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The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2
The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2 is here in full — 34 sentences across 7 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2
Context Illustration Reading 1/6 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Then a cloud of constant misery began for her.
She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head: "Suppose people were to know."
This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.
She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.
The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2 is here in full — 34 sentences across 7 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/6 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Then a cloud of constant misery began for her.
/ðen ə klaʊd ʌv ˈkɑːnstənt ˈmɪzəri bɪˈɡæn fɔːr hɜːr/
Line 2
She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head: "Suppose people were to know."
/ʃiː wɜːrkt məˈkænɪkli wɪˈθaʊt ˈθɪŋkɪŋ ʌv wʌt ʃiː wɑːz ˈduːɪŋ wɪð wʌn fɪkst aɪˈdiːə ɪn hɜːr hed səˈpoʊz ˈpiːpəl wɜːr tuː noʊ/
Line 3
This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.
/ðɪs kənˈtɪnjuːəl ˈfiːlɪŋ meɪd hɜːr soʊ ˌɪnˈkeɪpəbəl ʌv ˈriːzənɪŋ ðæt ʃiː dɪd nɑːt ˈiːvɪn traɪ tuː θɪŋk ʌv ˈeni miːnz ʌv əˈvɔɪdɪŋ ðə dɪsˈɡreɪs ðæt ʃiː nuː mʌst ɪnˈsuː wɪtʃ wɑːz ˌɪˈrepərəbəl ənd ˈdrɔːɪŋ ˈnɪrər ˈevəri deɪ ənd wɪtʃ wɑːz æz ʃʊr æz deθ ˌɪtˈself/
Line 4
She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.
Line 5
The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

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.

avoiding verb US /əˈvɔɪdɪŋ/

-ing form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something

From this reading “This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.”

continual adjective US /kənˈtɪnjuːəl/

recurring regularly or frequently in a prolonged and closely spaced series

From this reading “This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.”

ensue verb US /ɪnˈsuː/

issue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc.); end

From this reading “This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.”

haggard adjective US /ˈhæɡərd/

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

From this reading “The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."”

irreparable adjective US /ˌɪˈrepərəbəl/

impossible to repair, rectify, or amend

From this reading “This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.”

persistently adverb US /pərˈsɪstəntli/

in a persistent manner

From this reading “She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.”

reasoning noun US /ˈriːzənɪŋ/

thinking that is coherent and logical

From this reading “This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.”

toe noun US /toʊ/

one of the digits of the foot

From this reading “She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.”

All words in this reading · 128

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 Then a cloud of constant misery began for her.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

anxiousadjectiveUS /ˈæŋkʃəs/

eagerly desirous

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

anybodypronounUS /ˈenibədi/

any person at all

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

appearverbUS /əˈpɪr/

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

apronnounUS /ˈeɪprən/

a garment of cloth or leather or plastic that is tied about the waist and worn to protect your clothing

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

avoidingverbUS /əˈvɔɪdɪŋ/

-ing form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Then a cloud of constant misery began for her.

brokenadjectiveUS /ˈbroʊkən/

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

changeverbUS /tʃeɪndʒ/

cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

cloudverbUS /klaʊd/

make overcast or cloudy

From this reading Then a cloud of constant misery began for her.

constantadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnstənt/

unvarying in nature

From this reading Then a cloud of constant misery began for her.

continualadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəl/

recurring regularly or frequently in a prolonged and closely spaced series

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

deathnounUS /deθ/

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

disgraceverbUS /dɪsˈɡreɪs/

bring shame or dishonor upon

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

doingverbUS /ˈduːɪŋ/

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head: "Suppose people were to know."

drawingnounUS /ˈdrɔːɪŋ/

an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

ensueverbUS /ɪnˈsuː/

issue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc.); end

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

feelingnounUS /ˈfiːlɪŋ/

the experiencing of affective and emotional states

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

fixedadjectiveUS /fɪkst/

(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head: "Suppose people were to know."

