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Ten Years Later
Ten Years Later

Chapter XV · An Affair of State

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Context Illustration Reading 1/59 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.
His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.
But this time Mazarin was foiled in his expectation: he read nothing upon the face of Athos, not even the respect he was accustomed to see on all faces.
Athos was dressed in black, with a simple lacing of silver.
He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.
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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.

Ten Years Later

Chapter XV · An Affair of State

Reading 1/59 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.
Line 2
His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.
Line 3
But this time Mazarin was foiled in his expectation: he read nothing upon the face of Athos, not even the respect he was accustomed to see on all faces.
Line 4
Athos was dressed in black, with a simple lacing of silver.
Line 5
He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.

Learner Dictionary

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

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But this time Mazarin was foiled in his expectation: he read nothing upon the face of Athos, not even the respect he was accustomed to see on all faces.”

Fine noun US /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “But this time Mazarin was foiled in his expectation: he read nothing upon the face of Athos, not even the respect he was accustomed to see on all faces.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.”

Shadow noun US /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading “His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.”

Silver noun US /silver/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Athos was dressed in black, with a simple lacing of silver.”

Surprised noun US /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But this time Mazarin was foiled in his expectation: he read nothing upon the face of Athos, not even the respect he was accustomed to see on all faces.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “But this time Mazarin was foiled in his expectation: he read nothing upon the face of Athos, not even the respect he was accustomed to see on all faces.”

Waiting noun US /ˈwaiting/

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

From this reading “The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.”

All words in this reading · 98

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 cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

accustomed

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

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

admiring

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

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

all

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

From this reading But this time Mazarin was foiled in his expectation: he read nothing upon the face of Athos, not even the respect he was accustomed to see on all faces.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.

Athos

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

From this reading But this time Mazarin was foiled in his expectation: he read nothing upon the face of Athos, not even the respect he was accustomed to see on all faces.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

black

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

From this reading Athos was dressed in black, with a simple lacing of silver.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But this time Mazarin was foiled in his expectation: he read nothing upon the face of Athos, not even the respect he was accustomed to see on all faces.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

cabinet

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

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

came

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

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

cardinal

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

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

Comte

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

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

conversation

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

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.

countenance

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

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

covered

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

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

de

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

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

divine

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

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

dressed

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

From this reading Athos was dressed in black, with a simple lacing of silver.

else

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

From this reading He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.

eminence

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

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

engaged

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

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But this time Mazarin was foiled in his expectation: he read nothing upon the face of Athos, not even the respect he was accustomed to see on all faces.

expectation

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

From this reading But this time Mazarin was foiled in his expectation: he read nothing upon the face of Athos, not even the respect he was accustomed to see on all faces.

expression

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

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

face

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

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

faces

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

From this reading But this time Mazarin was foiled in his expectation: he read nothing upon the face of Athos, not even the respect he was accustomed to see on all faces.

Fere

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

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

finenounUS /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

Fleece

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

From this reading He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.

foiled

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

From this reading But this time Mazarin was foiled in his expectation: he read nothing upon the face of Athos, not even the respect he was accustomed to see on all faces.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

Garter

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

From this reading He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.

Ghost

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

From this reading He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.

Golden

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

From this reading He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

Holy

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

From this reading He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.

importance

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

From this reading He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

interlocutor

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

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

king

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

From this reading He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.

la

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

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

lacing

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

From this reading Athos was dressed in black, with a simple lacing of silver.

lightly

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

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

Mazarin

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

From this reading But this time Mazarin was foiled in his expectation: he read nothing upon the face of Athos, not even the respect he was accustomed to see on all faces.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But this time Mazarin was foiled in his expectation: he read nothing upon the face of Athos, not even the respect he was accustomed to see on all faces.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading But this time Mazarin was foiled in his expectation: he read nothing upon the face of Athos, not even the respect he was accustomed to see on all faces.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

once

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

From this reading He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.

orders

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

From this reading He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

passing

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

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

placed

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

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

plate

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

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

player

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

From this reading He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.

pretending

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

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

Raphael

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

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

read

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

From this reading But this time Mazarin was foiled in his expectation: he read nothing upon the face of Athos, not even the respect he was accustomed to see on all faces.

respect

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

From this reading But this time Mazarin was foiled in his expectation: he read nothing upon the face of Athos, not even the respect he was accustomed to see on all faces.

result

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

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

see

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

From this reading But this time Mazarin was foiled in his expectation: he read nothing upon the face of Athos, not even the respect he was accustomed to see on all faces.

shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

sideboard

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

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

silently

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

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

silver

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

From this reading Athos was dressed in black, with a simple lacing of silver.

simple

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

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

softly

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

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.

surprisednounUS /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading But this time Mazarin was foiled in his expectation: he read nothing upon the face of Athos, not even the respect he was accustomed to see on all faces.

three

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

From this reading He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But this time Mazarin was foiled in his expectation: he read nothing upon the face of Athos, not even the respect he was accustomed to see on all faces.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading But this time Mazarin was foiled in his expectation: he read nothing upon the face of Athos, not even the respect he was accustomed to see on all faces.

very

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

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

waiting

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

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

wear

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

From this reading He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate.

wore

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

From this reading He wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or else a player, could wear them at once.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do, pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the conversation.