Chapter 1 of Taking the Bastile is here in full — 122 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Taking the Bastile is here in full — 122 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS. No. 79. =THE SUNSET SERIES.= By Subscription, per Year, Nine Dollars. February 12, 1894. Entered at the New York Post Office as second-class matter.
Chapter 1 of Taking the Bastile is here in full — 122 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
plural of “cent” — a fractional monetary unit of several countries
From this reading “Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.”
closed in or surrounded or included within
From this reading “Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.”
the month following January and preceding March
From this reading “February 12, 1894.”
a numerical scale used to compare variables with one another or with some reference number
From this reading “Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.”
for each
From this reading “=THE SUNSET SERIES.= By Subscription, per Year, Nine Dollars.”
a payment for consecutive issues of a newspaper or magazine for a given period of time
From this reading “=THE SUNSET SERIES.= By Subscription, per Year, Nine Dollars.”
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading “=THE SUNSET SERIES.= By Subscription, per Year, Nine Dollars.”
the words of something written
From this reading “Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.”
English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.
Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.
a local branch where postal services are available
In this reading “Entered at the New York Post Office as second-class matter.”
by the year; every year (usually with reference to a sum of money paid or received)
In this reading “=THE SUNSET SERIES.= By Subscription, per Year, Nine Dollars.”
In this reading “=THE SUNSET SERIES.= By Subscription, per Year, Nine Dollars.”
In this reading “=THE SUNSET SERIES.= By Subscription, per Year, Nine Dollars.”
Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.
Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading February 12, 1894.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading February 12, 1894.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No. 79.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Entered at the New York Post Office as second-class matter.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Entered at the New York Post Office as second-class matter.
fearless and daring
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
plural of “cent” — a fractional monetary unit of several countries
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
plural of “dollar” — the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 cents
From this reading =THE SUNSET SERIES.= By Subscription, per Year, Nine Dollars.
closed in or surrounded or included within
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Entered at the New York Post Office as second-class matter.
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
the month following January and preceding March
From this reading February 12, 1894.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
an iconic mental representation
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
a numerical scale used to compare variables with one another or with some reference number
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Entered at the New York Post Office as second-class matter.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Entered at the New York Post Office as second-class matter.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading =THE SUNSET SERIES.= By Subscription, per Year, Nine Dollars.
not any; not one
From this reading No. 79.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Entered at the New York Post Office as second-class matter.
for each
From this reading =THE SUNSET SERIES.= By Subscription, per Year, Nine Dollars.
-ing form of “point” — indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading Entered at the New York Post Office as second-class matter.
the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold)
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
of inferior status or quality
From this reading Entered at the New York Post Office as second-class matter.
similar things placed in order or happening one after another
From this reading =THE SUNSET SERIES.= By Subscription, per Year, Nine Dollars.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
a payment for consecutive issues of a newspaper or magazine for a given period of time
From this reading =THE SUNSET SERIES.= By Subscription, per Year, Nine Dollars.
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading =THE SUNSET SERIES.= By Subscription, per Year, Nine Dollars.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
the words of something written
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [symbol-Pointing Hand] is an image of a hand pointing its index finger to the right PRICE, 25 CENTS.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading =THE SUNSET SERIES.= By Subscription, per Year, Nine Dollars.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading Entered at the New York Post Office as second-class matter.
Chapter 1 of Taking the Bastile by Alexandre Dumas holds 122 sentences, grouped into 25 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 1 holds 122 sentences of Taking the Bastile, unabridged, divided into 25 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Taking the Bastile by Alexandre Dumas exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 122 sentences, grouped into 25 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 25 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 25 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.
Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.
Common questions about reading Taking the Bastile by Alexandre Dumas on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4063 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #45424 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #45424, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 338 minutes of reading across 813 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Taking the Bastile section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 25 chapters of Taking the Bastile to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Taking the Bastile, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
