adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He saw himself stagnating in Angoulême like a frog under a stone in a marsh.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
alluringadjectiveUS /əˈlʊrɪŋ/
highly attractive and able to arouse hope or desire
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
Angoulême
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw himself stagnating in Angoulême like a frog under a stone in a marsh.
armsnounUS /ɑːrmz/
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
bewilderedadjectiveUS /bɪˈwɪldərd/
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
bird's-eyeadjective
as from an altitude or distance
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
brainnounUS /breɪn/
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
broughtverbUS /brɔːt/
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
browsnounUS /braʊz/
plural of “brow” — the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
diademnounUS /ˈdaɪədem/
an ornamental jeweled headdress signifying sovereignty
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
EldoradonounUS /ˌeldərˈɑːdoʊ/
an imaginary place of great wealth and opportunity; sought in South America by 16th-century explorers
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
EverythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Everything smiled upon genius.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
frognounUS /frɑːɡ/
any of various tailless stout-bodied amphibians with long hind limbs for leaping; semiaquatic and terrestrial species
From this reading He saw himself stagnating in Angoulême like a frog under a stone in a marsh.
geniusnounUS /ˈdʒiːnjəs/
someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality
From this reading Everything smiled upon genius.
goldenadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊldən/
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
GreatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Great men would greet him there as one of their order.
greetverbUS /ɡriːt/
express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading Great men would greet him there as one of their order.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
halfadjectiveUS /hæf/
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He saw himself stagnating in Angoulême like a frog under a stone in a marsh.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
hithertoadverbUS /ˈhɪðɜːrˈtuː/
used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
ideasnounUS /aɪˈdiːəz/
plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
imaginings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He saw himself stagnating in Angoulême like a frog under a stone in a marsh.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He saw himself stagnating in Angoulême like a frog under a stone in a marsh.
listeningnounUS /ˈlɪsənɪŋ/
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
Lucien
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
marshnounUS /mɑːrʃ/
low-lying wet land with grassy vegetation; usually is a transition zone between land and water
From this reading He saw himself stagnating in Angoulême like a frog under a stone in a marsh.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading Great men would greet him there as one of their order.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Great men would greet him there as one of their order.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
ordernounUS /ˈɔːrdər/
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Great men would greet him there as one of their order.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
outstretchedadjectiveUS /aʊtˈstretʃt/
fully extended especially in length
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
ParisnounUS /ˈperɪs/
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
provincialadjectiveUS /prəˈvɪnʃəl/
of or associated with a province
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/
done or occurring in a brief period of time
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
robesnounUS /roʊbz/
plural of “robe” — any loose flowing garment
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
rosenounUS /roʊz/
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
royaladjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading He saw himself stagnating in Angoulême like a frog under a stone in a marsh.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
smiledverbUS /smaɪld/
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Everything smiled upon genius.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
splendors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
stagnatingverbUS /ˈstæɡneɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “stagnate” — stand still
From this reading He saw himself stagnating in Angoulême like a frog under a stone in a marsh.
stonenounUS /stoʊn/
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading He saw himself stagnating in Angoulême like a frog under a stone in a marsh.
suddenlyadverbUS /ˈsʌdənli/
happening unexpectedly
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
swiftlyadverbUS /ˈswɪftli/
in a swift manner
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
talentnounUS /ˈtælənt/
natural abilities or qualities
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Great men would greet him there as one of their order.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Great men would greet him there as one of their order.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
ToparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading He saw himself stagnating in Angoulême like a frog under a stone in a marsh.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Everything smiled upon genius.
usingnounUS /ˈjuːzɪŋ/
an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
viewnounUS /vjuː/
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
widenedverbUS /ˈwaɪdənd/
past form of “widen” — become broader or wider or more extensive
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Paris and her splendors rose before him; Paris, the Eldorado of provincial imaginings, with golden robes and the royal diadem about her brows, and arms outstretched to talent of every kind.
wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/
the words that are spoken
From this reading To Lucien, listening to the alluring words, and bewildered by the rapid bird’s-eye view of Paris which they brought before him, it seemed as if hitherto he had been using only half his brain and suddenly had found the other half, so swiftly his ideas widened.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Great men would greet him there as one of their order.
