Chapter 16 of The Abbatial Crosier is here in full — 93 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XVI
Chapter 16 of The Abbatial Crosier is here in full — 93 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
MISTRESS AND MAN. Night has returned. Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her. The woman's pale face has a sinister aspect. Seated opposite her at the table lighted by a wax taper, Ricarik had been writing under the dictation of the abbess.
Chapter 16 of The Abbatial Crosier is here in full — 93 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/18 · 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.
a ceremonial dinner party for many people
From this reading “Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.”
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading “Seated opposite her at the table lighted by a wax taper, Ricarik had been writing under the dictation of the abbess.”
sit or recline comfortably
From this reading “Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.”
of communal life sequestered from the world under religious vows
From this reading “Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.”
third-person singular of “recline” — move the upper body backwards and down
From this reading “Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.”
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading “The woman's pale face has a sinister aspect.”
diminish gradually
From this reading “Seated opposite her at the table lighted by a wax taper, Ricarik had been writing under the dictation of the abbess.”
plural of “vestment” — gown (especially ceremonial garments) worn by the clergy
From this reading “Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.”
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.
In this reading “Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.”
In this reading “The woman's pale face has a sinister aspect.”
In this reading “Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.”
In this reading “Seated opposite her at the table lighted by a wax taper, Ricarik had been writing under the dictation of the abbess.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The woman's pale face has a sinister aspect.
the superior of a group of nuns
From this reading Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MISTRESS AND MAN.
a distinct feature or element in a problem
From this reading The woman's pale face has a sinister aspect.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Seated opposite her at the table lighted by a wax taper, Ricarik had been writing under the dictation of the abbess.
a ceremonial dinner party for many people
From this reading Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Seated opposite her at the table lighted by a wax taper, Ricarik had been writing under the dictation of the abbess.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Seated opposite her at the table lighted by a wax taper, Ricarik had been writing under the dictation of the abbess.
wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading Seated opposite her at the table lighted by a wax taper, Ricarik had been writing under the dictation of the abbess.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The woman's pale face has a sinister aspect.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Seated opposite her at the table lighted by a wax taper, Ricarik had been writing under the dictation of the abbess.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Night has returned.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.
set afire or burning
From this reading Seated opposite her at the table lighted by a wax taper, Ricarik had been writing under the dictation of the abbess.
sit or recline comfortably
From this reading Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading MISTRESS AND MAN.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading MISTRESS AND MAN.
of communal life sequestered from the world under religious vows
From this reading Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Night has returned.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Seated opposite her at the table lighted by a wax taper, Ricarik had been writing under the dictation of the abbess.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading Seated opposite her at the table lighted by a wax taper, Ricarik had been writing under the dictation of the abbess.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading The woman's pale face has a sinister aspect.
third-person singular of “recline” — move the upper body backwards and down
From this reading Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Night has returned.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated opposite her at the table lighted by a wax taper, Ricarik had been writing under the dictation of the abbess.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading The woman's pale face has a sinister aspect.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Seated opposite her at the table lighted by a wax taper, Ricarik had been writing under the dictation of the abbess.
diminish gradually
From this reading Seated opposite her at the table lighted by a wax taper, Ricarik had been writing under the dictation of the abbess.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Seated opposite her at the table lighted by a wax taper, Ricarik had been writing under the dictation of the abbess.
plural of “vestment” — gown (especially ceremonial garments) worn by the clergy
From this reading Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.
cover with wax
From this reading Seated opposite her at the table lighted by a wax taper, Ricarik had been writing under the dictation of the abbess.
in or at the place that
From this reading Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Meroflede reclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening before Amael was seated near her.
possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The woman's pale face has a sinister aspect.
the act of creating written works
From this reading Seated opposite her at the table lighted by a wax taper, Ricarik had been writing under the dictation of the abbess.
Chapter 16 of The Abbatial Crosier by Eugène Sue holds 93 sentences, grouped into 19 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 16 holds 93 sentences of The Abbatial Crosier, unabridged, divided into 19 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 16 of The Abbatial Crosier by Eugène Sue exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 93 sentences, grouped into 19 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 19 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 19 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 16 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.
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Yes. All 2492 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #33274 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #33274, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 207 minutes of reading across 499 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Abbatial Crosier section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 18 chapters of The Abbatial Crosier 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 The Abbatial Crosier, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
