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The Three Musketeers
The Three Musketeers

Chapter XI

Chapter LIII.

Chapter 11, section 1: A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police in
Context Illustration Reading 1/42 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.
As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.
When in a house, of whatever kind it may be, an individual suspected of any crime is arrested, the arrest is held secret.
Four or five men are placed in ambuscade in the first room.
The door is opened to all who knock.
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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 Musketeers

Chapter XI

Reading 1/42 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.
Line 2
As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.
Line 3
When in a house, of whatever kind it may be, an individual suspected of any crime is arrested, the arrest is held secret.
Line 4
Four or five men are placed in ambuscade in the first room.
Line 5
The door is opened to all who knock.

Learner Dictionary

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

mousetrap noun US /ˈmaʊstræp/

a trap for catching mice

From this reading “A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.”

Collocations
A MOUSETRAPA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
MOUSETRAP INA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
All words in this reading · 79

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 A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

all

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

From this reading The door is opened to all who knock.

allow

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

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

ambuscade

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

From this reading Four or five men are placed in ambuscade in the first room.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading When in a house, of whatever kind it may be, an individual suspected of any crime is arrested, the arrest is held secret.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

any

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

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

applied

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

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

arrest

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

From this reading When in a house, of whatever kind it may be, an individual suspected of any crime is arrested, the arrest is held secret.

arrested

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

From this reading When in a house, of whatever kind it may be, an individual suspected of any crime is arrested, the arrest is held secret.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading When in a house, of whatever kind it may be, an individual suspected of any crime is arrested, the arrest is held secret.

CENTURY

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

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

crime

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

From this reading When in a house, of whatever kind it may be, an individual suspected of any crime is arrested, the arrest is held secret.

date

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

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

days

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

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

de

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

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

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

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

door

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

From this reading The door is opened to all who knock.

explain

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

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

familiar

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

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

fifteen

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

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

five

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

From this reading Four or five men are placed in ambuscade in the first room.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

forming

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

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

Four

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

From this reading Four or five men are placed in ambuscade in the first room.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

held

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

From this reading When in a house, of whatever kind it may be, an individual suspected of any crime is arrested, the arrest is held secret.

house

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

From this reading When in a house, of whatever kind it may be, an individual suspected of any crime is arrested, the arrest is held secret.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

individual

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

From this reading When in a house, of whatever kind it may be, an individual suspected of any crime is arrested, the arrest is held secret.

invented

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

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

invention

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

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

Jerusalem

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

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

kind

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

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

knock

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

From this reading The door is opened to all who knock.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading When in a house, of whatever kind it may be, an individual suspected of any crime is arrested, the arrest is held secret.

men

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

From this reading Four or five men are placed in ambuscade in the first room.

MOUSETRAPnounUS /ˈmaʊstræp/

a trap for catching mice

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

mousetraps

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

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

opened

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

From this reading The door is opened to all who knock.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Four or five men are placed in ambuscade in the first room.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

perhaps

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

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

placed

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

From this reading Four or five men are placed in ambuscade in the first room.

police

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

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

readers

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

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

room

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

From this reading Four or five men are placed in ambuscade in the first room.

Rue

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

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading When in a house, of whatever kind it may be, an individual suspected of any crime is arrested, the arrest is held secret.

SEVENTEENTH

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

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

slang

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

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

societies

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

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

soon

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

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

suspected

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

From this reading When in a house, of whatever kind it may be, an individual suspected of any crime is arrested, the arrest is held secret.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soon as societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that police invented mousetraps.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading When in a house, of whatever kind it may be, an individual suspected of any crime is arrested, the arrest is held secret.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When in a house, of whatever kind it may be, an individual suspected of any crime is arrested, the arrest is held secret.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The door is opened to all who knock.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

word

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

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

years

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

From this reading As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word for the first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is a mousetrap.

Chapter Quiz

What is the central narrative or theme conveyed in this section of Chapter LIII. CAPTIVITY: THE SECOND DAY?

Which core linguistic virtue or character attribute is emphasized in this passage?

According to the text: "Chapter LIII....", what tone does the author establish?

Shadowing Practice

Narrator: Chapter LIII.
Narrator: CAPTIVITY: THE SECOND DAY