Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2
The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2 is here in full — 6 sentences across 2 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2
Context Illustration Reading 1/1 · 6 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 6
There were tiresome ceremonies yesterday, and to-day, which I went through almost mechanically.
First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.
[Footnote 11: Civil marriages are obligatory in France, though usually followed by the religious rite.--TRANSLATOR.]
And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.
Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.
I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2 is here in full — 6 sentences across 2 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
There were tiresome ceremonies yesterday, and to-day, which I went through almost mechanically.
Line 2
First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.
Line 3
[Footnote 11: Civil marriages are obligatory in France, though usually followed by the religious rite.--TRANSLATOR.]
Line 4
And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.
Line 5
Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.
Line 6
I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

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.

Immaculate adjective US /ˌɪˈmækjuːlɪt/

completely neat and clean

From this reading “I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.”

obligatory adjective US /əˈblɪɡətɔːri/

morally or legally constraining or binding

From this reading “[Footnote 11: Civil marriages are obligatory in France, though usually followed by the religious rite.--TRANSLATOR.]”

Psyche noun US /ˈsaɪki/

that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason

rape verb US /reɪp/

force (someone) to have sex against their will

From this reading “I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.”

rite noun US /raɪt/

an established ceremony prescribed by a religion

From this reading “[Footnote 11: Civil marriages are obligatory in France, though usually followed by the religious rite.--TRANSLATOR.]”

rivets noun US /ˈrɪvəts/

plural of “rivet” — ornament consisting of a circular rounded protuberance (as on a vault or shield or belt)

From this reading “I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.”

translator noun US /trænˈsleɪtər/

a person who translates written messages from one language to another

From this reading “[Footnote 11: Civil marriages are obligatory in France, though usually followed by the religious rite.--TRANSLATOR.]”

unctuous adjective US /ˈʌŋtʃwəs/

unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech

From this reading “And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.”

All words in this reading · 170

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.

11

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

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

addressverbUS /ˈædres/

speak to

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading There were tiresome ceremonies yesterday, and to-day, which I went through almost mechanically.

altarnounUS /ˈɔːltər/

the table in Christian churches where communion is given

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading There were tiresome ceremonies yesterday, and to-day, which I went through almost mechanically.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading [Footnote 11: Civil marriages are obligatory in France, though usually followed by the religious rite.--TRANSLATOR.]

artificialadjectiveUS /ˌɑːrtəˈfɪʃəl/

contrived by art rather than nature

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

bondagenounUS /ˈbɑːndɪdʒ/

the state of being under the control of a force or influence or abstract power

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

boundadjectiveUS /baʊnd/

confined by bonds

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading [Footnote 11: Civil marriages are obligatory in France, though usually followed by the religious rite.--TRANSLATOR.]

caressesnounUS /kərˈesɪz/

plural of “caress” — a gentle affectionate stroking (or something resembling it)

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

ceremoniesnounUS /ˈserəmoʊniz/

plural of “ceremony” — a formal event performed on a special occasion

From this reading There were tiresome ceremonies yesterday, and to-day, which I went through almost mechanically.

ceremonynounUS /ˈserəmoʊni/

a formal event performed on a special occasion

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

chancesnounUS /ˈtʃænsəz/

plural of “chance” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

choirnounUS /ˈkwaɪər/

a chorus that sings as part of a religious ceremony

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

churchnounUS /tʃɜːrtʃ/

one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

civiladjectiveUS /ˈsɪvəl/

applying to ordinary citizens as contrasted with the military

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

confirmationnounUS /ˌkɑːnfərˈmeɪʃən/

additional proof that something that was believed (some fact or hypothesis or theory) is correct

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

consecrates

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

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

countedverbUS /ˈkaʊntɪd/

past form of “count” — determine the number or amount of

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

coveredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌvərd/

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

decoratedadjectiveUS /ˈdekəreɪtɪd/

provided with something intended to increase its beauty or distinction

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

downcastadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnkæst/

directed downward

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

dreamsnounUS /driːmz/

plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

dressverbUS /dres/

put on clothes

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

ecstacies

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

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

Elaine

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

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

everydayadjectiveUS /ˈevriˈdeɪ/

found in the ordinary course of events

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

existencenounUS /eɡˈzɪstəns/

the state or fact of existing

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

feltverbUS /felt/

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

fleshnounUS /fleʃ/

the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

flowersnounUS /ˈflaʊərz/

plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

followedverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊd/

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading [Footnote 11: Civil marriages are obligatory in France, though usually followed by the religious rite.--TRANSLATOR.]

