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Louise de la Vallière
Louise de la Vallière

Chapter XIX · Mademoiselle de la Vallière’s Pocket-Handkerchief

Cover illustration for Louise de la Vallière
Context Illustration Reading 1/42 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Madame was not bad-hearted--she was only hasty and impetuous.
The king was not imprudent--he was simply in love.
Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.
The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.
She planted every conceivable difficulty in the king’s path; he was, in fact, obliged, in order to get a glimpse of La Vallière, to be exceedingly devoted in his attentions to his sister-in-law, and this, indeed, was Madame’s plan of policy.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Louise de la Vallière

Chapter XIX · Mademoiselle de la Vallière’s Pocket-Handkerchief

Reading 1/42 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Madame was not bad-hearted--she was only hasty and impetuous.
Line 2
The king was not imprudent--he was simply in love.
Line 3
Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.
Line 4
The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.
Line 5
She planted every conceivable difficulty in the king’s path; he was, in fact, obliged, in order to get a glimpse of La Vallière, to be exceedingly devoted in his attentions to his sister-in-law, and this, indeed, was Madame’s plan of policy.

Learner Dictionary

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

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.”

Order noun US /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She planted every conceivable difficulty in the king’s path; he was, in fact, obliged, in order to get a glimpse of La Vallière, to be exceedingly devoted in his attentions to his sister-in-law, and this, indeed, was Madame’s plan of policy.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.”

All words in this reading · 82

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 king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Madame was not bad-hearted--she was only hasty and impetuous.

annoyance

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

From this reading The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.

attentions

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

From this reading She planted every conceivable difficulty in the king’s path; he was, in fact, obliged, in order to get a glimpse of La Vallière, to be exceedingly devoted in his attentions to his sister-in-law, and this, indeed, was Madame’s plan of policy.

bad-hearted

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

From this reading Madame was not bad-hearted--she was only hasty and impetuous.

bargain

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

From this reading Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading She planted every conceivable difficulty in the king’s path; he was, in fact, obliged, in order to get a glimpse of La Vallière, to be exceedingly devoted in his attentions to his sister-in-law, and this, indeed, was Madame’s plan of policy.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.

compact

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

From this reading Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.

conceivable

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

From this reading She planted every conceivable difficulty in the king’s path; he was, in fact, obliged, in order to get a glimpse of La Vallière, to be exceedingly devoted in his attentions to his sister-in-law, and this, indeed, was Madame’s plan of policy.

contest

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

From this reading The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.

day

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

From this reading The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.

devoted

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

From this reading She planted every conceivable difficulty in the king’s path; he was, in fact, obliged, in order to get a glimpse of La Vallière, to be exceedingly devoted in his attentions to his sister-in-law, and this, indeed, was Madame’s plan of policy.

difficulty

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

From this reading She planted every conceivable difficulty in the king’s path; he was, in fact, obliged, in order to get a glimpse of La Vallière, to be exceedingly devoted in his attentions to his sister-in-law, and this, indeed, was Madame’s plan of policy.

entered

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

From this reading Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.

entreated

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

From this reading The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.

exceedingly

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

From this reading She planted every conceivable difficulty in the king’s path; he was, in fact, obliged, in order to get a glimpse of La Vallière, to be exceedingly devoted in his attentions to his sister-in-law, and this, indeed, was Madame’s plan of policy.

fact

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

From this reading She planted every conceivable difficulty in the king’s path; he was, in fact, obliged, in order to get a glimpse of La Vallière, to be exceedingly devoted in his attentions to his sister-in-law, and this, indeed, was Madame’s plan of policy.

get

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

From this reading She planted every conceivable difficulty in the king’s path; he was, in fact, obliged, in order to get a glimpse of La Vallière, to be exceedingly devoted in his attentions to his sister-in-law, and this, indeed, was Madame’s plan of policy.

glimpse

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

From this reading She planted every conceivable difficulty in the king’s path; he was, in fact, obliged, in order to get a glimpse of La Vallière, to be exceedingly devoted in his attentions to his sister-in-law, and this, indeed, was Madame’s plan of policy.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.

