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Theresa Raquin
Theresa Raquin

Chapter XXII

Cover illustration for Theresa Raquin
Context Illustration Reading 1/21 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The following nights proved still more cruel.
The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.
At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.
The sort of remorse Laurent experienced was purely physical.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Theresa Raquin

Chapter XXII

Reading 1/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The following nights proved still more cruel.
Line 2
The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
Line 3
They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.
Line 4
At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.
Line 5
The sort of remorse Laurent experienced was purely physical.

Learner Dictionary

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

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.”

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.”

Atrocious adjective US /əˈtroʊʃəs/

shockingly wicked, cruel, or extremely bad

From this reading “They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.”

Blood noun US /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.”

Cruel adjective US /ˈkruːəl/

causing pain or showing no kindness

From this reading “The following nights proved still more cruel.”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.”

Murderers noun US /ˈmurderers/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.”

Nights noun US /naɪts/

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading “The following nights proved still more cruel.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The following nights proved still more cruel.”

Themselves pronoun US /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading “The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.”

All words in this reading · 73

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 The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

able

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

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.

atrociousadjectiveUS /əˈtroʊʃəs/

shockingly wicked, cruel, or extremely bad

From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.

attacks

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

From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.

bloodnounUS /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

conversation

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

From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.

crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/

causing pain or showing no kindness

From this reading The following nights proved still more cruel.

defend

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

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

doing

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

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

draw

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

From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.

drowned

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

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

effect

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

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

exasperated

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

From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.

exchange

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

From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.

experienced

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

From this reading The sort of remorse Laurent experienced was purely physical.

following

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

From this reading The following nights proved still more cruel.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

hours

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

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

irritated

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

From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.

Laurent

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

From this reading The sort of remorse Laurent experienced was purely physical.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.

man

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

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

more

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

From this reading The following nights proved still more cruel.

murderersnounUS /ˈmurderers/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

nerves

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

From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.

nightsnounUS /naɪts/

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading The following nights proved still more cruel.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

pass

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

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

physical

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

From this reading The sort of remorse Laurent experienced was purely physical.

proved

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

From this reading The following nights proved still more cruel.

purely

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

From this reading The sort of remorse Laurent experienced was purely physical.

raving

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

From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.

ready

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

From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.

remorse

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

From this reading The sort of remorse Laurent experienced was purely physical.

shuddered

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

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

simple

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

From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

slightest

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

From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

sort

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

From this reading The sort of remorse Laurent experienced was purely physical.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The following nights proved still more cruel.

strange

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

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

suffering

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

From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.

talk

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

From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.

terror

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

From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The following nights proved still more cruel.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

together

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

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

twenty-four

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

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

underwent

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

From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The sort of remorse Laurent experienced was purely physical.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.

wished

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

From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.

word

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

From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.