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Pierrette
Pierrette

Chapter V

Cover illustration for Pierrette
Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.
His young face changed.
Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.
His muddy skin, with its sickly tones of green and yellow, expressed the jaundice of his balked ambition, his perpetual disappointments and his hidden wretchedness.
He could talk and argue; he was well-informed and shrewd, and was not without smartness and metaphor.
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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.

Pierrette

Chapter V

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.
Line 2
His young face changed.
Line 3
Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.
Line 4
His muddy skin, with its sickly tones of green and yellow, expressed the jaundice of his balked ambition, his perpetual disappointments and his hidden wretchedness.
Line 5
He could talk and argue; he was well-informed and shrewd, and was not without smartness and metaphor.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.”

Conscience noun US /ˈkɑːnʃəns/

the inner sense of right and wrong

From this reading “There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “He could talk and argue; he was well-informed and shrewd, and was not without smartness and metaphor.”

Feeling noun US /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading “There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.”

Sometimes noun US /sometimes/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “He could talk and argue; he was well-informed and shrewd, and was not without smartness and metaphor.”

All words in this reading · 95

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

accepted

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

ambition

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

any

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

argue

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

From this reading He could talk and argue; he was well-informed and shrewd, and was not without smartness and metaphor.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

balked

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

From this reading His muddy skin, with its sickly tones of green and yellow, expressed the jaundice of his balked ambition, his perpetual disappointments and his hidden wretchedness.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

borne

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

came

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

changed

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

From this reading His young face changed.

consciencenounUS /ˈkɑːnʃəns/

the inner sense of right and wrong

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading He could talk and argue; he was well-informed and shrewd, and was not without smartness and metaphor.

courts

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

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

darkling

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

devoured

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

disappointments

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

From this reading His muddy skin, with its sickly tones of green and yellow, expressed the jaundice of his balked ambition, his perpetual disappointments and his hidden wretchedness.

elastic

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

expressed

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

From this reading His muddy skin, with its sickly tones of green and yellow, expressed the jaundice of his balked ambition, his perpetual disappointments and his hidden wretchedness.

eyes

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

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

face

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

From this reading His young face changed.

feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

finally

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

flat

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

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

frightened

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

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

full

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

gaily

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

glasses

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

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

gleaming

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

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

green

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

From this reading His muddy skin, with its sickly tones of green and yellow, expressed the jaundice of his balked ambition, his perpetual disappointments and his hidden wretchedness.

grew

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

guilty

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

head

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

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

heard

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

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

hidden

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

From this reading His muddy skin, with its sickly tones of green and yellow, expressed the jaundice of his balked ambition, his perpetual disappointments and his hidden wretchedness.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading His muddy skin, with its sickly tones of green and yellow, expressed the jaundice of his balked ambition, his perpetual disappointments and his hidden wretchedness.

jaundice

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

From this reading His muddy skin, with its sickly tones of green and yellow, expressed the jaundice of his balked ambition, his perpetual disappointments and his hidden wretchedness.

kinds

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

means

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

metaphor

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

From this reading He could talk and argue; he was well-informed and shrewd, and was not without smartness and metaphor.

mouth

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

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

muddy

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

From this reading His muddy skin, with its sickly tones of green and yellow, expressed the jaundice of his balked ambition, his perpetual disappointments and his hidden wretchedness.

nerves

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

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

nobly

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He could talk and argue; he was well-informed and shrewd, and was not without smartness and metaphor.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

permissible

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

perpetual

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

From this reading His muddy skin, with its sickly tones of green and yellow, expressed the jaundice of his balked ambition, his perpetual disappointments and his hidden wretchedness.

persistent

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

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

Persons

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

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

poverty

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

rage

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

rasped

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

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

sharp

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

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

shrewd

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

From this reading He could talk and argue; he was well-informed and shrewd, and was not without smartness and metaphor.

sickly

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

From this reading His muddy skin, with its sickly tones of green and yellow, expressed the jaundice of his balked ambition, his perpetual disappointments and his hidden wretchedness.

skin

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

From this reading His muddy skin, with its sickly tones of green and yellow, expressed the jaundice of his balked ambition, his perpetual disappointments and his hidden wretchedness.

slit

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

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

smartness

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

From this reading He could talk and argue; he was well-informed and shrewd, and was not without smartness and metaphor.

some

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

sometimes

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

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

success

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

talk

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

From this reading He could talk and argue; he was well-informed and shrewd, and was not without smartness and metaphor.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

There

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

tones

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

From this reading His muddy skin, with its sickly tones of green and yellow, expressed the jaundice of his balked ambition, his perpetual disappointments and his hidden wretchedness.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

Vinet

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

viperish

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

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

voice

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

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

well-informed

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

From this reading He could talk and argue; he was well-informed and shrewd, and was not without smartness and metaphor.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Persons about the courts were sometimes frightened as they looked at his viperish, flat head, his slit mouth, his eyes gleaming through glasses, and heard his sharp, persistent voice which rasped their nerves.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

wife

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

From this reading There are some kinds of poverty which may be nobly accepted and gaily borne; but Vinet, devoured by ambition, and feeling himself guilty towards his wife, was full of darkling rage; his conscience grew elastic; and he finally came to think any means of success permissible.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading His muddy skin, with its sickly tones of green and yellow, expressed the jaundice of his balked ambition, his perpetual disappointments and his hidden wretchedness.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading He could talk and argue; he was well-informed and shrewd, and was not without smartness and metaphor.

wretchedness

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

From this reading His muddy skin, with its sickly tones of green and yellow, expressed the jaundice of his balked ambition, his perpetual disappointments and his hidden wretchedness.

yellow

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

From this reading His muddy skin, with its sickly tones of green and yellow, expressed the jaundice of his balked ambition, his perpetual disappointments and his hidden wretchedness.

young

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

From this reading His young face changed.