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Then a cloud of constant misery began for her.

frightenedadjectiveUS /ˈfraɪtənd/

made afraid

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

grownadjectiveUS /ɡroʊn/

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

haggardadjectiveUS /ˈhæɡərd/

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

hairnounUS /her/

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

handsnounUS /hændz/

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head: "Suppose people were to know."

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Then a cloud of constant misery began for her.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

how

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

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

ideanounUS /aɪˈdiːə/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head: "Suppose people were to know."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head: "Suppose people were to know."

incapableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkeɪpəbəl/

(followed by “of”) lacking capacity or ability

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

irreparableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈrepərəbəl/

impossible to repair, rectify, or amend

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

knewverbUS /nuː/

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head: "Suppose people were to know."

latelyadverbUS /ˈleɪtli/

in the recent past

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

looking-glass

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

masternounUS /ˈmæstər/

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

meansnounUS /miːnz/

thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

mechanicallyadverbUS /məˈkænɪkli/

in a mechanical manner; by a mechanism

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head: "Suppose people were to know."

minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

miserynounUS /ˈmɪzəri/

a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune

From this reading Then a cloud of constant misery began for her.

monthsnounUS /mʌnθs/

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

neareradverbUS /ˈnɪrər/

(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

noticenounUS /ˈnoʊtəs/

an announcement containing information about an event

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

occasionallyadverbUS /əˈkeɪʒənəli/

sporadically and infrequently

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Then a cloud of constant misery began for her.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head: "Suppose people were to know."

others

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head: "Suppose people were to know."

persistentlyadverbUS /pərˈsɪstəntli/

in a persistent manner

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

piecenounUS /piːs/

a separate part of a whole

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

pooradjectiveUS /puːr/

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

questionverbUS /ˈkwestʃən/

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

reasoningnounUS /ˈriːzənɪŋ/

thinking that is coherent and logical

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

scarcelyadverbUS /ˈskersli/

only a very short time before

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head: "Suppose people were to know."

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

sizenounUS /saɪz/

the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

spokenounUS /spoʊk/

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

stomachnounUS /ˈstʌmək/

an enlarged and muscular saclike organ of the alimentary canal; the principal organ of digestion

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

stoppedadjectiveUS /stɑːpt/

(of a nose) blocked

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

stupidadjectiveUS /ˈstuːpəd/

lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

SupposeverbUS /səˈpoʊz/

express a supposition

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head: "Suppose people were to know."

sureadjectiveUS /ʃʊr/

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

ThenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then a cloud of constant misery began for her.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

thinkingnounUS /ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/

the process of using your mind to consider something carefully

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head: "Suppose people were to know."

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head: "Suppose people were to know."

toenounUS /toʊ/

one of the digits of the foot

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

topnounUS /tɑːp/

the upper part of anything

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

tremblingnounUS /ˈtrembəlɪŋ/

a shaky motion

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

triedadjectiveUS /traɪd/

tested and proved useful or correct

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

tryverbUS /traɪ/

make an effort or attempt

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

understandverbUS /ˌʌndərˈstænd/

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head: "Suppose people were to know."

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head: "Suppose people were to know."

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head: "Suppose people were to know."

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning, that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable, and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head: "Suppose people were to know."

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head: "Suppose people were to know."

workedverbUS /wɜːrkt/

past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head: "Suppose people were to know."

workingadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrkɪŋ/

actively engaged in paid work

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others, and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass at which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and during the day she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether the size of her stomach did not make her apron look too short.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading The months went on, and she scarcely spoke now, and when she was asked a question, she did not appear to understand, but she had a frightened look, with haggard eyes and trembling hands, which made her master say to her occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."

Chapter 3 of The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2 by Guy de Maupassant holds 34 sentences, grouped into 7 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

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Chapter 3 holds 34 sentences of The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2, unabridged, divided into 7 reading sections.

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