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The Celibates
The Celibates

Chapter XI · Chapter 11

Chapter 11 of The Celibates is here in full — 280 sentences across 56 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/56 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Agathe and Joseph arrived at the coach-office of the Messageries-Royales in the place Misere at three o'clock.
Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.
In the then condition of public opinion in Issoudun, the arrival of the Parisians was known all over the town in ten minutes.
Madame Hochon came out upon her doorstep to welcome her godchild, and kissed her as though she were really a daughter.
After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Celibates

Chapter XI · Chapter 11

Chapter 11 of The Celibates is here in full — 280 sentences across 56 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/56 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Agathe and Joseph arrived at the coach-office of the Messageries-Royales in the place Misere at three o'clock.
Line 2
Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.
Line 3
In the then condition of public opinion in Issoudun, the arrival of the Parisians was known all over the town in ten minutes.
Line 4
Madame Hochon came out upon her doorstep to welcome her godchild, and kissed her as though she were really a daughter.
Line 5
After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

Learner Dictionary

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.

doorstep noun US /ˈdɔːrstep/

the sill of a door; a horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway

From this reading “Madame Hochon came out upon her doorstep to welcome her godchild, and kissed her as though she were really a daughter.”

exhibiting verb US /ɪɡˈzɪbɪtɪŋ/

-ing form of “exhibit” — show an attribute, property, knowledge, or skill

From this reading “After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.”

fictitious adjective US /fɪkˈtɪʃəs/

formed or conceived by the imagination

From this reading “After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.”

motherhood noun US /ˈmʌðərhʊd/

the kinship relation between an offspring and the mother

From this reading “After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.”

Parisians noun US /pərˈɪsiənz/

plural of “parisian” — a native or resident of Paris

From this reading “In the then condition of public opinion in Issoudun, the arrival of the Parisians was known all over the town in ten minutes.”

pouch noun US /paʊtʃ/

a small or medium size container for holding or carrying things

From this reading “After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.”

retrospect noun US /ˈretrəspekt/

contemplation of things past

From this reading “After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.”

revive verb US /rɪˈvaɪv/

cause to regain consciousness

From this reading “Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.”

All words in this reading · 92

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Madame Hochon came out upon her doorstep to welcome her godchild, and kissed her as though she were really a daughter.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

Agathe

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

From this reading Agathe and Joseph arrived at the coach-office of the Messageries-Royales in the place Misere at three o'clock.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading In the then condition of public opinion in Issoudun, the arrival of the Parisians was known all over the town in ten minutes.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Agathe and Joseph arrived at the coach-office of the Messageries-Royales in the place Misere at three o'clock.

arrivalnounUS /ərˈaɪvəl/

accomplishment of an objective

From this reading In the then condition of public opinion in Issoudun, the arrival of the Parisians was known all over the town in ten minutes.

arrivedverbUS /ərˈaɪvd/

past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading Agathe and Joseph arrived at the coach-office of the Messageries-Royales in the place Misere at three o'clock.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Madame Hochon came out upon her doorstep to welcome her godchild, and kissed her as though she were really a daughter.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Agathe and Joseph arrived at the coach-office of the Messageries-Royales in the place Misere at three o'clock.

barrenadjectiveUS /ˈbærən/

providing no shelter or sustenance

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

Bridau

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

From this reading Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.

carriedverbUS /ˈkærid/

inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

coach-office

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

From this reading Agathe and Joseph arrived at the coach-office of the Messageries-Royales in the place Misere at three o'clock.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

conditionnounUS /kənˈdɪʃən/

a state at a particular time

From this reading In the then condition of public opinion in Issoudun, the arrival of the Parisians was known all over the town in ten minutes.

daughternounUS /ˈdɔːtər/

a female human offspring

From this reading Madame Hochon came out upon her doorstep to welcome her godchild, and kissed her as though she were really a daughter.

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.

deadadjectiveUS /ded/

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

doorstepnounUS /ˈdɔːrstep/

the sill of a door; a horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway

From this reading Madame Hochon came out upon her doorstep to welcome her godchild, and kissed her as though she were really a daughter.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.

exhibitingverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪbɪtɪŋ/

-ing form of “exhibit” — show an attribute, property, knowledge, or skill

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

existencenounUS /eɡˈzɪstəns/

the state or fact of existing

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

expressedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsprest/

communicated in words

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

feelverbUS /fiːl/

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

feltverbUS /felt/

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.

fictitiousadjectiveUS /fɪkˈtɪʃəs/

formed or conceived by the imagination

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

girlishadjectiveUS /ˈɡɜːrlɪʃ/

befitting or characteristic of a young girl

From this reading Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.

godchildnoun

an infant who is sponsored by an adult (the godparent) at baptism

From this reading Madame Hochon came out upon her doorstep to welcome her godchild, and kissed her as though she were really a daughter.

gravesnounUS /ɡreɪvz/

English writer known for his interest in mythology and in the classics (1895-1985)

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.

Hochon

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

From this reading Madame Hochon came out upon her doorstep to welcome her godchild, and kissed her as though she were really a daughter.

impressionsnounUS /ˌɪmˈpreʃənz/

plural of “impression” — a vague idea in which some confidence is placed

From this reading Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Agathe and Joseph arrived at the coach-office of the Messageries-Royales in the place Misere at three o'clock.

Issoudun

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

From this reading In the then condition of public opinion in Issoudun, the arrival of the Parisians was known all over the town in ten minutes.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

JosephnounUS /ˈdʒoʊsəf/

leader of the Nez Perce in their retreat from United States troops (1840-1904)

From this reading Agathe and Joseph arrived at the coach-office of the Messageries-Royales in the place Misere at three o'clock.

journeyverbUS /ˈdʒɜːrni/

undertake a journey or trip

From this reading Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.

kissedverbUS /kɪst/

past form of “kiss” — touch with the lips or press the lips (against someone's mouth or other body part) as an expression of love, greeting, etc.

