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The Man Who Laughs
The Man Who Laughs

Chapter XIII · Chapter 13

Chapter 13 of The Man Who Laughs is here in full — 43 sentences across 9 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/8 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HARDQUANONNE.
The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.
The formation of the clouds was becoming ominous.
In the west, as in the east, the sky’s depths were now invaded by the blue cloud: it advanced in the teeth of the wind.
These contradictions are part of the wind’s vagaries.
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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 Man Who Laughs

Chapter XIII · Chapter 13

Chapter 13 of The Man Who Laughs is here in full — 43 sentences across 9 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/8 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HARDQUANONNE.
Line 2
The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.
/ðə mɪst wɑːz dɪˈfɔːrmd baɪ ɔːl sɔːrts ʌv ˌɪnəˈkwɑːlɪtiz ˈbʌldʒɪŋ aʊt æt wʌns ɑːn ˈevəri pɔɪnt ʌv ðə hərˈaɪzən æz ɪf ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl maʊðz wɜːr ˈbɪzi ˈpʌfɪŋ aʊt ðə bæɡz ʌv waɪnd/
Line 3
The formation of the clouds was becoming ominous.
/ðə fɔːrˈmeɪʃən ʌv ðə klaʊdz wɑːz bɪˈkʌmɪŋ ˈɑːmənəs/
Line 4
In the west, as in the east, the sky’s depths were now invaded by the blue cloud: it advanced in the teeth of the wind.
/ɪn ðə west æz ɪn ðə iːst ðə skaɪz depθs wɜːr naʊ ˌɪnˈveɪdəd baɪ ðə bluː klaʊd ɪt ədˈvænst ɪn ðə tiːθ ʌv ðə waɪnd/
Line 5
These contradictions are part of the wind’s vagaries.
/ðiːz ˌkɑːntrəˈdɪkʃənz ɑːr pɑːrt ʌv ðə wɪndz ˈveɪɡəriz/

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.

bulging adjective US /ˈbʌldʒɪŋ/

curving or bulging outward

From this reading “The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.”

contradictions noun US /ˌkɑːntrəˈdɪkʃənz/

plural of “contradiction” — opposition between two conflicting forces or ideas

From this reading “These contradictions are part of the wind’s vagaries.”

deformed adjective US /dɪˈfɔːrmd/

so badly formed or out of shape as to be ugly

From this reading “The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.”

formation noun US /fɔːrˈmeɪʃən/

an arrangement of people or things acting as a unit

From this reading “The formation of the clouds was becoming ominous.”

inequalities noun US /ˌɪnəˈkwɑːlɪtiz/

plural of “inequality” — lack of equality

From this reading “The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.”

sky's noun US /skaɪz/

possessive form of “sky” — the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

vagaries noun US /ˈveɪɡəriz/

plural of “vagary” — an unexpected and inexplicable change in something (in a situation or a person's behavior, etc.)

From this reading “These contradictions are part of the wind’s vagaries.”

wind's noun US /wɪndz/

possessive form of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

All words in this reading · 49

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.

advancedadjectiveUS /ədˈvænst/

farther along in physical or mental development

From this reading In the west, as in the east, the sky’s depths were now invaded by the blue cloud: it advanced in the teeth of the wind.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading These contradictions are part of the wind’s vagaries.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

bagsnounUS /bæɡz/

plural of “bag” — a flexible container with a single opening

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

becomingadjectiveUS /bɪˈkʌmɪŋ/

according with custom or propriety

From this reading The formation of the clouds was becoming ominous.

blueadjectiveUS /bluː/

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading In the west, as in the east, the sky’s depths were now invaded by the blue cloud: it advanced in the teeth of the wind.

bulgingadjectiveUS /ˈbʌldʒɪŋ/

curving or bulging outward

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

busyadjectiveUS /ˈbɪzi/

actively or fully engaged or occupied

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

cloudverbUS /klaʊd/

make overcast or cloudy

From this reading In the west, as in the east, the sky’s depths were now invaded by the blue cloud: it advanced in the teeth of the wind.

cloudsnounUS /klaʊdz/

plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible

From this reading The formation of the clouds was becoming ominous.