Hardly

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

From this reading Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.

hasty

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

From this reading Madame was not bad-hearted--she was only hasty and impetuous.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The king was not imprudent--he was simply in love.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading She planted every conceivable difficulty in the king’s path; he was, in fact, obliged, in order to get a glimpse of La Vallière, to be exceedingly devoted in his attentions to his sister-in-law, and this, indeed, was Madame’s plan of policy.

impetuous

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

From this reading Madame was not bad-hearted--she was only hasty and impetuous.

imprudent

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

From this reading The king was not imprudent--he was simply in love.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The king was not imprudent--he was simply in love.

indeed

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

From this reading She planted every conceivable difficulty in the king’s path; he was, in fact, obliged, in order to get a glimpse of La Vallière, to be exceedingly devoted in his attentions to his sister-in-law, and this, indeed, was Madame’s plan of policy.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.

king

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

From this reading The king was not imprudent--he was simply in love.

king's

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

From this reading The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.

La

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

From this reading Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.

love

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

From this reading The king was not imprudent--he was simply in love.

Madame

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

From this reading Madame was not bad-hearted--she was only hasty and impetuous.

Madame's

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

From this reading She planted every conceivable difficulty in the king’s path; he was, in fact, obliged, in order to get a glimpse of La Vallière, to be exceedingly devoted in his attentions to his sister-in-law, and this, indeed, was Madame’s plan of policy.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.

moment

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

From this reading The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.

much

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

From this reading Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Madame was not bad-hearted--she was only hasty and impetuous.

obliged

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

From this reading She planted every conceivable difficulty in the king’s path; he was, in fact, obliged, in order to get a glimpse of La Vallière, to be exceedingly devoted in his attentions to his sister-in-law, and this, indeed, was Madame’s plan of policy.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.

only

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

From this reading Madame was not bad-hearted--she was only hasty and impetuous.

ordernounUS /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She planted every conceivable difficulty in the king’s path; he was, in fact, obliged, in order to get a glimpse of La Vallière, to be exceedingly devoted in his attentions to his sister-in-law, and this, indeed, was Madame’s plan of policy.

path

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

From this reading She planted every conceivable difficulty in the king’s path; he was, in fact, obliged, in order to get a glimpse of La Vallière, to be exceedingly devoted in his attentions to his sister-in-law, and this, indeed, was Madame’s plan of policy.

plan

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

From this reading She planted every conceivable difficulty in the king’s path; he was, in fact, obliged, in order to get a glimpse of La Vallière, to be exceedingly devoted in his attentions to his sister-in-law, and this, indeed, was Madame’s plan of policy.

planted

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

From this reading She planted every conceivable difficulty in the king’s path; he was, in fact, obliged, in order to get a glimpse of La Vallière, to be exceedingly devoted in his attentions to his sister-in-law, and this, indeed, was Madame’s plan of policy.

policy

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

From this reading She planted every conceivable difficulty in the king’s path; he was, in fact, obliged, in order to get a glimpse of La Vallière, to be exceedingly devoted in his attentions to his sister-in-law, and this, indeed, was Madame’s plan of policy.

recall

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

From this reading Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.

relinquish

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

From this reading The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.

revenge

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

From this reading The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.

see

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

From this reading The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.

sensible

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

From this reading The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Madame was not bad-hearted--she was only hasty and impetuous.

simply

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

From this reading The king was not imprudent--he was simply in love.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.

sister-in-law

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

From this reading She planted every conceivable difficulty in the king’s path; he was, in fact, obliged, in order to get a glimpse of La Vallière, to be exceedingly devoted in his attentions to his sister-in-law, and this, indeed, was Madame’s plan of policy.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.

sought

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

From this reading Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.

terminated

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

From this reading Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The king was not imprudent--he was simply in love.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.

Vallière

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

From this reading The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.

Vallière's

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

From this reading Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Madame was not bad-hearted--she was only hasty and impetuous.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Hardly had they entered into this compact, which terminated in La Vallière’s recall, when they both sought to make as much as they could by their bargain.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.

wished

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

From this reading The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The king wished to see La Vallière every moment of the day, while Madame, who was sensible of the king’s annoyance ever since he had so entreated her, would not relinquish her revenge on La Vallière without a contest.