FootnotenounUS /ˈfʊtnoʊt/

a printed note placed below the text on a printed page

From this reading [Footnote 11: Civil marriages are obligatory in France, though usually followed by the religious rite.--TRANSLATOR.]

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

formnounUS /fɔːrm/

the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

FrancenounUS /fræns/

a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe

From this reading [Footnote 11: Civil marriages are obligatory in France, though usually followed by the religious rite.--TRANSLATOR.]

futureadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtʃər/

yet to be or coming

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

gracefuladjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪsfəl/

characterized by beauty of movement, style, form, or execution

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

greetingsnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋz/

plural of “greeting” — (usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

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 Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

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 And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

how

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

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

hurrynounUS /ˈhɜːri/

a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

husbandnounUS /ˈhʌzbənd/

a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading There were tiresome ceremonies yesterday, and to-day, which I went through almost mechanically.

ImmaculateadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmækjuːlɪt/

completely neat and clean

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

imperiousadjUS /ɪmˈpɪr.i.əs/

Assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering. (Hách dịch, độc đoán, kiêu kỳ.)

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

innocentadjectiveUS /ˈɪnəsənt/

free from evil or guilt

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

irksomeadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrksəm/

so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

KissnounUS /kɪs/

the act of caressing with the lips (or an instance thereof)

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

lawnounUS /lɔː/

the collection of rules imposed by authority

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

lipsnounUS /lɪps/

plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

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 Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

maddeningadjectiveUS /ˈmædənɪŋ/

extremely annoying or displeasing

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

marksnounUS /mɑːrks/

English businessman who created a retail chain (1888-1964)

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

marriagesnounUS /ˈmerɪdʒɪz/

plural of “marriage” — the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)

From this reading [Footnote 11: Civil marriages are obligatory in France, though usually followed by the religious rite.--TRANSLATOR.]

mayornounUS /ˈmeɪər/

the head of a city government

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

mechanicallyadverbUS /məˈkænɪkli/

in a mechanical manner; by a mechanism

From this reading There were tiresome ceremonies yesterday, and to-day, which I went through almost mechanically.

musicnounUS /ˈmjuːzɪk/

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

obligatoryadjectiveUS /əˈblɪɡətɔːri/

morally or legally constraining or binding

From this reading [Footnote 11: Civil marriages are obligatory in France, though usually followed by the religious rite.--TRANSLATOR.]

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

orangenounUS /ˈɔːrəndʒ/

round yellow to orange fruit of any of several citrus trees

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

organnounUS /ˈɔːrɡən/

a fully differentiated structural and functional unit in an animal that is specialized for some particular function

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

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

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/

by chance

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

periodsnounUS /ˈpɪriədz/

plural of “period” — an amount of time

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

preparedadjectiveUS /priˈperd/

made ready or fit or suitable beforehand

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

priestnounUS /priːst/

a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

processionnounUS /prəˈseʃən/

(theology) the origination of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

proudadjectiveUS /praʊd/

feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

PsychenounUS /ˈsaɪki/

that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

rapeverbUS /reɪp/

force (someone) to have sex against their will

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

recognizeverbUS /ˈrekəɡnaɪz/

accept (someone) to be what is claimed or accept his power and authority

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

religiousadjectiveUS /rɪˈlɪdʒəs/

concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church

From this reading [Footnote 11: Civil marriages are obligatory in France, though usually followed by the religious rite.--TRANSLATOR.]

responsenounUS /rɪˈspɑːns/

a result

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

revealingadjectiveUS /rɪˈviːlɪŋ/

disclosing unintentionally something concealed

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

ritenounUS /raɪt/

an established ceremony prescribed by a religion

From this reading [Footnote 11: Civil marriages are obligatory in France, though usually followed by the religious rite.--TRANSLATOR.]

rivetsnounUS /ˈrɪvəts/

plural of “rivet” — ornament consisting of a circular rounded protuberance (as on a vault or shield or belt)

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

scarcelyadverbUS /ˈskersli/

only a very short time before

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

servicenounUS /ˈsɜːrvəs/

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

shakingnounUS /ˈʃeɪkɪŋ/

the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

showverbUS /ʃoʊ/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

solemnadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləm/

dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

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

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

statenounUS /steɪt/

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

submitverbUS /səbˈmɪt/

refer for judgment or consideration

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

sufferingsnounUS /ˈsʌfərɪŋz/

plural of “suffering” — a state of acute pain

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

suggestionnounUS /səˈdʒestʃən/

an idea that is suggested

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

symbolicaladjective

relating to or using or proceeding by means of symbols

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

tenderadjectiveUS /ˈtendər/

given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There were tiresome ceremonies yesterday, and to-day, which I went through almost mechanically.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading [Footnote 11: Civil marriages are obligatory in France, though usually followed by the religious rite.--TRANSLATOR.]

