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Under Sentence of Death
Under Sentence of Death

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Under Sentence of Death is here in full — 108 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Victor Hugo • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Under Sentence of Death
Context Illustration Reading 1/21 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
=UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH;= OR, _A CRIMINAL’S LAST HOURS._ TOGETHER WITH TOLD UNDER CANVAS, AND CLAUDE GUEUX.
BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.
LONDON: CROOME & CO., 12, ST.
BRIDE STREET, LUDGATE CIRCUS, E.C.
_UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH._ UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Under Sentence of Death

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Under Sentence of Death is here in full — 108 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
=UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH;= OR, _A CRIMINAL’S LAST HOURS._ TOGETHER WITH TOLD UNDER CANVAS, AND CLAUDE GUEUX.
Line 2
BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.
Line 3
LONDON: CROOME & CO., 12, ST.
Line 4
BRIDE STREET, LUDGATE CIRCUS, E.C.
Line 5
_UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH._ UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH.
/ˈʌndər ˈsentəns ʌv deθ ˈʌndər ˈsentəns ʌv deθ/

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

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

bart noun US /bɑːrt/

a member of the British order of honor; ranks below a baron but above a knight

From this reading “BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
campbell noun US /ˈkæmbəl/

United States mythologist (1904-1987)

From this reading “BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
circus noun US /ˈsɜːrkəs/

a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals

From this reading “BRIDE STREET, LUDGATE CIRCUS, E.C.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
criminal's noun US /ˈkrɪmənəlz/

possessive form of “criminal” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hugo noun US /ˈhjuːɡoʊ/

French poet and novelist and dramatist; leader of the romantic movement in France (1802-1885)

From this reading “BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Hunchback noun US /ˈhʌntʃbæk/

an abnormal backward curve to the vertebral column

From this reading “BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Les noun US /les/

plural of “le” — a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)

From this reading “BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
translated verb US /trænzˈleɪtɪd/

past form of “translate” — restate (words) from one language into another language

From this reading “BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

UNDER CANVAS preposition + noun

In this reading “=UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH;= OR, _A CRIMINAL’S LAST HOURS._ TOGETHER WITH TOLD UNDER CANVAS, AND CLAUDE GUEUX.”

383 times in 426,211 chapters
TRANSLATED BY verb + particle counted as “translate by”

In this reading “BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.”

1,601 times in 426,211 chapters
UNDER SENTENCE preposition + noun

In this reading “=UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH;= OR, _A CRIMINAL’S LAST HOURS._ TOGETHER WITH TOLD UNDER CANVAS, AND CLAUDE GUEUX.”

532 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 45

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

12

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

From this reading LONDON: CROOME & CO., 12, ST.

Pending verification
AdeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading =UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH;= OR, _A CRIMINAL’S LAST HOURS._ TOGETHER WITH TOLD UNDER CANVAS, AND CLAUDE GUEUX.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading =UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH;= OR, _A CRIMINAL’S LAST HOURS._ TOGETHER WITH TOLD UNDER CANVAS, AND CLAUDE GUEUX.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AuthornounUS /ˈɔːθər/

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BARTnounUS /bɑːrt/

a member of the British order of honor; ranks below a baron but above a knight

From this reading BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BRIDEnounUS /braɪd/

a woman who has recently been married

From this reading BRIDE STREET, LUDGATE CIRCUS, E.C.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BYprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
CnounUS /siː/

a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature

From this reading BRIDE STREET, LUDGATE CIRCUS, E.C.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CAMPBELLnounUS /ˈkæmbəl/

United States mythologist (1904-1987)

From this reading BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CANVASnounUS /ˈkænvəs/

a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)

From this reading =UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH;= OR, _A CRIMINAL’S LAST HOURS._ TOGETHER WITH TOLD UNDER CANVAS, AND CLAUDE GUEUX.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CIRCUSnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəs/

a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals

From this reading BRIDE STREET, LUDGATE CIRCUS, E.C.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CLAUDE

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

From this reading =UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH;= OR, _A CRIMINAL’S LAST HOURS._ TOGETHER WITH TOLD UNDER CANVAS, AND CLAUDE GUEUX.

Pending verification
COnounUS /koʊ/

an odorless very poisonous gas that is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon

From this reading LONDON: CROOME & CO., 12, ST.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CommandnounUS /kəˈmænd/

an authoritative direction or instruction to do something

From this reading BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CRIMINAL'SnounUS /ˈkrɪmənəlz/

possessive form of “criminal” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime

From this reading =UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH;= OR, _A CRIMINAL’S LAST HOURS._ TOGETHER WITH TOLD UNDER CANVAS, AND CLAUDE GUEUX.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CROOME

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

From this reading LONDON: CROOME & CO., 12, ST.

