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The Muse of the Department
The Muse of the Department

Chapter XI · Chapter 11

Chapter 11 of The Muse of the Department is here in full — 135 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It is quite natural.
You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”
Vanity and the senses count for so much in love affairs,” said Lousteau, that there may be some truth in all those hypotheses.
However, if I remain, it will be in consequence of the certificate of innocence, without ignorance, that you have given Dinah.
She is handsome, is she not?”
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Muse of the Department

Chapter XI · Chapter 11

Chapter 11 of The Muse of the Department is here in full — 135 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It is quite natural.
/ɪt ɪz kwaɪt ˈnætʃərəl/
Line 2
You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”
Line 3
Vanity and the senses count for so much in love affairs,” said Lousteau, “that there may be some truth in all those hypotheses.
Line 4
However, if I remain, it will be in consequence of the certificate of innocence, without ignorance, that you have given Dinah.
Line 5
She is handsome, is she not?”
/ʃiː ɪz ˈhænsəm ɪz ʃiː nɑːt/

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.

appeals noun US /əˈpiːlz/

plural of “appeal” — earnest or urgent request

From this reading “You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?””

certificate noun US /sərˈtɪfɪkət/

a document attesting to the truth of certain stated facts

From this reading “However, if I remain, it will be in consequence of the certificate of innocence, without ignorance, that you have given Dinah.”

fascinating adjective US /ˈfæsəneɪtɪŋ/

capable of arousing and holding the attention

From this reading “You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?””

hypotheses noun US /haɪˈpɑːθəsiːz/

plural of “hypothesis” — a proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations

From this reading ““Vanity and the senses count for so much in love affairs,” said Lousteau, “that there may be some truth in all those hypotheses.”

inviting adjective US /ˌɪnˈvaɪtɪŋ/

attractive and tempting

From this reading “You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?””

mistresses noun US /ˈmɪstrəsəz/

plural of “mistress” — an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man

From this reading “You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?””

prides noun US /praɪdz/

plural of “pride” — a feeling of self-respect and personal worth

From this reading “You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?””

revival noun US /rɪˈvaɪvəl/

bringing again into activity and prominence

From this reading “You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?””

All words in this reading · 87

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

affairsnounUS /əˈferz/

matters of personal concern

From this reading “Vanity and the senses count for so much in love affairs,” said Lousteau, “that there may be some truth in all those hypotheses.

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 You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

appealsnounUS /əˈpiːlz/

plural of “appeal” — earnest or urgent request

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

attractiveadjectiveUS /əˈtræktɪv/

pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading “Vanity and the senses count for so much in love affairs,” said Lousteau, “that there may be some truth in all those hypotheses.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

certificatenounUS /sərˈtɪfɪkət/

a document attesting to the truth of certain stated facts

From this reading However, if I remain, it will be in consequence of the certificate of innocence, without ignorance, that you have given Dinah.

consequencenounUS /ˈkɑːnsəkwəns/

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading However, if I remain, it will be in consequence of the certificate of innocence, without ignorance, that you have given Dinah.

countverbUS /kaʊnt/

determine the number or amount of

From this reading “Vanity and the senses count for so much in love affairs,” said Lousteau, “that there may be some truth in all those hypotheses.

Dinah

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

From this reading However, if I remain, it will be in consequence of the certificate of innocence, without ignorance, that you have given Dinah.

experienceverbUS /ɪkˈspɪriəns/

undergo or live through a difficult experience

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

famousadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪməs/

widely known and esteemed

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

fascinatingadjectiveUS /ˈfæsəneɪtɪŋ/

capable of arousing and holding the attention

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

favorverbUS /ˈfeɪvər/

promote over another

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

flatteredverbUS /ˈflætərd/

past form of “flatter” — praise somewhat dishonestly

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “Vanity and the senses count for so much in love affairs,” said Lousteau, “that there may be some truth in all those hypotheses.

givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading However, if I remain, it will be in consequence of the certificate of innocence, without ignorance, that you have given Dinah.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

handsomeadjectiveUS /ˈhænsəm/

pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion

From this reading She is handsome, is she not?”

