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 Etienne, Madame de la Baudraye was, to use his own phrase, “a fine feather in his cap.”
absolution
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “His happiness will be my absolution.”
accounted
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From this reading These words, wrung from Madame de la Baudraye by her friend the lawyer, accounted for the existing state of things.
affection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
Baudraye
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From this reading These words, wrung from Madame de la Baudraye by her friend the lawyer, accounted for the existing state of things.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “His happiness will be my absolution.”
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading These words, wrung from Madame de la Baudraye by her friend the lawyer, accounted for the existing state of things.
cap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Etienne, Madame de la Baudraye was, to use his own phrase, “a fine feather in his cap.”
de
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From this reading These words, wrung from Madame de la Baudraye by her friend the lawyer, accounted for the existing state of things.
displaying
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From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
Etienne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The publicity of his triumph, flaunted by Etienne on the evening of the first performance, had very plainly shown the lawyer what Lousteau’s purpose was.
evening
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From this reading The publicity of his triumph, flaunted by Etienne on the evening of the first performance, had very plainly shown the lawyer what Lousteau’s purpose was.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
existing
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From this reading These words, wrung from Madame de la Baudraye by her friend the lawyer, accounted for the existing state of things.
exquisite
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From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
eyes
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From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
Far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
feather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Etienne, Madame de la Baudraye was, to use his own phrase, “a fine feather in his cap.”
finenounUS /fine/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To Etienne, Madame de la Baudraye was, to use his own phrase, “a fine feather in his cap.”
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The publicity of his triumph, flaunted by Etienne on the evening of the first performance, had very plainly shown the lawyer what Lousteau’s purpose was.
flaunted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The publicity of his triumph, flaunted by Etienne on the evening of the first performance, had very plainly shown the lawyer what Lousteau’s purpose was.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading These words, wrung from Madame de la Baudraye by her friend the lawyer, accounted for the existing state of things.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
friend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These words, wrung from Madame de la Baudraye by her friend the lawyer, accounted for the existing state of things.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading These words, wrung from Madame de la Baudraye by her friend the lawyer, accounted for the existing state of things.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The publicity of his triumph, flaunted by Etienne on the evening of the first performance, had very plainly shown the lawyer what Lousteau’s purpose was.
happiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “His happiness will be my absolution.”
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading These words, wrung from Madame de la Baudraye by her friend the lawyer, accounted for the existing state of things.
hiding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “His happiness will be my absolution.”
honored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading To Etienne, Madame de la Baudraye was, to use his own phrase, “a fine feather in his cap.”
joys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
la
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These words, wrung from Madame de la Baudraye by her friend the lawyer, accounted for the existing state of things.
lawyer
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From this reading These words, wrung from Madame de la Baudraye by her friend the lawyer, accounted for the existing state of things.
Lousteau's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The publicity of his triumph, flaunted by Etienne on the evening of the first performance, had very plainly shown the lawyer what Lousteau’s purpose was.
Madame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These words, wrung from Madame de la Baudraye by her friend the lawyer, accounted for the existing state of things.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “His happiness will be my absolution.”
mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/
difficult to explain or understand
From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading These words, wrung from Madame de la Baudraye by her friend the lawyer, accounted for the existing state of things.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The publicity of his triumph, flaunted by Etienne on the evening of the first performance, had very plainly shown the lawyer what Lousteau’s purpose was.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Etienne, Madame de la Baudraye was, to use his own phrase, “a fine feather in his cap.”
passion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
performance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The publicity of his triumph, flaunted by Etienne on the evening of the first performance, had very plainly shown the lawyer what Lousteau’s purpose was.
phrase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Etienne, Madame de la Baudraye was, to use his own phrase, “a fine feather in his cap.”
plainlynounUS /ˈplainly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The publicity of his triumph, flaunted by Etienne on the evening of the first performance, had very plainly shown the lawyer what Lousteau’s purpose was.
preferring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
publicity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The publicity of his triumph, flaunted by Etienne on the evening of the first performance, had very plainly shown the lawyer what Lousteau’s purpose was.
purpose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The publicity of his triumph, flaunted by Etienne on the evening of the first performance, had very plainly shown the lawyer what Lousteau’s purpose was.
respectability
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
satisfaction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
shown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The publicity of his triumph, flaunted by Etienne on the evening of the first performance, had very plainly shown the lawyer what Lousteau’s purpose was.
shy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These words, wrung from Madame de la Baudraye by her friend the lawyer, accounted for the existing state of things.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading These words, wrung from Madame de la Baudraye by her friend the lawyer, accounted for the existing state of things.
ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These words, wrung from Madame de la Baudraye by her friend the lawyer, accounted for the existing state of things.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These words, wrung from Madame de la Baudraye by her friend the lawyer, accounted for the existing state of things.
ToparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To Etienne, Madame de la Baudraye was, to use his own phrase, “a fine feather in his cap.”
triumph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The publicity of his triumph, flaunted by Etienne on the evening of the first performance, had very plainly shown the lawyer what Lousteau’s purpose was.
use
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Etienne, Madame de la Baudraye was, to use his own phrase, “a fine feather in his cap.”
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The publicity of his triumph, flaunted by Etienne on the evening of the first performance, had very plainly shown the lawyer what Lousteau’s purpose was.
vulgar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The publicity of his triumph, flaunted by Etienne on the evening of the first performance, had very plainly shown the lawyer what Lousteau’s purpose was.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The publicity of his triumph, flaunted by Etienne on the evening of the first performance, had very plainly shown the lawyer what Lousteau’s purpose was.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “His happiness will be my absolution.”
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These words, wrung from Madame de la Baudraye by her friend the lawyer, accounted for the existing state of things.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far from preferring the joys of a shy and mysterious passion, of hiding such exquisite happiness from the eyes of the world, he found a vulgar satisfaction in displaying the first woman of respectability who had ever honored him with her affection.
wrung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These words, wrung from Madame de la Baudraye by her friend the lawyer, accounted for the existing state of things.
