Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume

Chapter XVIII

Chapter 18 of Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume is here in full — 63 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Voltaire • Curated US English Learning Edition

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JOHN RETURNS TO LONDON, AND IS LED INTO BAD COMPANY.

While our worthy philosopher Freind was enlightening the priests of Barcelona, and his son John delighting the ladies, Lord Peterborough lost all favor with the queen and arch-duke for seizing Barcelona for them.

The courtiers censured him for taking the city contrary to all rule, with an army less strong by half than the garrison.

At first the arch-duke was highly incensed; and our friend was obliged to print an apology for the general.

Yet this arch-duke, who had come to conquer Spain, had not the worth of his chocolate.

Narrator

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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter XVIII Reading 1/12

Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume Voltaire

Chapter XVIII

Chapter 18 of Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume is here in full — 63 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

JOHN RETURNS TO LONDON, AND IS LED INTO BAD COMPANY. While our worthy philosopher Freind was enlightening the priests of Barcelona, and his son John delighting the ladies, Lord Peterborough lost all favor with the queen and arch-duke for seizing Barcelona for them. The courtiers censured him for taking the city contrary to all rule, with an army less strong by half than the garrison. At first the arch-duke was highly incensed; and our friend was obliged to print an apology for the general. Yet this arch-duke, who had come to conquer Spain, had not the worth of his chocolate.

Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume

Chapter XVIII

Chapter 18 of Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume is here in full — 63 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/12 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

JOHN RETURNS TO LONDON, AND IS LED INTO BAD COMPANY.

/dʒɑːn rɪˈtɜːrnz tuː ˈlʌndən ənd ɪz led ˈɪntuː bæd ˈkʌmpəniː/

Line 2

Line 3

The courtiers censured him for taking the city contrary to all rule, with an army less strong by half than the garrison.

/ðə ˈkɔːrtiərz ˈsenʃərd hɪm fɔːr ˈteɪkɪŋ ðə ˈsɪti ˈkɑːntreri tuː ɔːl ruːl wɪð æn ˈɑːrmi les strɔːŋ baɪ hæf ðæn ðə ˈɡærɪsən/

Line 4

At first the arch-duke was highly incensed; and our friend was obliged to print an apology for the general.

Line 5

Yet this arch-duke, who had come to conquer Spain, had not the worth of his chocolate.

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.

Barcelona noun US /ˌbɑːrsɪˈloʊnə/

a city in northeastern Spain on the Mediterranean; 2nd largest Spanish city and the largest port and commercial center; has been a center for radical political beliefs

From this reading “While our worthy philosopher Freind was enlightening the priests of Barcelona, and his son John delighting the ladies, Lord Peterborough lost all favor with the queen and arch-duke for seizing Barcelona for them.”

censured verb US /ˈsenʃərd/

past form of “censure” — rebuke formally

From this reading “The courtiers censured him for taking the city contrary to all rule, with an army less strong by half than the garrison.”

chocolate noun US /ˈtʃɔːklət/

a beverage made from cocoa powder and milk and sugar; usually drunk hot

From this reading “Yet this arch-duke, who had come to conquer Spain, had not the worth of his chocolate.”

conquer verb US /ˈkɑːŋkər/

bring under control by force or authority

From this reading “Yet this arch-duke, who had come to conquer Spain, had not the worth of his chocolate.”

courtiers noun US /ˈkɔːrtiərz/

plural of “courtier” — an attendant at the court of a sovereign

From this reading “The courtiers censured him for taking the city contrary to all rule, with an army less strong by half than the garrison.”

delighting verb US /dɪˈlaɪtɪŋ/

-ing form of “delight” — give pleasure to or be pleasing to

enlightening adjective US /ˌenˈlaɪtənɪŋ/

tending to increase knowledge or dissipate ignorance

incensed adjective US /ˈɪnsenst/

angered at something unjust or wrong

From this reading “At first the arch-duke was highly incensed; and our friend was obliged to print an apology for the general.”

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.

BAD COMPANY adjective + noun

In this reading “JOHN RETURNS TO LONDON, AND IS LED INTO BAD COMPANY.”

All words in this reading · 70

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.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading While our worthy philosopher Freind was enlightening the priests of Barcelona, and his son John delighting the ladies, Lord Peterborough lost all favor with the queen and arch-duke for seizing Barcelona for them.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The courtiers censured him for taking the city contrary to all rule, with an army less strong by half than the garrison.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading JOHN RETURNS TO LONDON, AND IS LED INTO BAD COMPANY.

apologynounUS /əˈpɑːlədʒiː/

an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone

From this reading At first the arch-duke was highly incensed; and our friend was obliged to print an apology for the general.

arch-duke

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

armynounUS /ˈɑːrmi/

a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state

From this reading The courtiers censured him for taking the city contrary to all rule, with an army less strong by half than the garrison.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At first the arch-duke was highly incensed; and our friend was obliged to print an apology for the general.

BADadjectiveUS /bæd/

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading JOHN RETURNS TO LONDON, AND IS LED INTO BAD COMPANY.

BarcelonanounUS /ˌbɑːrsɪˈloʊnə/

a city in northeastern Spain on the Mediterranean; 2nd largest Spanish city and the largest port and commercial center; has been a center for radical political beliefs

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The courtiers censured him for taking the city contrary to all rule, with an army less strong by half than the garrison.

censuredverbUS /ˈsenʃərd/

past form of “censure” — rebuke formally

From this reading The courtiers censured him for taking the city contrary to all rule, with an army less strong by half than the garrison.

chocolatenounUS /ˈtʃɔːklət/

a beverage made from cocoa powder and milk and sugar; usually drunk hot

From this reading Yet this arch-duke, who had come to conquer Spain, had not the worth of his chocolate.

citynounUS /ˈsɪti/

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading The courtiers censured him for taking the city contrary to all rule, with an army less strong by half than the garrison.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Yet this arch-duke, who had come to conquer Spain, had not the worth of his chocolate.

