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The Kreutzer Sonata and Other Stories
The Kreutzer Sonata and Other Stories

Chapter V

Cover illustration for The Kreutzer Sonata and Other Stories
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.
Yes, I want to tell you how I killed my wife, and for that I must tell you how I debauched myself.
I killed her before I knew her.
“I killed _the_ wife when I first tasted sensual joys without love, and then it was that I killed _my_ wife.
Yes, sir: it is only after having suffered, after having tortured myself, that I have come to understand the root of things, that I have come to understand my crimes.
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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 Kreutzer Sonata and Other Stories

Chapter V

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.
Line 2
Yes, I want to tell you how I killed my wife, and for that I must tell you how I debauched myself.
Line 3
I killed her before I knew her.
Line 4
“I killed _the_ wife when I first tasted sensual joys without love, and then it was that I killed _my_ wife.
Line 5
Yes, sir: it is only after having suffered, after having tortured myself, that I have come to understand the root of things, that I have come to understand my crimes.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Yes, sir: it is only after having suffered, after having tortured myself, that I have come to understand the root of things, that I have come to understand my crimes.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “I killed her before I knew her.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Yes, sir: it is only after having suffered, after having tortured myself, that I have come to understand the root of things, that I have come to understand my crimes.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““I killed _the_ wife when I first tasted sensual joys without love, and then it was that I killed _my_ wife.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Yes, sir: it is only after having suffered, after having tortured myself, that I have come to understand the root of things, that I have come to understand my crimes.”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “Yes, sir: it is only after having suffered, after having tortured myself, that I have come to understand the root of things, that I have come to understand my crimes.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “Yes, I want to tell you how I killed my wife, and for that I must tell you how I debauched myself.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “Yes, I want to tell you how I killed my wife, and for that I must tell you how I debauched myself.”

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Yes, I want to tell you how I killed my wife, and for that I must tell you how I debauched myself.”

Understand noun US /understand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Yes, sir: it is only after having suffered, after having tortured myself, that I have come to understand the root of things, that I have come to understand my crimes.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading ““Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading ““I killed _the_ wife when I first tasted sensual joys without love, and then it was that I killed _my_ wife.”

All words in this reading · 56

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Yes, sir: it is only after having suffered, after having tortured myself, that I have come to understand the root of things, that I have come to understand my crimes.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading “Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading I killed her before I knew her.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Yes, sir: it is only after having suffered, after having tortured myself, that I have come to understand the root of things, that I have come to understand my crimes.

crimes

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

From this reading Yes, sir: it is only after having suffered, after having tortured myself, that I have come to understand the root of things, that I have come to understand my crimes.

debauched

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

From this reading Yes, I want to tell you how I killed my wife, and for that I must tell you how I debauched myself.

dreaming

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

From this reading “Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.

existence

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

From this reading “Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I killed _the_ wife when I first tasted sensual joys without love, and then it was that I killed _my_ wife.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Yes, sir: it is only after having suffered, after having tortured myself, that I have come to understand the root of things, that I have come to understand my crimes.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Yes, sir: it is only after having suffered, after having tortured myself, that I have come to understand the root of things, that I have come to understand my crimes.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading I killed her before I knew her.

how

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

From this reading Yes, I want to tell you how I killed my wife, and for that I must tell you how I debauched myself.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Yes, sir: it is only after having suffered, after having tortured myself, that I have come to understand the root of things, that I have come to understand my crimes.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “I killed _the_ wife when I first tasted sensual joys without love, and then it was that I killed _my_ wife.

joys

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

From this reading “I killed _the_ wife when I first tasted sensual joys without love, and then it was that I killed _my_ wife.

killed

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

From this reading Yes, I want to tell you how I killed my wife, and for that I must tell you how I debauched myself.

knew

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

From this reading I killed her before I knew her.

lived

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

From this reading “Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.

love

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

From this reading “Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.

most

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

From this reading “Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Yes, I want to tell you how I killed my wife, and for that I must tell you how I debauched myself.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Yes, I want to tell you how I killed my wife, and for that I must tell you how I debauched myself.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading Yes, I want to tell you how I killed my wife, and for that I must tell you how I debauched myself.

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.

noblest

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

From this reading “Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.

only

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

From this reading Yes, sir: it is only after having suffered, after having tortured myself, that I have come to understand the root of things, that I have come to understand my crimes.

revolting

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

From this reading “Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.

root

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

From this reading Yes, sir: it is only after having suffered, after having tortured myself, that I have come to understand the root of things, that I have come to understand my crimes.

sensual

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

From this reading “I killed _the_ wife when I first tasted sensual joys without love, and then it was that I killed _my_ wife.

sir

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

From this reading Yes, sir: it is only after having suffered, after having tortured myself, that I have come to understand the root of things, that I have come to understand my crimes.

suffered

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

From this reading Yes, sir: it is only after having suffered, after having tortured myself, that I have come to understand the root of things, that I have come to understand my crimes.

tasted

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

From this reading “I killed _the_ wife when I first tasted sensual joys without love, and then it was that I killed _my_ wife.

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Yes, I want to tell you how I killed my wife, and for that I must tell you how I debauched myself.

ten

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

From this reading “Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.

then

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

From this reading “I killed _the_ wife when I first tasted sensual joys without love, and then it was that I killed _my_ wife.

things

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

From this reading Yes, sir: it is only after having suffered, after having tortured myself, that I have come to understand the root of things, that I have come to understand my crimes.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Yes, I want to tell you how I killed my wife, and for that I must tell you how I debauched myself.

tortured

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

From this reading Yes, sir: it is only after having suffered, after having tortured myself, that I have come to understand the root of things, that I have come to understand my crimes.

understandnounUS /understand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Yes, sir: it is only after having suffered, after having tortured myself, that I have come to understand the root of things, that I have come to understand my crimes.

want

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

From this reading Yes, I want to tell you how I killed my wife, and for that I must tell you how I debauched myself.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading “I killed _the_ wife when I first tasted sensual joys without love, and then it was that I killed _my_ wife.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading “I killed _the_ wife when I first tasted sensual joys without love, and then it was that I killed _my_ wife.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.

wife

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

From this reading Yes, I want to tell you how I killed my wife, and for that I must tell you how I debauched myself.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “I killed _the_ wife when I first tasted sensual joys without love, and then it was that I killed _my_ wife.

years

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

From this reading “Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.

Yes

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

From this reading “Yes: for ten years I lived the most revolting existence, while dreaming of the noblest love, and even in the name of that love.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Yes, I want to tell you how I killed my wife, and for that I must tell you how I debauched myself.