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The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 4
The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 4

Chapter V

Cover illustration for The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 4
Context Illustration Reading 1/36 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The wedding took place in the middle of December.
It was simple, the bridal pair not being rich.
Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.
For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.
It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 4

Chapter V

Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The wedding took place in the middle of December.
Line 2
It was simple, the bridal pair not being rich.
Line 3
Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.
Line 4
For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.
Line 5
It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.

Learner Dictionary

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

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “It was simple, the bridal pair not being rich.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.”

Pleasant noun US /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The wedding took place in the middle of December.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.”

All words in this reading · 93

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.

accompany

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

adorned

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

From this reading It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

apples

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

From this reading It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.

attired

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

autumn

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

From this reading For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.

become

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

From this reading For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading It was simple, the bridal pair not being rich.

betrothed

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

blossoming

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

From this reading It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.

bridal

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

From this reading It was simple, the bridal pair not being rich.

bring

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

brown

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

From this reading For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.

caps

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

From this reading It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.

Cesaire

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

clothes

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

cold

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

From this reading It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.

days

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

From this reading For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.

December

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

From this reading The wedding took place in the middle of December.

early

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

earth

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

From this reading For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.

eight

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

enclosures

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

From this reading It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.

family

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

fertilized

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

From this reading For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.

fetch

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

flowering

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

From this reading It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

friends

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

go

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

houses

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

From this reading It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.

ice

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

From this reading For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The wedding took place in the middle of December.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was simple, the bridal pair not being rich.

kitchen-table

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.

livid

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

From this reading For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.

Mayor's

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

members

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

middle

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

From this reading The wedding took place in the middle of December.

month

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

From this reading It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

new

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was simple, the bridal pair not being rich.

o'clock

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The wedding took place in the middle of December.

office

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

pair

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

From this reading It was simple, the bridal pair not being rich.

place

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

From this reading The wedding took place in the middle of December.

pleasantnounUS /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.

powdered

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

From this reading It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.

ready

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

rich

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

From this reading It was simple, the bridal pair not being rich.

round

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

From this reading It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.

savings

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

From this reading For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.

seated

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.

sheet

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

From this reading For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.

simple

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

From this reading It was simple, the bridal pair not being rich.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

sleeping

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

From this reading For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.

snowing

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

From this reading For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.

thatched

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

From this reading It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The wedding took place in the middle of December.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

too

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The wedding took place in the middle of December.

trees

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

From this reading It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading For the last eight days, it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn savings had become livid, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.

waited

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was simple, the bridal pair not being rich.

wedding

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

From this reading The wedding took place in the middle of December.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

white

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

From this reading It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the Mayor's office; but, it was too early, he seated himself before the kitchen-table, and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was cold in the thatched houses adorned with white caps; and the round apples in the trees of the enclosures seemed to be flowering, powdered as they had been in the pleasant month of their blossoming.