroʊəst/
superlative of “narrow” — not wide
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
ninenounUS /naɪn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading THE SWINDLE It was nine o’clock.
NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/
the month following October and preceding December
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading THE SWINDLE It was nine o’clock.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
paleadjectiveUS /peɪl/
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
perprepositionUS /pɜːr/
for each
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
poredverbUS /pɔːrd/
past form of “pore” — direct one's attention on something
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
rainnounUS /reɪn/
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
Recollets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
rentedverbUS /ˈrentɪd/
past form of “rent” — let for money
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
retiredadjectiveUS /rɪˈtaɪrd/
no longer active in your work or profession
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
roomsnounUS /ruːmz/
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
RuenounUS /ruː/
European strong-scented perennial herb with grey-green bitter-tasting leaves; an irritant similar to poison ivy
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
Saint-Jean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
silentadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪlənt/
marked by absence of sound
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
singleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪŋɡəl/
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
sixtyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪksti/
being ten more than fifty
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
stocksnounUS /stɑːks/
a frame that supports a boat while it is under construction
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
streetnounUS /striːt/
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
streetsnounUS /striːts/
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
SWINDLEverbUS /ˈswɪndəl/
deprive of by deceit
From this reading THE SWINDLE It was nine o’clock.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SWINDLE It was nine o’clock.
thirdnounUS /θɜːrd/
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
torrentsnounUS /ˈtɔːrənts/
plural of “torrent” — a heavy rain
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
townnounUS /taʊn/
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
Vauchamp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
vinenounUS /vaɪn/
a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
warmadjectiveUS /wɔːrm/
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE SWINDLE It was nine o’clock.
waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
windownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
winternounUS /ˈwɪntər/
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
