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 event created a great sensation at the time, and the Petit Journal published a curious story concerning this unfortunate young man’s mother.
all
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From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The event created a great sensation at the time, and the Petit Journal published a curious story concerning this unfortunate young man’s mother.
asking
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From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The event created a great sensation at the time, and the Petit Journal published a curious story concerning this unfortunate young man’s mother.
banker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
banker's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
begun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true that Madame d’Argeles was in despair during forty-eight hours or so; for the police had begun a sort of investigation, and she feared this might frighten her visitors and empty her drawing-rooms.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
cause
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not at all, however; on the contrary, she had good cause to congratulate herself upon the notoriety she gained through this suicide.
Chazel's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
concerning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The event created a great sensation at the time, and the Petit Journal published a curious story concerning this unfortunate young man’s mother.
conduct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
congratulate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not at all, however; on the contrary, she had good cause to congratulate herself upon the notoriety she gained through this suicide.
contrary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not at all, however; on the contrary, she had good cause to congratulate herself upon the notoriety she gained through this suicide.
created
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The event created a great sensation at the time, and the Petit Journal published a curious story concerning this unfortunate young man’s mother.
curious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The event created a great sensation at the time, and the Petit Journal published a curious story concerning this unfortunate young man’s mother.
d'Argeles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true that Madame d’Argeles was in despair during forty-eight hours or so; for the police had begun a sort of investigation, and she feared this might frighten her visitors and empty her drawing-rooms.
despair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true that Madame d’Argeles was in despair during forty-eight hours or so; for the police had begun a sort of investigation, and she feared this might frighten her visitors and empty her drawing-rooms.
dinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
drawing-rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true that Madame d’Argeles was in despair during forty-eight hours or so; for the police had begun a sort of investigation, and she feared this might frighten her visitors and empty her drawing-rooms.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading It is true that Madame d’Argeles was in despair during forty-eight hours or so; for the police had begun a sort of investigation, and she feared this might frighten her visitors and empty her drawing-rooms.
employed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
empty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true that Madame d’Argeles was in despair during forty-eight hours or so; for the police had begun a sort of investigation, and she feared this might frighten her visitors and empty her drawing-rooms.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
event
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The event created a great sensation at the time, and the Petit Journal published a curious story concerning this unfortunate young man’s mother.
feared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true that Madame d’Argeles was in despair during forty-eight hours or so; for the police had begun a sort of investigation, and she feared this might frighten her visitors and empty her drawing-rooms.
finenounUS /fine/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It is true that Madame d’Argeles was in despair during forty-eight hours or so; for the police had begun a sort of investigation, and she feared this might frighten her visitors and empty her drawing-rooms.
forty-eight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true that Madame d’Argeles was in despair during forty-eight hours or so; for the police had begun a sort of investigation, and she feared this might frighten her visitors and empty her drawing-rooms.
francs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
frighten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true that Madame d’Argeles was in despair during forty-eight hours or so; for the police had begun a sort of investigation, and she feared this might frighten her visitors and empty her drawing-rooms.
gained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not at all, however; on the contrary, she had good cause to congratulate herself upon the notoriety she gained through this suicide.
gathering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
gold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Not at all, however; on the contrary, she had good cause to congratulate herself upon the notoriety she gained through this suicide.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The event created a great sensation at the time, and the Petit Journal published a curious story concerning this unfortunate young man’s mother.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Not at all, however; on the contrary, she had good cause to congratulate herself upon the notoriety she gained through this suicide.
honor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true that Madame d’Argeles was in despair during forty-eight hours or so; for the police had begun a sort of investigation, and she feared this might frighten her visitors and empty her drawing-rooms.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Not at all, however; on the contrary, she had good cause to congratulate herself upon the notoriety she gained through this suicide.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
investigation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true that Madame d’Argeles was in despair during forty-eight hours or so; for the police had begun a sort of investigation, and she feared this might frighten her visitors and empty her drawing-rooms.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is true that Madame d’Argeles was in despair during forty-eight hours or so; for the police had begun a sort of investigation, and she feared this might frighten her visitors and empty her drawing-rooms.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is true that Madame d’Argeles was in despair during forty-eight hours or so; for the police had begun a sort of investigation, and she feared this might frighten her visitors and empty her drawing-rooms.
