adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
abodenounUS /əˈboʊd/
any address at which you dwell more than temporarily
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
accessibleadjectiveUS /ækˈsesəbəl/
capable of being reached
From this reading Although the cardinal was often tormented by fear, he was more often in need of counsel and information, and he was therefore sufficiently accessible.
admittedverbUS /ədˈmɪtɪd/
inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
AlthoughconjunctionUS /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Although the cardinal was often tormented by fear, he was more often in need of counsel and information, and he was therefore sufficiently accessible.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was therefore at the third door that those who solicited or were bidden to an audience underwent their formal interrogatory.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
announcedadjectiveUS /əˈnaʊnst/
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
audiencenounUS /ˈɑːdiəns/
a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance
From this reading It was therefore at the third door that those who solicited or were bidden to an audience underwent their formal interrogatory.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
Bernouin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
besidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/
in addition to; as well as
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
biddenverbUS /ˈbɪdɪn/
inflected form of “bid” — propose a payment
From this reading It was therefore at the third door that those who solicited or were bidden to an audience underwent their formal interrogatory.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Although the cardinal was often tormented by fear, he was more often in need of counsel and information, and he was therefore sufficiently accessible.
CardinalnounUS /ˈkɑːrdənəl/
(Roman Catholic Church) one of a group of more than 100 prominent bishops in the Sacred College who advise the Pope and elect new Popes
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
Cerberusnoun
(Greek mythology) the three-headed dog guarding the entrance to Hades; son of Typhon
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
charmnounUS /tʃɑːrm/
attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
communicateverbUS /kəˈmjuːnəkeɪt/
transmit information
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
conventnounUS /ˈkɑːnvənt/
a religious residence especially for nuns
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
counselnounUS /ˈkaʊnsəl/
a lawyer who pleads cases in court
From this reading Although the cardinal was often tormented by fear, he was more often in need of counsel and information, and he was therefore sufficiently accessible.
Cromwell'snounUS /ˈkrɑːmwɪlz/
possessive form of “cromwell” — English general and statesman who led the parliamentary army in the English Civil War (1599-1658)
From this reading Cromwell’s Letter.
difficultynounUS /ˈdɪfəkəlti/
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
dismounted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
doorkeepers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
easilyadverbUS /ˈiːzəli/
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
faithfuladjectiveUS /ˈfeɪθfəl/
steadfast in affection or allegiance
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
fearverbUS /fɪr/
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Although the cardinal was often tormented by fear, he was more often in need of counsel and information, and he was therefore sufficiently accessible.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
formaladjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrməl/
being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)
From this reading It was therefore at the third door that those who solicited or were bidden to an audience underwent their formal interrogatory.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
gatenounUS /ɡeɪt/
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
goldnounUS /ɡoʊld/
coins made of gold
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
guardnounUS /ɡɑːrd/
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
guardsnounUS /ɡɑːrdz/
plural of “guard” — a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
importancenounUS /ˌɪmˈpɔːrtəns/
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Although the cardinal was often tormented by fear, he was more often in need of counsel and information, and he was therefore sufficiently accessible.
informationnounUS /ˌɪnfərˈmeɪʃən/
a message received and understood
From this reading Although the cardinal was often tormented by fear, he was more often in need of counsel and information, and he was therefore sufficiently accessible.
interrogatorynounUS /ˌɪnteˈrɑːɡətɔːri/
formal systematic questioning
From this reading It was therefore at the third door that those who solicited or were bidden to an audience underwent their formal interrogatory.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was therefore at the third door that those who solicited or were bidden to an audience underwent their formal interrogatory.
LetternounUS /ˈletər/
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading Cromwell’s Letter.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
Mazarin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Although the cardinal was often tormented by fear, he was more often in need of counsel and information, and he was therefore sufficiently accessible.
neednounUS /niːd/
a condition requiring relief
From this reading Although the cardinal was often tormented by fear, he was more often in need of counsel and information, and he was therefore sufficiently accessible.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/
many times at short intervals
From this reading Although the cardinal was often tormented by fear, he was more often in need of counsel and information, and he was therefore sufficiently accessible.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was therefore at the third door that those who solicited or were bidden to an audience underwent their formal interrogatory.
Palais
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
passedverbUS /pæst/
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
queennounUS /kwiːn/
the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
quitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
RoyaladjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
secondnounUS /ˈsekənd/
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
softenverbUS /ˈsɑːfən/
make (images or sounds) soft or softer
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
solicitedverbUS /səˈlɪsɪtɪd/
past form of “solicit” — make a solicitation or entreaty for something; request urgently or persistently
From this reading It was therefore at the third door that those who solicited or were bidden to an audience underwent their formal interrogatory.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
speechnounUS /spiːtʃ/
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
sufficientlyadverbUS /səˈfɪʃəntli/
to a sufficient degree
From this reading Although the cardinal was often tormented by fear, he was more often in need of counsel and information, and he was therefore sufficiently accessible.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It was therefore at the third door that those who solicited or were bidden to an audience underwent their formal interrogatory.
thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Although the cardinal was often tormented by fear, he was more often in need of counsel and information, and he was therefore sufficiently accessible.
thirdnounUS /θɜːrd/
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading It was therefore at the third door that those who solicited or were bidden to an audience underwent their formal interrogatory.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
tormentedadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːrmentɪd/
experiencing intense pain especially mental pain
From this reading Although the cardinal was often tormented by fear, he was more often in need of counsel and information, and he was therefore sufficiently accessible.
trueadjectiveUS /truː/
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
underwentverbUS /ˌʌndərˈwent/
inflected form of “undergo” — pass through
From this reading It was therefore at the third door that those who solicited or were bidden to an audience underwent their formal interrogatory.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
wandnounUS /wɑːnd/
a rod used by a magician or water diviner
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Although the cardinal was often tormented by fear, he was more often in need of counsel and information, and he was therefore sufficiently accessible.
watchedverbUS /wɑːtʃt/
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was therefore at the third door that those who solicited or were bidden to an audience underwent their formal interrogatory.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading It was therefore at the third door that those who solicited or were bidden to an audience underwent their formal interrogatory.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The true difficulty of being admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even the second was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides the guard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom no speech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to the Palais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abode and announced to the guards that he had something of importance to communicate to Cardinal Mazarin.
