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The Count of Monte Cristo
The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter VIII

In one of the aristocratic mansions built by Puget in the Rue du Grand Cours opposite the Medusa fountain, a second marriage feast was being celebrated, almost at the same hour with the nuptial repast given by Dantès.

Chapter 8, section 1: The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left. A door that communica
Context Illustration Reading 1/39 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.
A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.
The Palais de Justice communicated with the prison,—a sombre edifice, that from its grated windows looks on the clock-tower of the Accoules.
After numberless windings, Dantès saw a door with an iron wicket.
The commissary took up an iron mallet and knocked thrice, every blow seeming to Dantès as if struck on his heart.
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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 Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter VIII

Reading 1/39 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.
Line 2
A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.
Line 3
The Palais de Justice communicated with the prison,—a sombre edifice, that from its grated windows looks on the clock-tower of the Accoules.
Line 4
After numberless windings, Dantès saw a door with an iron wicket.
Line 5
The commissary took up an iron mallet and knocked thrice, every blow seeming to Dantès as if struck on his heart.

Learner Dictionary

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

commissary noun US /ˈkɑːməseri/

a retail store that sells equipment and provisions (usually to military personnel)

From this reading “The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.”

Collocations
The commissaryA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
commissary ofA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
All words in this reading · 76

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 commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

Accoules

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

From this reading The Palais de Justice communicated with the prison,—a sombre edifice, that from its grated windows looks on the clock-tower of the Accoules.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading After numberless windings, Dantès saw a door with an iron wicket.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading After numberless windings, Dantès saw a door with an iron wicket.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

antechamber

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

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

blow

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

From this reading The commissary took up an iron mallet and knocked thrice, every blow seeming to Dantès as if struck on his heart.

boldest

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

From this reading A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

clock-tower

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

From this reading The Palais de Justice communicated with the prison,—a sombre edifice, that from its grated windows looks on the clock-tower of the Accoules.

commissarynounUS /ˈkɑːməseri/

a retail store that sells equipment and provisions (usually to military personnel)

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

communicated

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

From this reading A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

corridors

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

From this reading A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

Dantès

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

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

de

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

From this reading A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

door

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

From this reading A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

edifice

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

From this reading The Palais de Justice communicated with the prison,—a sombre edifice, that from its grated windows looks on the clock-tower of the Accoules.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading The commissary took up an iron mallet and knocked thrice, every blow seeming to Dantès as if struck on his heart.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The Palais de Justice communicated with the prison,—a sombre edifice, that from its grated windows looks on the clock-tower of the Accoules.

gendarmes

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

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

gloomy

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

From this reading A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

grated

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

From this reading The Palais de Justice communicated with the prison,—a sombre edifice, that from its grated windows looks on the clock-tower of the Accoules.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

heart

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

From this reading The commissary took up an iron mallet and knocked thrice, every blow seeming to Dantès as if struck on his heart.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The commissary took up an iron mallet and knocked thrice, every blow seeming to Dantès as if struck on his heart.

iron

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

From this reading After numberless windings, Dantès saw a door with an iron wicket.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The Palais de Justice communicated with the prison,—a sombre edifice, that from its grated windows looks on the clock-tower of the Accoules.

Justice

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

From this reading A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

knocked

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

From this reading The commissary took up an iron mallet and knocked thrice, every blow seeming to Dantès as if struck on his heart.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

looks

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

From this reading The Palais de Justice communicated with the prison,—a sombre edifice, that from its grated windows looks on the clock-tower of the Accoules.

made

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

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

mallet

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

From this reading The commissary took up an iron mallet and knocked thrice, every blow seeming to Dantès as if struck on his heart.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

numberless

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

From this reading After numberless windings, Dantès saw a door with an iron wicket.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

opened

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

From this reading A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

other

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

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

Palais

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

From this reading A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

placed

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

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

police

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

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

prison

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

From this reading The Palais de Justice communicated with the prison,—a sombre edifice, that from its grated windows looks on the clock-tower of the Accoules.

range

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

From this reading A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

saw

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

From this reading After numberless windings, Dantès saw a door with an iron wicket.

seeming

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

From this reading The commissary took up an iron mallet and knocked thrice, every blow seeming to Dantès as if struck on his heart.

shudder

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

From this reading A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

sign

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

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

sombre

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

From this reading The Palais de Justice communicated with the prison,—a sombre edifice, that from its grated windows looks on the clock-tower of the Accoules.

strucknounUS /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The commissary took up an iron mallet and knocked thrice, every blow seeming to Dantès as if struck on his heart.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

thrice

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

From this reading The commissary took up an iron mallet and knocked thrice, every blow seeming to Dantès as if struck on his heart.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The commissary took up an iron mallet and knocked thrice, every blow seeming to Dantès as if struck on his heart.

traversed

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

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

two

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

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

up

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

From this reading The commissary took up an iron mallet and knocked thrice, every blow seeming to Dantès as if struck on his heart.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès’ right and the other on his left.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

wicket

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

From this reading After numberless windings, Dantès saw a door with an iron wicket.

windings

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

From this reading After numberless windings, Dantès saw a door with an iron wicket.

windows

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

From this reading The Palais de Justice communicated with the prison,—a sombre edifice, that from its grated windows looks on the clock-tower of the Accoules.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

Chapter Quiz

What is the central narrative or theme conveyed in this section of Chapter 006: The Deputy Procureur du Roi?

Which core linguistic virtue or character attribute is emphasized in this passage?

According to the text: "In one of the aristocratic mansions built by Puget in the Rue du Grand...", what tone does the author establish?

Shadowing Practice

Narrator: In one of the aristocratic mansions built by Puget in the Rue du Grand
Narrator: of life.