Journal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The event created a great sensation at the time, and the Petit Journal published a curious story concerning this unfortunate young man’s mother.
Jules
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
Madame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true that Madame d’Argeles was in despair during forty-eight hours or so; for the police had begun a sort of investigation, and she feared this might frighten her visitors and empty her drawing-rooms.
man's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The event created a great sensation at the time, and the Petit Journal published a curious story concerning this unfortunate young man’s mother.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It is true that Madame d’Argeles was in despair during forty-eight hours or so; for the police had begun a sort of investigation, and she feared this might frighten her visitors and empty her drawing-rooms.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The event created a great sensation at the time, and the Petit Journal published a curious story concerning this unfortunate young man’s mother.
natural
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
NotadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not at all, however; on the contrary, she had good cause to congratulate herself upon the notoriety she gained through this suicide.
notoriety
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not at all, however; on the contrary, she had good cause to congratulate herself upon the notoriety she gained through this suicide.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It is true that Madame d’Argeles was in despair during forty-eight hours or so; for the police had begun a sort of investigation, and she feared this might frighten her visitors and empty her drawing-rooms.
perfectly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
Petit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The event created a great sensation at the time, and the Petit Journal published a curious story concerning this unfortunate young man’s mother.
pocketed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
police
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true that Madame d’Argeles was in despair during forty-eight hours or so; for the police had begun a sort of investigation, and she feared this might frighten her visitors and empty her drawing-rooms.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
possessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
published
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The event created a great sensation at the time, and the Petit Journal published a curious story concerning this unfortunate young man’s mother.
purchase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
ransom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
sensation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The event created a great sensation at the time, and the Petit Journal published a curious story concerning this unfortunate young man’s mother.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
slept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It is true that Madame d’Argeles was in despair during forty-eight hours or so; for the police had begun a sort of investigation, and she feared this might frighten her visitors and empty her drawing-rooms.
sold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
son's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true that Madame d’Argeles was in despair during forty-eight hours or so; for the police had begun a sort of investigation, and she feared this might frighten her visitors and empty her drawing-rooms.
stolen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The event created a great sensation at the time, and the Petit Journal published a curious story concerning this unfortunate young man’s mother.
succeeded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
suicide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not at all, however; on the contrary, she had good cause to congratulate herself upon the notoriety she gained through this suicide.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The event created a great sensation at the time, and the Petit Journal published a curious story concerning this unfortunate young man’s mother.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The event created a great sensation at the time, and the Petit Journal published a curious story concerning this unfortunate young man’s mother.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
thousand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Not at all, however; on the contrary, she had good cause to congratulate herself upon the notoriety she gained through this suicide.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The event created a great sensation at the time, and the Petit Journal published a curious story concerning this unfortunate young man’s mother.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true that Madame d’Argeles was in despair during forty-eight hours or so; for the police had begun a sort of investigation, and she feared this might frighten her visitors and empty her drawing-rooms.
twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
unfortunate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The event created a great sensation at the time, and the Petit Journal published a curious story concerning this unfortunate young man’s mother.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Not at all, however; on the contrary, she had good cause to congratulate herself upon the notoriety she gained through this suicide.
visitors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true that Madame d’Argeles was in despair during forty-eight hours or so; for the police had begun a sort of investigation, and she feared this might frighten her visitors and empty her drawing-rooms.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
widow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor woman--she was a widow--sold all she possessed, even the bed on which she slept, and when she had succeeded in gathering together twenty thousand francs--the ransom of her son’s honor--she carried them to the banker by whom her boy had been employed.
won
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took them, without even asking the mother if she had enough left to purchase her dinner that evening; and the fine gentleman, who had won and pocketed Jules Chazel’s stolen gold, thought the banker’s conduct perfectly natural and just.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The event created a great sensation at the time, and the Petit Journal published a curious story concerning this unfortunate young man’s mother.
