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Là-Bas
Là-Bas

Chapter VIII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/69 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Next day his ferment had subsided.
The unknown never left him, but she kept her distance.
Her less certain features were effaced in mist, her fascination became feebler, and she no longer was his sole preoccupation.
The idea, suddenly formed on a word of Des Hermies, that the unknown must be Chantelouve's wife, had, in fashion, checked his fever.
If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.
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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.

Là-Bas

Chapter VIII

Reading 1/69 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Next day his ferment had subsided.
Line 2
The unknown never left him, but she kept her distance.
Line 3
Her less certain features were effaced in mist, her fascination became feebler, and she no longer was his sole preoccupation.
Line 4
The idea, suddenly formed on a word of Des Hermies, that the unknown must be Chantelouve's wife, had, in fashion, checked his fever.
Line 5
If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.”

Complete noun US /complete/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The unknown never left him, but she kept her distance.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “The idea, suddenly formed on a word of Des Hermies, that the unknown must be Chantelouve's wife, had, in fashion, checked his fever.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The unknown never left him, but she kept her distance.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Next day his ferment had subsided.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.”

Reasons noun US /ˈreasons/

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

From this reading “If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading “The idea, suddenly formed on a word of Des Hermies, that the unknown must be Chantelouve's wife, had, in fashion, checked his fever.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.”

All words in this reading · 81

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 The idea, suddenly formed on a word of Des Hermies, that the unknown must be Chantelouve's wife, had, in fashion, checked his fever.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Her less certain features were effaced in mist, her fascination became feebler, and she no longer was his sole preoccupation.

arguments

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

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

arrived

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

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The idea, suddenly formed on a word of Des Hermies, that the unknown must be Chantelouve's wife, had, in fashion, checked his fever.

became

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

From this reading Her less certain features were effaced in mist, her fascination became feebler, and she no longer was his sole preoccupation.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The unknown never left him, but she kept her distance.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

certain

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

From this reading Her less certain features were effaced in mist, her fascination became feebler, and she no longer was his sole preoccupation.

Chantelouve's

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

From this reading The idea, suddenly formed on a word of Des Hermies, that the unknown must be Chantelouve's wife, had, in fashion, checked his fever.

checked

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

From this reading The idea, suddenly formed on a word of Des Hermies, that the unknown must be Chantelouve's wife, had, in fashion, checked his fever.

completenounUS /complete/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

conclusions

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

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

contrary

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

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

dangerous

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

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

day

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

From this reading Next day his ferment had subsided.

Des

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

From this reading The idea, suddenly formed on a word of Des Hermies, that the unknown must be Chantelouve's wife, had, in fashion, checked his fever.

distance

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

From this reading The unknown never left him, but she kept her distance.

effaced

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

From this reading Her less certain features were effaced in mist, her fascination became feebler, and she no longer was his sole preoccupation.

evening

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

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

fascination

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

From this reading Her less certain features were effaced in mist, her fascination became feebler, and she no longer was his sole preoccupation.

fashion

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

From this reading The idea, suddenly formed on a word of Des Hermies, that the unknown must be Chantelouve's wife, had, in fashion, checked his fever.

features

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

From this reading Her less certain features were effaced in mist, her fascination became feebler, and she no longer was his sole preoccupation.

feebler

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

From this reading Her less certain features were effaced in mist, her fascination became feebler, and she no longer was his sole preoccupation.

ferment

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

From this reading Next day his ferment had subsided.

fever

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

From this reading The idea, suddenly formed on a word of Des Hermies, that the unknown must be Chantelouve's wife, had, in fashion, checked his fever.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

formed

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

From this reading The idea, suddenly formed on a word of Des Hermies, that the unknown must be Chantelouve's wife, had, in fashion, checked his fever.

go

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

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

guard

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

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Next day his ferment had subsided.

hardly

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

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading The unknown never left him, but she kept her distance.

Hermies

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

From this reading The idea, suddenly formed on a word of Des Hermies, that the unknown must be Chantelouve's wife, had, in fashion, checked his fever.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The unknown never left him, but she kept her distance.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Next day his ferment had subsided.

idea

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

From this reading The idea, suddenly formed on a word of Des Hermies, that the unknown must be Chantelouve's wife, had, in fashion, checked his fever.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Her less certain features were effaced in mist, her fascination became feebler, and she no longer was his sole preoccupation.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

kept

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

From this reading The unknown never left him, but she kept her distance.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The unknown never left him, but she kept her distance.

less

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

From this reading Her less certain features were effaced in mist, her fascination became feebler, and she no longer was his sole preoccupation.

letting

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

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

longer

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

From this reading Her less certain features were effaced in mist, her fascination became feebler, and she no longer was his sole preoccupation.

mist

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

From this reading Her less certain features were effaced in mist, her fascination became feebler, and she no longer was his sole preoccupation.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading The idea, suddenly formed on a word of Des Hermies, that the unknown must be Chantelouve's wife, had, in fashion, checked his fever.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The unknown never left him, but she kept her distance.

NextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Next day his ferment had subsided.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Her less certain features were effaced in mist, her fascination became feebler, and she no longer was his sole preoccupation.

obscure

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

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The idea, suddenly formed on a word of Des Hermies, that the unknown must be Chantelouve's wife, had, in fashion, checked his fever.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The idea, suddenly formed on a word of Des Hermies, that the unknown must be Chantelouve's wife, had, in fashion, checked his fever.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

preoccupation

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

From this reading Her less certain features were effaced in mist, her fascination became feebler, and she no longer was his sole preoccupation.

reasonsnounUS /ˈreasons/

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

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

self-abandon

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

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading The unknown never left him, but she kept her distance.

sole

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

From this reading Her less certain features were effaced in mist, her fascination became feebler, and she no longer was his sole preoccupation.

subsided

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

From this reading Next day his ferment had subsided.

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading The idea, suddenly formed on a word of Des Hermies, that the unknown must be Chantelouve's wife, had, in fashion, checked his fever.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The idea, suddenly formed on a word of Des Hermies, that the unknown must be Chantelouve's wife, had, in fashion, checked his fever.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The unknown never left him, but she kept her distance.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

then

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

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

unknown

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

From this reading The unknown never left him, but she kept her distance.

up

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

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

valid

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

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

wanting

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

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Her less certain features were effaced in mist, her fascination became feebler, and she no longer was his sole preoccupation.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Her less certain features were effaced in mist, her fascination became feebler, and she no longer was his sole preoccupation.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading If it was she--and his contrary conclusions of the evening before seemed hardly valid when he took up one by one the arguments by which he had arrived at them--then her reasons for wanting him were obscure, dangerous, and he was on his guard, no longer letting himself go in complete self-abandon.

wife

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

From this reading The idea, suddenly formed on a word of Des Hermies, that the unknown must be Chantelouve's wife, had, in fashion, checked his fever.

word

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

From this reading The idea, suddenly formed on a word of Des Hermies, that the unknown must be Chantelouve's wife, had, in fashion, checked his fever.