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The Dream
The Dream

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Dream is here in full — 219 sentences across 44 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Dream
Context Illustration Reading 23/43 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
For the family name, a simple black line filled the allotted space.
Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.
So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.
No relative in the world! and even her abandonment numbered and classed!
Oh! then she is a foundling!” exclaimed Hubertine.
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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 Dream

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Dream is here in full — 219 sentences across 44 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 23/43 · 5 reading units · Lines 111–115

Line 1
For the family name, a simple black line filled the allotted space.
/fɔːr ðə ˈfæməli neɪm ə ˈsɪmpəl blæk laɪn fɪld ðə əˈlɑːtɪd speɪs/
Line 2
Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.
Line 3
So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.
Line 4
No relative in the world! and even her abandonment numbered and classed!
/noʊ ˈrelətɪv ɪn ðə wɜːrld ənd ˈiːvɪn hɜːr əˈbændənmənt ˈnʌmbərd ənd klæst/
Line 5
Oh! then she is a foundling!” exclaimed Hubertine.

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.

abandonment noun US /əˈbændənmənt/

the act of giving something up

From this reading “No relative in the world! and even her abandonment numbered and classed!”

allotted adjective US /əˈlɑːtɪd/

given as a task

From this reading “For the family name, a simple black line filled the allotted space.”

Angelique noun US /ˌændʒeˈliːk/

any of various tall and stout herbs of the genus Angelica having pinnately compound leaves and small white or greenish flowers in compound umbels

From this reading “Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.”

classed verb US /klæst/

past form of “class” — arrange or order by classes or categories

From this reading “No relative in the world! and even her abandonment numbered and classed!”

dates noun US /deɪts/

plural of “date” — the specified day of the month

From this reading “Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.”

foundling noun US /ˈfaʊndlɪŋ/

a child who has been abandoned and whose parents are unknown

From this reading ““Oh! then she is a foundling!” exclaimed Hubertine.”

numbered verb US /ˈnʌmbərd/

past form of “number” — add up in number or quantity

From this reading “No relative in the world! and even her abandonment numbered and classed!”

registered adjective US /ˈredʒɪstərd/

(of animals) officially recorded with or certified by a recognized breed association; especially in a stud book

From this reading “Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.”

All words in this reading · 72

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.

1,634

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

From this reading Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.

1851

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

From this reading Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.

22

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

From this reading Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.

23rd

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

From this reading Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading For the family name, a simple black line filled the allotted space.

abandonmentnounUS /əˈbændənmənt/

the act of giving something up

From this reading No relative in the world! and even her abandonment numbered and classed!

admittedverbUS /ədˈmɪtɪd/

inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.

allottedadjectiveUS /əˈlɑːtɪd/

given as a task

From this reading For the family name, a simple black line filled the allotted space.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading No relative in the world! and even her abandonment numbered and classed!

AngeliquenounUS /ˌændʒeˈliːk/

any of various tall and stout herbs of the genus Angelica having pinnately compound leaves and small white or greenish flowers in compound umbels

From this reading Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.

blackadjectiveUS /blæk/

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading For the family name, a simple black line filled the allotted space.

booknounUS /bʊk/

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

bornadjectiveUS /bɔːrn/

brought into existence

From this reading Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

ChristianadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪstʃən/

relating to or characteristic of Christianity

From this reading Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.

classedverbUS /klæst/

past form of “class” — arrange or order by classes or categories

From this reading No relative in the world! and even her abandonment numbered and classed!

coldnessnounUS /ˈkoʊldnəs/

the sensation produced by low temperatures

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

coververbUS /ˈkʌvər/

provide with a covering or cause to be covered

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

datesnounUS /deɪts/

plural of “date” — the specified day of the month

From this reading Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.

evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

exclaimedverbUS /ɪkˈskleɪmd/

past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy

From this reading “Oh! then she is a foundling!” exclaimed Hubertine.

familynounUS /ˈfæməli/

a social unit living together

From this reading For the family name, a simple black line filled the allotted space.

fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

filledadjectiveUS /fɪld/

(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with

From this reading For the family name, a simple black line filled the allotted space.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For the family name, a simple black line filled the allotted space.

foundlingnounUS /ˈfaʊndlɪŋ/

a child who has been abandoned and whose parents are unknown

From this reading “Oh! then she is a foundling!” exclaimed Hubertine.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading No relative in the world! and even her abandonment numbered and classed!

Hubertine

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

From this reading “Oh! then she is a foundling!” exclaimed Hubertine.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading No relative in the world! and even her abandonment numbered and classed!

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “Oh! then she is a foundling!” exclaimed Hubertine.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

JanuarynounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/

the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice

From this reading Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.

linenounUS /laɪn/

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading For the family name, a simple black line filled the allotted space.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

Marie

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

From this reading Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.

monthnounUS /mʌnθ/

one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.

mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

nameverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading For the family name, a simple black line filled the allotted space.

namesnounUS /neɪmz/

verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument

From this reading Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

numbernounUS /ˈnʌmbər/

the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals

From this reading Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.

numberedverbUS /ˈnʌmbərd/

past form of “number” — add up in number or quantity

From this reading No relative in the world! and even her abandonment numbered and classed!

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.

officialadjectiveUS /əˈfɪʃəl/

having official authority or sanction

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

OhnounUS /oʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading “Oh! then she is a foundling!” exclaimed Hubertine.

paleadjectiveUS /peɪl/

very light colored; highly diluted with white

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

papersnounUS /ˈpeɪpərz/

writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

pasteboardnoun

stiff cardboard made by pasting together layers of paper

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

rednounUS /red/

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

registeredadjectiveUS /ˈredʒɪstərd/

(of animals) officially recorded with or certified by a recognized breed association; especially in a stud book

From this reading Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.

relativenounUS /ˈrelətɪv/

a person related by blood or marriage

From this reading No relative in the world! and even her abandonment numbered and classed!

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

simpleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪmpəl/

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading For the family name, a simple black line filled the allotted space.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

spacenounUS /speɪs/

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading For the family name, a simple black line filled the allotted space.

statementnounUS /ˈsteɪtmənt/

a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading For the family name, a simple black line filled the allotted space.

ThenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Then for the Christian names were those of Angelique Marie; for the dates, born January 22, 1851, admitted the 23rd of the same month under the registered number of 1,634.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading So there was neither father nor mother; there were no papers; not even a statement of where she was born; nothing but this little book of official coldness, with its cover of pale red pasteboard.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading No relative in the world! and even her abandonment numbered and classed!

Chapter 1 of The Dream by Émile Zola holds 219 sentences, grouped into 44 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 1 of The Dream contain?

Chapter 1 holds 219 sentences of The Dream, unabridged, divided into 44 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Dream by Émile Zola exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 219 sentences, grouped into 44 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 1 of The Dream?

Work through the 44 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 44 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

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Vocabulary met early in The Dream

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

Chapter 1
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Chapter 2
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Chapter 3
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