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The Three Cities Trilogy: Lourdes, Complete
The Three Cities Trilogy: Lourdes, Complete

Chapter II

Cover illustration for The Three Cities Trilogy: Lourdes, Complete
Context Illustration Reading 1/83 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Henceforth he was at the seminary.
The classrooms, the recreation ground with its trees, rose up clearly before him.
But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.
Tall and slender, he had an elongated visage, with an unusually developed forehead, lofty and straight like a tower; whilst his jaws tapered, ending in a small refined chin.
He seemed, in fact, to be all brains; his mouth, rather large, alone retained an expression of tenderness.
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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 Three Cities Trilogy: Lourdes, Complete

Chapter II

Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Henceforth he was at the seminary.
Line 2
The classrooms, the recreation ground with its trees, rose up clearly before him.
Line 3
But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.
Line 4
Tall and slender, he had an elongated visage, with an unusually developed forehead, lofty and straight like a tower; whilst his jaws tapered, ending in a small refined chin.
Line 5
He seemed, in fact, to be all brains; his mouth, rather large, alone retained an expression of tenderness.

Learner Dictionary

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

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He seemed, in fact, to be all brains; his mouth, rather large, alone retained an expression of tenderness.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “The classrooms, the recreation ground with its trees, rose up clearly before him.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He seemed, in fact, to be all brains; his mouth, rather large, alone retained an expression of tenderness.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.”

Whilst conjunction US /waɪlst/

an old and formal word for “while”

From this reading “Tall and slender, he had an elongated visage, with an unusually developed forehead, lofty and straight like a tower; whilst his jaws tapered, ending in a small refined chin.”

All words in this reading · 71

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 But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.

all

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

From this reading But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He seemed, in fact, to be all brains; his mouth, rather large, alone retained an expression of tenderness.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Tall and slender, he had an elongated visage, with an unusually developed forehead, lofty and straight like a tower; whilst his jaws tapered, ending in a small refined chin.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Henceforth he was at the seminary.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading He seemed, in fact, to be all brains; his mouth, rather large, alone retained an expression of tenderness.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The classrooms, the recreation ground with its trees, rose up clearly before him.

beheld

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

From this reading But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.

brains

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

From this reading He seemed, in fact, to be all brains; his mouth, rather large, alone retained an expression of tenderness.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.

chin

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

From this reading Tall and slender, he had an elongated visage, with an unusually developed forehead, lofty and straight like a tower; whilst his jaws tapered, ending in a small refined chin.

classrooms

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

From this reading The classrooms, the recreation ground with its trees, rose up clearly before him.

clearly

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

From this reading The classrooms, the recreation ground with its trees, rose up clearly before him.

contemplated

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

From this reading But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.

developed

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

From this reading Tall and slender, he had an elongated visage, with an unusually developed forehead, lofty and straight like a tower; whilst his jaws tapered, ending in a small refined chin.

elongated

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

From this reading Tall and slender, he had an elongated visage, with an unusually developed forehead, lofty and straight like a tower; whilst his jaws tapered, ending in a small refined chin.

ending

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

From this reading Tall and slender, he had an elongated visage, with an unusually developed forehead, lofty and straight like a tower; whilst his jaws tapered, ending in a small refined chin.

expression

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

From this reading He seemed, in fact, to be all brains; his mouth, rather large, alone retained an expression of tenderness.

face

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

From this reading But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.

fact

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

From this reading He seemed, in fact, to be all brains; his mouth, rather large, alone retained an expression of tenderness.

forehead

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

From this reading Tall and slender, he had an elongated visage, with an unusually developed forehead, lofty and straight like a tower; whilst his jaws tapered, ending in a small refined chin.

ground

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

From this reading The classrooms, the recreation ground with its trees, rose up clearly before him.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Henceforth he was at the seminary.