COMPANYnounUS /ˈkʌmpəniː/

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading JOHN RETURNS TO LONDON, AND IS LED INTO BAD COMPANY.

conquerverbUS /ˈkɑːŋkər/

bring under control by force or authority

From this reading Yet this arch-duke, who had come to conquer Spain, had not the worth of his chocolate.

contraryadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːntreri/

very opposed in nature or character or purpose

From this reading The courtiers censured him for taking the city contrary to all rule, with an army less strong by half than the garrison.

courtiersnounUS /ˈkɔːrtiərz/

plural of “courtier” — an attendant at the court of a sovereign

From this reading The courtiers censured him for taking the city contrary to all rule, with an army less strong by half than the garrison.

delightingverbUS /dɪˈlaɪtɪŋ/

-ing form of “delight” — give pleasure to or be pleasing to

enlighteningadjectiveUS /ˌenˈlaɪtənɪŋ/

tending to increase knowledge or dissipate ignorance

favorverbUS /ˈfeɪvər/

promote over another

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading At first the arch-duke was highly incensed; and our friend was obliged to print an apology for the general.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

Freind

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

friendnounUS /frend/

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading At first the arch-duke was highly incensed; and our friend was obliged to print an apology for the general.

garrisonnounUS /ˈɡærɪsən/

a fortified military post where troops are stationed

From this reading The courtiers censured him for taking the city contrary to all rule, with an army less strong by half than the garrison.

generaladjectiveUS /ˈdʒenərəl/

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading At first the arch-duke was highly incensed; and our friend was obliged to print an apology for the general.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Yet this arch-duke, who had come to conquer Spain, had not the worth of his chocolate.

halfadjectiveUS /hæf/

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading The courtiers censured him for taking the city contrary to all rule, with an army less strong by half than the garrison.

highlyadverbUS /ˈhaɪli/

to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect

From this reading At first the arch-duke was highly incensed; and our friend was obliged to print an apology for the general.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The courtiers censured him for taking the city contrary to all rule, with an army less strong by half than the garrison.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

incensedadjectiveUS /ˈɪnsenst/

angered at something unjust or wrong

From this reading At first the arch-duke was highly incensed; and our friend was obliged to print an apology for the general.

INTOprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading JOHN RETURNS TO LONDON, AND IS LED INTO BAD COMPANY.

ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading JOHN RETURNS TO LONDON, AND IS LED INTO BAD COMPANY.

JOHNnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading JOHN RETURNS TO LONDON, AND IS LED INTO BAD COMPANY.

ladiesnounUS /ˈleɪdiz/

plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman

LEDnounUS /led/

diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used

From this reading JOHN RETURNS TO LONDON, AND IS LED INTO BAD COMPANY.

lessadverbUS /les/

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading The courtiers censured him for taking the city contrary to all rule, with an army less strong by half than the garrison.

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 JOHN RETURNS TO LONDON, AND IS LED INTO BAD COMPANY.

LordnounUS /lɔːrd/

terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

lostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Yet this arch-duke, who had come to conquer Spain, had not the worth of his chocolate.

obligedadjectiveUS /əˈblaɪdʒd/

under a moral obligation to do something

From this reading At first the arch-duke was highly incensed; and our friend was obliged to print an apology for the general.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

Peterborough

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

philosophernounUS /fəˈlɑːsəfər/

a specialist in philosophy

priestsnounUS /priːsts/

plural of “priest” — a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders

printnounUS /prɪnt/

the text appearing in a book, newspaper, or other printed publication

From this reading At first the arch-duke was highly incensed; and our friend was obliged to print an apology for the general.

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

RETURNSnounUS /rɪˈtɜːrnz/

plural of “return” — document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability

From this reading JOHN RETURNS TO LONDON, AND IS LED INTO BAD COMPANY.

rulenounUS /ruːl/

a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior

From this reading The courtiers censured him for taking the city contrary to all rule, with an army less strong by half than the garrison.

seizingnounUS /ˈsiːzɪŋ/

small stuff that is used for lashing two or more ropes together

sonnounUS /sʌn/

a male human offspring

SpainnounUS /speɪn/

a parliamentary monarchy in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula; a former colonial power

From this reading Yet this arch-duke, who had come to conquer Spain, had not the worth of his chocolate.

strongadjectiveUS /strɔːŋ/

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading The courtiers censured him for taking the city contrary to all rule, with an army less strong by half than the garrison.

takingnounUS /ˈteɪkɪŋ/

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading The courtiers censured him for taking the city contrary to all rule, with an army less strong by half than the garrison.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The courtiers censured him for taking the city contrary to all rule, with an army less strong by half than the garrison.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Yet this arch-duke, who had come to conquer Spain, had not the worth of his chocolate.

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading JOHN RETURNS TO LONDON, AND IS LED INTO BAD COMPANY.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Yet this arch-duke, who had come to conquer Spain, had not the worth of his chocolate.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

worthnounUS /wɜːrθ/

an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value

From this reading Yet this arch-duke, who had come to conquer Spain, had not the worth of his chocolate.

worthyadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːr.ði/

Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.

YetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet this arch-duke, who had come to conquer Spain, had not the worth of his chocolate.

Chapter 18 of Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume by Voltaire holds 63 sentences, grouped into 13 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 18 of Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume contain?

Chapter 18 holds 63 sentences of Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume, unabridged, divided into 13 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 18 of Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume by Voltaire exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 63 sentences, grouped into 13 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.

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Work through the 13 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #35595, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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Chapter XVIII

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