contradictionsnounUS /ˌkɑːntrəˈdɪkʃənz/

plural of “contradiction” — opposition between two conflicting forces or ideas

From this reading These contradictions are part of the wind’s vagaries.

deformedadjectiveUS /dɪˈfɔːrmd/

so badly formed or out of shape as to be ugly

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

depthsnounUS /depθs/

(plural) the deepest and most remote part

From this reading In the west, as in the east, the sky’s depths were now invaded by the blue cloud: it advanced in the teeth of the wind.

eastnounUS /iːst/

the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees

From this reading In the west, as in the east, the sky’s depths were now invaded by the blue cloud: it advanced in the teeth of the wind.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

formationnounUS /fɔːrˈmeɪʃən/

an arrangement of people or things acting as a unit

From this reading The formation of the clouds was becoming ominous.

HARDQUANONNE

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

From this reading HARDQUANONNE.

horizonnounUS /hərˈaɪzən/

the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In the west, as in the east, the sky’s depths were now invaded by the blue cloud: it advanced in the teeth of the wind.

inequalitiesnounUS /ˌɪnəˈkwɑːlɪtiz/

plural of “inequality” — lack of equality

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

invadedverbUS /ˌɪnˈveɪdəd/

past form of “invade” — march aggressively into another's territory by military force for the purposes of conquest and occupation

From this reading In the west, as in the east, the sky’s depths were now invaded by the blue cloud: it advanced in the teeth of the wind.

invisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/

impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading In the west, as in the east, the sky’s depths were now invaded by the blue cloud: it advanced in the teeth of the wind.

mistverbUS /mɪst/

become covered with mist

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

mouthsnounUS /maʊðz/

plural of “mouth” — the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading In the west, as in the east, the sky’s depths were now invaded by the blue cloud: it advanced in the teeth of the wind.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

ominousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːmənəs/

threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments

From this reading The formation of the clouds was becoming ominous.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

partnounUS /pɑːrt/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading These contradictions are part of the wind’s vagaries.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

puffingnounUS /ˈpʌfɪŋ/

blowing tobacco smoke out into the air

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

sky'snounUS /skaɪz/

possessive form of “sky” — the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading In the west, as in the east, the sky’s depths were now invaded by the blue cloud: it advanced in the teeth of the wind.

sortsnounUS /sɔːrts/

plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

teethnounUS /tiːθ/

the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal

From this reading In the west, as in the east, the sky’s depths were now invaded by the blue cloud: it advanced in the teeth of the wind.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading These contradictions are part of the wind’s vagaries.

vagariesnounUS /ˈveɪɡəriz/

plural of “vagary” — an unexpected and inexplicable change in something (in a situation or a person's behavior, etc.)

From this reading These contradictions are part of the wind’s vagaries.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

westnounUS /west/

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading In the west, as in the east, the sky’s depths were now invaded by the blue cloud: it advanced in the teeth of the wind.

windnounUS /waɪnd/

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading The mist was deformed by all sorts of inequalities, bulging out at once on every point of the horizon, as if invisible mouths were busy puffing out the bags of wind.

wind'snounUS /wɪndz/

possessive form of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading These contradictions are part of the wind’s vagaries.

Chapter 13 of The Man Who Laughs by Victor Hugo holds 43 sentences, grouped into 9 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 13 of The Man Who Laughs contain?

Chapter 13 holds 43 sentences of The Man Who Laughs, unabridged, divided into 9 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 13 of The Man Who Laughs by Victor Hugo exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 43 sentences, grouped into 9 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 13 of The Man Who Laughs?

Work through the 9 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 9 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 13 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 13 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.

Questions about reading The Man Who Laughs

Common questions about reading The Man Who Laughs by Victor Hugo on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Man Who Laughs?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Man Who Laughs is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #?, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Man Who Laughs take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Man Who Laughs section by section

How to work through The Man Who Laughs section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Man Who Laughs

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

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of The Man Who Laughs, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
One of the 0 chapters of The Man Who Laughs, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of The Man Who Laughs, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.