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading There were tiresome ceremonies yesterday, and to-day, which I went through almost mechanically.

tiresomeadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərsəm/

so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness

From this reading There were tiresome ceremonies yesterday, and to-day, which I went through almost mechanically.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

to-day

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

From this reading There were tiresome ceremonies yesterday, and to-day, which I went through almost mechanically.

TRANSLATORnounUS /trænˈsleɪtər/

a person who translates written messages from one language to another

From this reading [Footnote 11: Civil marriages are obligatory in France, though usually followed by the religious rite.--TRANSLATOR.]

triumphantadjectiveUS /traɪˈʌmfənt/

joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

tullenoun

a fine (often starched) net used for veils or tutus or gowns

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

turnsnounUS /tɜːrnz/

plural of “turn” — a circular segment of a curve

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

unctuousadjectiveUS /ˈʌŋtʃwəs/

unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

usuallyadverbUS /ˈjuːʒəwəli/

under normal conditions

From this reading [Footnote 11: Civil marriages are obligatory in France, though usually followed by the religious rite.--TRANSLATOR.]

vainadjectiveUS /veɪn/

characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

veilnounUS /veɪl/

a garment that covers the head and face

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

vestrynoun

in the Protestant Episcopal Church: a committee elected by the congregation to work with the churchwardens in managing the temporal affairs of the church

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

virginnounUS /ˈvɜːrdʒɪn/

a person who has never had sex

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

voicesnounUS /ˈvɔɪsəz/

plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

vowedverbUS /vaʊd/

past form of “vow” — make a vow; promise

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

wentverbUS /went/

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

From this reading There were tiresome ceremonies yesterday, and to-day, which I went through almost mechanically.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading There were tiresome ceremonies yesterday, and to-day, which I went through almost mechanically.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading There were tiresome ceremonies yesterday, and to-day, which I went through almost mechanically.

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

whompronounUS /huːm/

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

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading Under the long tulle veil, which almost covered her, with the symbolical orange flowers on her bright, light hair, in her white dress, with her downcast eyes and her graceful figure, Elaine looked to me like a _Psyche_, whose innocent heart was vowed to love.

wifenounUS /waɪf/

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

yesnounUS /jes/

an affirmative

From this reading First, there is the yes before the mayor at the civil ceremony,[11] like some everyday response in church, which one is in a hurry to get over, and which has almost the suggestion of an imperious law, to which one is bound to submit, and of a state of bondage, which will, perhaps, be very irksome, since the whole of existence is made up of chances.

yesterdaynounUS /ˈjestərdeɪ/

the day immediately before today

From this reading There were tiresome ceremonies yesterday, and to-day, which I went through almost mechanically.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading And then the service in church, with the decorated altar, the voices of the choir, the solemn music of the organ, the unctuous address of the old priest who marks his periods, who seemed quite proud of having prepared Elaine for confirmation, and then the procession to the vestry, the shaking hands, and the greetings of people whom you scarcely see, and whom you do, or do not recognize.

youthnounUS /juːθ/

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading I felt how vain and artificial all this form was, how little this show counted before this _Kiss_, the triumphant, revealing, maddening Kiss, which rivets the flesh of the wife to the lips and all the flesh of the husband, which turns the Immaculate youth of the virgin into a woman, and consecrates it to tender caresses, to dreams and to future ecstacies, through the sufferings of a rape.

Chapter 14 of The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2 by Guy de Maupassant holds 6 sentences, grouped into 2 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.

What does chapter 14 of The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2 contain?

Chapter 14 holds 6 sentences of The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2, unabridged, divided into 2 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 14 of The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2 by Guy de Maupassant exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 6 sentences, grouped into 2 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 14 of The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2?

Work through the 2 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 2 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 14 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 14 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2

Common questions about reading The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2 by Guy de Maupassant on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #?, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2 take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2 section by section

How to work through The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 0 chapters of The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2 to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
One of the 0 chapters of The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.