From this reading Madame Hochon came out upon her doorstep to welcome her godchild, and kissed her as though she were really a daughter.

knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/

apprehended with certainty

From this reading In the then condition of public opinion in Issoudun, the arrival of the Parisians was known all over the town in ten minutes.

landnounUS /lænd/

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.

livesnounUS /lɪvz/

plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

MadamenounUS /ˈmædəm/

title used for a married Frenchwoman

From this reading Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.

memoriesnounUS /ˈmɛm.ə.riz/

Recollections of past events.

From this reading Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.

Messageries-Royales

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

From this reading Agathe and Joseph arrived at the coach-office of the Messageries-Royales in the place Misere at three o'clock.

minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading In the then condition of public opinion in Issoudun, the arrival of the Parisians was known all over the town in ten minutes.

Misere

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

From this reading Agathe and Joseph arrived at the coach-office of the Messageries-Royales in the place Misere at three o'clock.

monotonousadjectiveUS /məˈnɑːtənəs/

tediously repetitious or lacking in variety

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

motherhoodnounUS /ˈmʌðərhʊd/

the kinship relation between an offspring and the mother

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

nativeadjectiveUS /ˈneɪtɪv/

characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin

From this reading Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.

o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/

according to the clock

From this reading Agathe and Joseph arrived at the coach-office of the Messageries-Royales in the place Misere at three o'clock.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Agathe and Joseph arrived at the coach-office of the Messageries-Royales in the place Misere at three o'clock.

opinionnounUS /əˈpɪnjən/

a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

From this reading In the then condition of public opinion in Issoudun, the arrival of the Parisians was known all over the town in ten minutes.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Madame Hochon came out upon her doorstep to welcome her godchild, and kissed her as though she were really a daughter.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading In the then condition of public opinion in Issoudun, the arrival of the Parisians was known all over the town in ten minutes.

ParisiansnounUS /pərˈɪsiənz/

plural of “parisian” — a native or resident of Paris

From this reading In the then condition of public opinion in Issoudun, the arrival of the Parisians was known all over the town in ten minutes.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Agathe and Joseph arrived at the coach-office of the Messageries-Royales in the place Misere at three o'clock.

pouchnounUS /paʊtʃ/

a small or medium size container for holding or carrying things

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

publicnounUS /ˈpʌblɪk/

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading In the then condition of public opinion in Issoudun, the arrival of the Parisians was known all over the town in ten minutes.

reallyadverbUS /ˈrɪli/

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading Madame Hochon came out upon her doorstep to welcome her godchild, and kissed her as though she were really a daughter.

retrospectnounUS /ˈretrəspekt/

contemplation of things past

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

reviveverbUS /rɪˈvaɪv/

cause to regain consciousness

From this reading Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.

seventy-twoadjective

being two more than seventy

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.

sightnounUS /saɪt/

an instance of visual perception

From this reading Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.

sixteenadjectiveUS /sɪkˈstiːn/

being one more than fifteen

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

sortnounUS /sɔːrt/

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

stepnounUS /step/

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.

tennounUS /ten/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading In the then condition of public opinion in Issoudun, the arrival of the Parisians was known all over the town in ten minutes.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Agathe and Joseph arrived at the coach-office of the Messageries-Royales in the place Misere at three o'clock.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading In the then condition of public opinion in Issoudun, the arrival of the Parisians was known all over the town in ten minutes.

ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.

threenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading Agathe and Joseph arrived at the coach-office of the Messageries-Royales in the place Misere at three o'clock.

tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/

depleted of strength or energy

From this reading Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Madame Hochon came out upon her doorstep to welcome her godchild, and kissed her as though she were really a daughter.

townnounUS /taʊn/

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading In the then condition of public opinion in Issoudun, the arrival of the Parisians was known all over the town in ten minutes.

unhappyadjectiveUS /ənˈhæpi/

experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading In the then condition of public opinion in Issoudun, the arrival of the Parisians was known all over the town in ten minutes.

welcomeverbUS /ˈwelkəm/

accept gladly

From this reading Madame Hochon came out upon her doorstep to welcome her godchild, and kissed her as though she were really a daughter.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Madame Hochon came out upon her doorstep to welcome her godchild, and kissed her as though she were really a daughter.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading After seventy-two years of a barren and monotonous existence, exhibiting in their retrospect the graves of her three children, all unhappy in their lives, and all dead, she had come to feel a sort of fictitious motherhood for the young girl whom she had, as she expressed it, carried in her pouch for sixteen years.

youthnounUS /juːθ/

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading Though tired with the journey, Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native land, where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of her girlish days.

Chapter 11 of The Celibates by Honoré de Balzac holds 280 sentences, grouped into 56 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.

What does chapter 11 of The Celibates contain?

Chapter 11 holds 280 sentences of The Celibates, unabridged, divided into 56 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 11 of The Celibates by Honoré de Balzac exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 280 sentences, grouped into 56 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.

How do I study chapter 11 of The Celibates?

Work through the 56 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 56 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.

Can chapter 11 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 11 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.

Questions about reading The Celibates

Common questions about reading The Celibates by Honoré de Balzac on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Celibates?

Yes. All 4837 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #7927 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Celibates is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #7927, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Celibates take to read?

About 403 minutes of reading across 968 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Celibates section by section

How to work through The Celibates section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 17 chapters of The Celibates to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Celibates

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Celibates, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Townspeople
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Celibates; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Issoudun
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Celibates; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Enjoyed
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Celibates; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Services
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Celibates; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.