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The Firm of Nucingen
The Firm of Nucingen

Chapter I

Cover illustration for The Firm of Nucingen
Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?
Will you deign to accept a token of the friendship of which I am proud?
You, and some few souls as noble, will grasp the whole of the thought underlying _The Firm of Nucingen_, appended to _Cesar Birotteau_.
Is there not a whole social lesson in the contrast between the two stories?
DE BALZAC.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Firm of Nucingen

Chapter I

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?
Line 2
Will you deign to accept a token of the friendship of which I am proud?
Line 3
You, and some few souls as noble, will grasp the whole of the thought underlying _The Firm of Nucingen_, appended to _Cesar Birotteau_.
Line 4
Is there not a whole social lesson in the contrast between the two stories?
Line 5
DE BALZAC.

Learner Dictionary

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

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “Is there not a whole social lesson in the contrast between the two stories?”

Grasp noun US /ɡræsp/

a firm hold in a specific situation in this story

From this reading “You, and some few souls as noble, will grasp the whole of the thought underlying _The Firm of Nucingen_, appended to _Cesar Birotteau_.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “You, and some few souls as noble, will grasp the whole of the thought underlying _The Firm of Nucingen_, appended to _Cesar Birotteau_.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?”

All words in this reading · 64

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 To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

accept

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

From this reading Will you deign to accept a token of the friendship of which I am proud?

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading Will you deign to accept a token of the friendship of which I am proud?

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

appended

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

From this reading You, and some few souls as noble, will grasp the whole of the thought underlying _The Firm of Nucingen_, appended to _Cesar Birotteau_.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

BALZAC

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

From this reading DE BALZAC.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Is there not a whole social lesson in the contrast between the two stories?

Birotteau

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

From this reading You, and some few souls as noble, will grasp the whole of the thought underlying _The Firm of Nucingen_, appended to _Cesar Birotteau_.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

candid

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

Cesar

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

From this reading You, and some few souls as noble, will grasp the whole of the thought underlying _The Firm of Nucingen_, appended to _Cesar Birotteau_.

contrast

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

From this reading Is there not a whole social lesson in the contrast between the two stories?

DE

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

From this reading DE BALZAC.

deign

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

From this reading Will you deign to accept a token of the friendship of which I am proud?

few

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

From this reading You, and some few souls as noble, will grasp the whole of the thought underlying _The Firm of Nucingen_, appended to _Cesar Birotteau_.

Firm

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

From this reading You, and some few souls as noble, will grasp the whole of the thought underlying _The Firm of Nucingen_, appended to _Cesar Birotteau_.

friends

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

friendship

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

From this reading Will you deign to accept a token of the friendship of which I am proud?

graspnounUS /ɡræsp/

a firm hold in a specific situation in this story

From this reading You, and some few souls as noble, will grasp the whole of the thought underlying _The Firm of Nucingen_, appended to _Cesar Birotteau_.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Is there not a whole social lesson in the contrast between the two stories?

indulgent

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

inscribe

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

intellect

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

lesson

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

From this reading Is there not a whole social lesson in the contrast between the two stories?

lofty

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

madame

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

most

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

noble

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

From this reading You, and some few souls as noble, will grasp the whole of the thought underlying _The Firm of Nucingen_, appended to _Cesar Birotteau_.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

Nucingen

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

From this reading You, and some few souls as noble, will grasp the whole of the thought underlying _The Firm of Nucingen_, appended to _Cesar Birotteau_.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

only

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

proud

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

From this reading Will you deign to accept a token of the friendship of which I am proud?

public

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

sisters

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

social

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

From this reading Is there not a whole social lesson in the contrast between the two stories?

some

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

From this reading You, and some few souls as noble, will grasp the whole of the thought underlying _The Firm of Nucingen_, appended to _Cesar Birotteau_.

souls

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

From this reading You, and some few souls as noble, will grasp the whole of the thought underlying _The Firm of Nucingen_, appended to _Cesar Birotteau_.

stories

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

From this reading Is there not a whole social lesson in the contrast between the two stories?

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

there

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

From this reading Is there not a whole social lesson in the contrast between the two stories?

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading You, and some few souls as noble, will grasp the whole of the thought underlying _The Firm of Nucingen_, appended to _Cesar Birotteau_.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

token

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

From this reading Will you deign to accept a token of the friendship of which I am proud?

treasury

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

two

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

From this reading Is there not a whole social lesson in the contrast between the two stories?

underlying

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

From this reading You, and some few souls as noble, will grasp the whole of the thought underlying _The Firm of Nucingen_, appended to _Cesar Birotteau_.

well

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Will you deign to accept a token of the friendship of which I am proud?

whole

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

whompronounUS /huːm/

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

Willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Will you deign to accept a token of the friendship of which I am proud?

work

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

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading To whom, madame, but to you should I inscribe this work; to you whose lofty and candid intellect is a treasury to your friends; to you that are to me not only a whole public, but the most indulgent of sisters as well?