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The Chouans
The Chouans

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of The Chouans is here in full — 154 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Chouans
Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I have been killed once before to-day,” he said gaily.
They both walked towards the gloomy gateway which led to the causeway; there Francine suddenly stopped short.
No,” she said, gently, I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.
Do as you please, officer, but leave me.
If Pierre saw us together he would kill you.”
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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.

The Chouans

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of The Chouans is here in full — 154 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
I have been killed once before to-day,” he said gaily.
Line 2
They both walked towards the gloomy gateway which led to the causeway; there Francine suddenly stopped short.
Line 3
No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.
Line 4
Do as you please, officer, but leave me.
/duː æz juː pliːz ˈɔːfəsər bʌt liːv miː/
Line 5
If Pierre saw us together he would kill you.”
/ɪf piˈer sɔː ʌs təˈɡeðər hiː wʊd kɪl juː/

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.

causeway verb US /ˈkɑːzweɪ/

provide with a causeway

From this reading “They both walked towards the gloomy gateway which led to the causeway; there Francine suddenly stopped short.”

farther adjective US /ˈfɑːrðər/

more distant in especially space or time

From this reading ““No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.”

gaily adverb US /ˈɡeɪli/

in a gay manner

From this reading ““I have been killed once before to-day,” he said gaily.”

gateway noun US /ˈɡeɪtweɪ/

an entrance that can be closed by a gate

From this reading “They both walked towards the gloomy gateway which led to the causeway; there Francine suddenly stopped short.”

gloomy adjective US /ˈɡluːmi/

depressingly dark

From this reading “They both walked towards the gloomy gateway which led to the causeway; there Francine suddenly stopped short.”

meddle verb US /ˈmedəl/

intrude in other people's affairs or business; interfere unwantedly

From this reading ““No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.”

Pierre noun US /piˈer/

capital of the state of South Dakota; located in central South Dakota on the Missouri river

From this reading ““No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.”

spoil verb US /spɔɪl/

make a mess of, destroy or ruin

From this reading ““No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.”

All words in this reading · 58

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.

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 “No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Do as you please, officer, but leave me.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “I have been killed once before to-day,” he said gaily.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “I have been killed once before to-day,” he said gaily.

believeverbUS /bɪˈliːv/

accept as true; take to be true

From this reading “No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading They both walked towards the gloomy gateway which led to the causeway; there Francine suddenly stopped short.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Do as you please, officer, but leave me.

causewayverbUS /ˈkɑːzweɪ/

provide with a causeway

From this reading They both walked towards the gloomy gateway which led to the causeway; there Francine suddenly stopped short.

Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Do as you please, officer, but leave me.

fartheradjectiveUS /ˈfɑːrðər/

more distant in especially space or time

From this reading “No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.

Francine

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

From this reading They both walked towards the gloomy gateway which led to the causeway; there Francine suddenly stopped short.

gailyadverbUS /ˈɡeɪli/

in a gay manner

From this reading “I have been killed once before to-day,” he said gaily.

gatewaynounUS /ˈɡeɪtweɪ/

an entrance that can be closed by a gate

From this reading They both walked towards the gloomy gateway which led to the causeway; there Francine suddenly stopped short.

gentlyadverbUS /ˈdʒentli/

in a gradual manner

From this reading “No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.

gloomyadjectiveUS /ˈɡluːmi/

depressingly dark

From this reading They both walked towards the gloomy gateway which led to the causeway; there Francine suddenly stopped short.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading “No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “I have been killed once before to-day,” he said gaily.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading “I have been killed once before to-day,” he said gaily.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading “No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “I have been killed once before to-day,” he said gaily.

I'll

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

From this reading “No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.

killverbUS /kɪl/

cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly

From this reading If Pierre saw us together he would kill you.”

killedverbUS /kɪld/

past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly

From this reading “I have been killed once before to-day,” he said gaily.

leaveverbUS /liːv/

go away from a place

From this reading Do as you please, officer, but leave me.

lednounUS /led/

diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used

From this reading They both walked towards the gloomy gateway which led to the causeway; there Francine suddenly stopped short.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.

meddleverbUS /ˈmedəl/

intrude in other people's affairs or business; interfere unwantedly

From this reading “No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading “No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading “No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.

officernounUS /ˈɔːfəsər/

any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command

From this reading Do as you please, officer, but leave me.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading “I have been killed once before to-day,” he said gaily.

PierrenounUS /piˈer/

capital of the state of South Dakota; located in central South Dakota on the Missouri river

From this reading “No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.

pleaseverbUS /pliːz/

give pleasure to or be pleasing to

From this reading Do as you please, officer, but leave me.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “I have been killed once before to-day,” he said gaily.

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading If Pierre saw us together he would kill you.”

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading “No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading “No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading They both walked towards the gloomy gateway which led to the causeway; there Francine suddenly stopped short.

spoilverbUS /spɔɪl/

make a mess of, destroy or ruin

From this reading “No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.

stoppedadjectiveUS /stɑːpt/

(of a nose) blocked

From this reading They both walked towards the gloomy gateway which led to the causeway; there Francine suddenly stopped short.

suddenlyadverbUS /ˈsʌdənli/

happening unexpectedly

From this reading They both walked towards the gloomy gateway which led to the causeway; there Francine suddenly stopped short.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading They both walked towards the gloomy gateway which led to the causeway; there Francine suddenly stopped short.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading They both walked towards the gloomy gateway which led to the causeway; there Francine suddenly stopped short.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They both walked towards the gloomy gateway which led to the causeway; there Francine suddenly stopped short.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading They both walked towards the gloomy gateway which led to the causeway; there Francine suddenly stopped short.

to-day

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

From this reading “I have been killed once before to-day,” he said gaily.

togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading If Pierre saw us together he would kill you.”

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading “No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading They both walked towards the gloomy gateway which led to the causeway; there Francine suddenly stopped short.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading If Pierre saw us together he would kill you.”

walkedverbUS /wɔːkt/

past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps

From this reading They both walked towards the gloomy gateway which led to the causeway; there Francine suddenly stopped short.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “No,” she said, gently, “I’ll go no farther; Pierre told me not to meddle; I believe in him; if we go on we shall spoil all.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading They both walked towards the gloomy gateway which led to the causeway; there Francine suddenly stopped short.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading If Pierre saw us together he would kill you.”

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Do as you please, officer, but leave me.

Chapter 17 of The Chouans by Honoré de Balzac holds 154 sentences, grouped into 31 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 17 of The Chouans contain?

Chapter 17 holds 154 sentences of The Chouans, unabridged, divided into 31 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 17 of The Chouans by Honoré de Balzac exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 154 sentences, grouped into 31 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 17 of The Chouans?

Work through the 31 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 31 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 17 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 17 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 Chouans

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

Is this the complete text of The Chouans?

Yes. All 5194 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1921 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Chouans is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1921, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Chouans take to read?

About 432 minutes of reading across 1039 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Chouans section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 33 chapters of The Chouans 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 Chouans

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

Monsieur
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Chouans; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Theodore
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Chouans; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Dablin
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Chouans; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Merchant
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Chouans; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.