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

HoweveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading However, if I remain, it will be in consequence of the certificate of innocence, without ignorance, that you have given Dinah.

hypothesesnounUS /haɪˈpɑːθəsiːz/

plural of “hypothesis” — a proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations

From this reading “Vanity and the senses count for so much in love affairs,” said Lousteau, “that there may be some truth in all those hypotheses.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading However, if I remain, it will be in consequence of the certificate of innocence, without ignorance, that you have given Dinah.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading However, if I remain, it will be in consequence of the certificate of innocence, without ignorance, that you have given Dinah.

ignorancenounUS /ˈɪɡnərəns/

the lack of knowledge or education

From this reading However, if I remain, it will be in consequence of the certificate of innocence, without ignorance, that you have given Dinah.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

indescribablyadverb

to an inexpressible degree

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

innocencenounUS /ˈɪnəsəns/

the quality of innocent naivete

From this reading However, if I remain, it will be in consequence of the certificate of innocence, without ignorance, that you have given Dinah.

invitingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvaɪtɪŋ/

attractive and tempting

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “It is quite natural.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “It is quite natural.

longeradverbUS /ˈlɔːŋɡər/

for more time

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

Lousteau

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

From this reading “Vanity and the senses count for so much in love affairs,” said Lousteau, “that there may be some truth in all those hypotheses.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading “Vanity and the senses count for so much in love affairs,” said Lousteau, “that there may be some truth in all those hypotheses.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “Vanity and the senses count for so much in love affairs,” said Lousteau, “that there may be some truth in all those hypotheses.

mistressesnounUS /ˈmɪstrəsəz/

plural of “mistress” — an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading “Vanity and the senses count for so much in love affairs,” said Lousteau, “that there may be some truth in all those hypotheses.

naturaladjectiveUS /ˈnætʃərəl/

in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature

From this reading “It is quite natural.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She is handsome, is she not?”

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

ParisnounUS /ˈperɪs/

the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

payverbUS /peɪ/

give money, usually in exchange for goods or services

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

physiciannounUS /fəˈzɪʃən/

a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

pridesnounUS /praɪdz/

plural of “pride” — a feeling of self-respect and personal worth

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading “It is quite natural.

remainverbUS /rɪˈmeɪn/

stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading However, if I remain, it will be in consequence of the certificate of innocence, without ignorance, that you have given Dinah.

rememberedverbUS /rɪˈmembərd/

past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

restverbUS /rest/

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

revivalnounUS /rɪˈvaɪvəl/

bringing again into activity and prominence

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “Vanity and the senses count for so much in love affairs,” said Lousteau, “that there may be some truth in all those hypotheses.

sensesnounUS /ˈsensɪz/

plural of “sens” — street names for marijuana

From this reading “Vanity and the senses count for so much in love affairs,” said Lousteau, “that there may be some truth in all those hypotheses.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

sickadjectiveUS /sɪk/

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading “Vanity and the senses count for so much in love affairs,” said Lousteau, “that there may be some truth in all those hypotheses.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading “Vanity and the senses count for so much in love affairs,” said Lousteau, “that there may be some truth in all those hypotheses.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

supposedadjectiveUS /səˈpoʊzd/

required or under orders

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading “Vanity and the senses count for so much in love affairs,” said Lousteau, “that there may be some truth in all those hypotheses.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

truthnounUS /truːθ/

a fact that has been verified

From this reading “Vanity and the senses count for so much in love affairs,” said Lousteau, “that there may be some truth in all those hypotheses.

VanitynounUS /ˈvænəti/

feelings of excessive pride

From this reading “Vanity and the senses count for so much in love affairs,” said Lousteau, “that there may be some truth in all those hypotheses.

whompronounUS /huːm/

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

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading However, if I remain, it will be in consequence of the certificate of innocence, without ignorance, that you have given Dinah.

womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

womennounUS /ˈwɪmən/

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

world-worn

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

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You are supposed here to have had many mistresses in Paris; and to a woman there is something indescribably inviting in a man whom other women favor--something attractive and fascinating; is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered than all the rest? that she appeals to his experience, as a sick man will pay more to a famous physician? or that she is flattered by the revival of a world-worn heart?”

Chapter 11 of The Muse of the Department by Honoré de Balzac holds 135 sentences, grouped into 27 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 11 of The Muse of the Department contain?

Chapter 11 holds 135 sentences of The Muse of the Department, unabridged, divided into 27 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 11 of The Muse of the Department by Honoré de Balzac exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 135 sentences, grouped into 27 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 11 of The Muse of the Department?

Work through the 27 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 27 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 11 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 11 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 Muse of the Department

Common questions about reading The Muse of the Department by Honoré de Balzac on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Muse of the Department?

Yes. All 2711 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1912 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Muse of the Department is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1912, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Muse of the Department take to read?

About 225 minutes of reading across 543 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Muse of the Department section by section

How to work through The Muse of the Department section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 19 chapters of The Muse of the Department to begin.

  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 Muse of the Department

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Muse of the Department, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Monsieur
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Muse of the Department; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Comte
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Muse of the Department; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Ferdinand
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Muse of the Department; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Gramont
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Muse of the Department; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.