Pending verification
DamenounUS /deɪm/

informal terms for a (young) woman

From this reading BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DEATHnounUS /deθ/

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading =UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH;= OR, _A CRIMINAL’S LAST HOURS._ TOGETHER WITH TOLD UNDER CANVAS, AND CLAUDE GUEUX.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
EnounUS /iː/

a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body

From this reading BRIDE STREET, LUDGATE CIRCUS, E.C.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
etc

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

From this reading BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.

Pending verification
GILBERTnounUS /ˈɡɪlbərt/

a unit of magnetomotive force equal to 0.7958 ampere-turns

From this reading BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
GUEUX

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

From this reading =UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH;= OR, _A CRIMINAL’S LAST HOURS._ TOGETHER WITH TOLD UNDER CANVAS, AND CLAUDE GUEUX.

Pending verification
HOURSnounUS /ˈaʊərz/

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading =UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH;= OR, _A CRIMINAL’S LAST HOURS._ TOGETHER WITH TOLD UNDER CANVAS, AND CLAUDE GUEUX.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
HUGOnounUS /ˈhjuːɡoʊ/

French poet and novelist and dramatist; leader of the romantic movement in France (1802-1885)

From this reading BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
HunchbacknounUS /ˈhʌntʃbæk/

an abnormal backward curve to the vertebral column

From this reading BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
King'snounUS /kɪŋz/

possessive form of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LASTadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading =UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH;= OR, _A CRIMINAL’S LAST HOURS._ TOGETHER WITH TOLD UNDER CANVAS, AND CLAUDE GUEUX.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LesnounUS /les/

plural of “le” — a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)

From this reading BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LONDONnounUS /ˈlʌndən/

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading LONDON: CROOME & CO., 12, ST.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LUDGATE

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

From this reading BRIDE STREET, LUDGATE CIRCUS, E.C.

Pending verification
Misérables

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

From this reading BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.

Pending verification
Notre

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

From this reading BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.

Pending verification
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading =UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH;= OR, _A CRIMINAL’S LAST HOURS._ TOGETHER WITH TOLD UNDER CANVAS, AND CLAUDE GUEUX.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ORconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading =UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH;= OR, _A CRIMINAL’S LAST HOURS._ TOGETHER WITH TOLD UNDER CANVAS, AND CLAUDE GUEUX.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
SENTENCEnounUS /ˈsentəns/

a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language

From this reading =UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH;= OR, _A CRIMINAL’S LAST HOURS._ TOGETHER WITH TOLD UNDER CANVAS, AND CLAUDE GUEUX.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SIRnounUS /sɜːr/

term of address for a man

From this reading BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ST

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

From this reading LONDON: CROOME & CO., 12, ST.

Pending verification
STREETnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading BRIDE STREET, LUDGATE CIRCUS, E.C.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
TOGETHERadverbUS /təˈɡeðər/

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading =UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH;= OR, _A CRIMINAL’S LAST HOURS._ TOGETHER WITH TOLD UNDER CANVAS, AND CLAUDE GUEUX.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TOLDverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading =UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH;= OR, _A CRIMINAL’S LAST HOURS._ TOGETHER WITH TOLD UNDER CANVAS, AND CLAUDE GUEUX.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TRANSLATEDverbUS /trænzˈleɪtɪd/

past form of “translate” — restate (words) from one language into another language

From this reading BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
UNDERprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading =UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH;= OR, _A CRIMINAL’S LAST HOURS._ TOGETHER WITH TOLD UNDER CANVAS, AND CLAUDE GUEUX.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
VICTORnounUS /ˈvɪktər/

a combatant who is able to defeat rivals

From this reading BY VICTOR HUGO, _Author of “Les Misérables,” “By the King’s Command,”_ _“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” etc._ TRANSLATED BY SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL, BART.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
WITHprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading =UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH;= OR, _A CRIMINAL’S LAST HOURS._ TOGETHER WITH TOLD UNDER CANVAS, AND CLAUDE GUEUX.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 1 of Under Sentence of Death by Victor Hugo holds 108 sentences, grouped into 22 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of Under Sentence of Death contain?

Chapter 1 holds 108 sentences of Under Sentence of Death, unabridged, divided into 22 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Under Sentence of Death by Victor Hugo exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 108 sentences, grouped into 22 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 1 of Under Sentence of Death?

Work through the 22 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 22 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.

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

Questions about reading Under Sentence of Death

Common questions about reading Under Sentence of Death by Victor Hugo on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Under Sentence of Death?

Yes. All 4014 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #50010 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Under Sentence of Death is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #50010, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Under Sentence of Death take to read?

About 334 minutes of reading across 803 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Under Sentence of Death section by section

How to work through Under Sentence of Death section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  2. Read one section

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  3. Listen and tap

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Vocabulary met early in Under Sentence of Death

Words and structures a reader meets early in Under Sentence of Death, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Under
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Under Sentence of Death; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sentence
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Under Sentence of Death; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Death
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Under Sentence of Death; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Criminal
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Under Sentence of Death; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.