Henceforth

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

From this reading Henceforth he was at the seminary.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The classrooms, the recreation ground with its trees, rose up clearly before him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The classrooms, the recreation ground with its trees, rose up clearly before him.

jaws

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

From this reading Tall and slender, he had an elongated visage, with an unusually developed forehead, lofty and straight like a tower; whilst his jaws tapered, ending in a small refined chin.

large

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

From this reading He seemed, in fact, to be all brains; his mouth, rather large, alone retained an expression of tenderness.

like

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

From this reading Tall and slender, he had an elongated visage, with an unusually developed forehead, lofty and straight like a tower; whilst his jaws tapered, ending in a small refined chin.

lofty

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

From this reading Tall and slender, he had an elongated visage, with an unusually developed forehead, lofty and straight like a tower; whilst his jaws tapered, ending in a small refined chin.

mirror

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

From this reading But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.

mouth

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

From this reading He seemed, in fact, to be all brains; his mouth, rather large, alone retained an expression of tenderness.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.

once

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

From this reading But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.

only

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

From this reading But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.

rather

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

From this reading He seemed, in fact, to be all brains; his mouth, rather large, alone retained an expression of tenderness.

recreation

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

From this reading The classrooms, the recreation ground with its trees, rose up clearly before him.

refined

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

From this reading Tall and slender, he had an elongated visage, with an unusually developed forehead, lofty and straight like a tower; whilst his jaws tapered, ending in a small refined chin.

retained

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

From this reading He seemed, in fact, to be all brains; his mouth, rather large, alone retained an expression of tenderness.

rose

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

From this reading The classrooms, the recreation ground with its trees, rose up clearly before him.

scrutinised

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

From this reading But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He seemed, in fact, to be all brains; his mouth, rather large, alone retained an expression of tenderness.

seminary

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

From this reading Henceforth he was at the seminary.

slender

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

From this reading Tall and slender, he had an elongated visage, with an unusually developed forehead, lofty and straight like a tower; whilst his jaws tapered, ending in a small refined chin.

small

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

From this reading Tall and slender, he had an elongated visage, with an unusually developed forehead, lofty and straight like a tower; whilst his jaws tapered, ending in a small refined chin.

straight

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

From this reading Tall and slender, he had an elongated visage, with an unusually developed forehead, lofty and straight like a tower; whilst his jaws tapered, ending in a small refined chin.

stranger

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

From this reading But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.

Tall

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

From this reading Tall and slender, he had an elongated visage, with an unusually developed forehead, lofty and straight like a tower; whilst his jaws tapered, ending in a small refined chin.

tapered

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

From this reading Tall and slender, he had an elongated visage, with an unusually developed forehead, lofty and straight like a tower; whilst his jaws tapered, ending in a small refined chin.

tenderness

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

From this reading He seemed, in fact, to be all brains; his mouth, rather large, alone retained an expression of tenderness.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Henceforth he was at the seminary.

then

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

From this reading But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He seemed, in fact, to be all brains; his mouth, rather large, alone retained an expression of tenderness.

tower

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

From this reading Tall and slender, he had an elongated visage, with an unusually developed forehead, lofty and straight like a tower; whilst his jaws tapered, ending in a small refined chin.

trees

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

From this reading The classrooms, the recreation ground with its trees, rose up clearly before him.

unusually

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

From this reading Tall and slender, he had an elongated visage, with an unusually developed forehead, lofty and straight like a tower; whilst his jaws tapered, ending in a small refined chin.

up

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

From this reading The classrooms, the recreation ground with its trees, rose up clearly before him.

visage

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

From this reading Tall and slender, he had an elongated visage, with an unusually developed forehead, lofty and straight like a tower; whilst his jaws tapered, ending in a small refined chin.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Henceforth he was at the seminary.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.

whilstconjunctionUS /waɪlst/

an old and formal word for “while”

From this reading Tall and slender, he had an elongated visage, with an unusually developed forehead, lofty and straight like a tower; whilst his jaws tapered, ending in a small refined chin.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The classrooms, the recreation ground with its trees, rose up clearly before him.

youthful

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

From this reading But all at once he only beheld, as in a mirror, the youthful face which had then been his, and he contemplated it and scrutinised it, as though it had been the face of a stranger.