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War and Peace
War and Peace

Chapter III

Cover illustration for War and Peace
Context Illustration Reading 1/191 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When Natásha ran out of the drawing room she only went as far as the conservatory.
There she paused and stood listening to the conversation in the drawing room, waiting for Borís to come out.
She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.
At this Natásha dashed swiftly among the flower tubs and hid there.
Borís paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little dust from the sleeve of his uniform, and going up to a mirror examined his handsome face.
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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.

War and Peace

Chapter III

Reading 1/191 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When Natásha ran out of the drawing room she only went as far as the conservatory.
Line 2
There she paused and stood listening to the conversation in the drawing room, waiting for Borís to come out.
Line 3
She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.
Line 4
At this Natásha dashed swiftly among the flower tubs and hid there.
Line 5
Borís paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little dust from the sleeve of his uniform, and going up to a mirror examined his handsome face.

Learner Dictionary

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

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.”

Among preposition US /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading “At this Natásha dashed swiftly among the flower tubs and hid there.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There she paused and stood listening to the conversation in the drawing room, waiting for Borís to come out.”

Foot noun US /foot/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.”

Handsome noun US /ˈhandsome/

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

From this reading “Borís paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little dust from the sleeve of his uniform, and going up to a mirror examined his handsome face.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Borís paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little dust from the sleeve of his uniform, and going up to a mirror examined his handsome face.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Borís paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little dust from the sleeve of his uniform, and going up to a mirror examined his handsome face.”

Neither determiner US /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading “She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There she paused and stood listening to the conversation in the drawing room, waiting for Borís to come out.”

Waiting noun US /ˈwaiting/

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

From this reading “There she paused and stood listening to the conversation in the drawing room, waiting for Borís to come out.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When Natásha ran out of the drawing room she only went as far as the conservatory.”

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 Borís paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little dust from the sleeve of his uniform, and going up to a mirror examined his handsome face.

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading At this Natásha dashed swiftly among the flower tubs and hid there.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading There she paused and stood listening to the conversation in the drawing room, waiting for Borís to come out.

approaching

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

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading When Natásha ran out of the drawing room she only went as far as the conservatory.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

Borís

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

From this reading There she paused and stood listening to the conversation in the drawing room, waiting for Borís to come out.

brushed

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

From this reading Borís paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little dust from the sleeve of his uniform, and going up to a mirror examined his handsome face.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There she paused and stood listening to the conversation in the drawing room, waiting for Borís to come out.

coming

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

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

conservatory

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

From this reading When Natásha ran out of the drawing room she only went as far as the conservatory.

conversation

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

From this reading There she paused and stood listening to the conversation in the drawing room, waiting for Borís to come out.

cry

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

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

dashed

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

From this reading At this Natásha dashed swiftly among the flower tubs and hid there.

discreet

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

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

drawing

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

From this reading When Natásha ran out of the drawing room she only went as far as the conservatory.

dust

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

From this reading Borís paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little dust from the sleeve of his uniform, and going up to a mirror examined his handsome face.

examined

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

From this reading Borís paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little dust from the sleeve of his uniform, and going up to a mirror examined his handsome face.

face

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

From this reading Borís paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little dust from the sleeve of his uniform, and going up to a mirror examined his handsome face.

far

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

From this reading When Natásha ran out of the drawing room she only went as far as the conservatory.

flower

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

From this reading At this Natásha dashed swiftly among the flower tubs and hid there.

footnounUS /foot/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There she paused and stood listening to the conversation in the drawing room, waiting for Borís to come out.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Borís paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little dust from the sleeve of his uniform, and going up to a mirror examined his handsome face.

going

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

From this reading Borís paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little dust from the sleeve of his uniform, and going up to a mirror examined his handsome face.

growing

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

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

handsomenounUS /ˈhandsome/

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

From this reading Borís paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little dust from the sleeve of his uniform, and going up to a mirror examined his handsome face.

heard

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

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

hid

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

From this reading At this Natásha dashed swiftly among the flower tubs and hid there.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

impatient

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

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading There she paused and stood listening to the conversation in the drawing room, waiting for Borís to come out.

listening

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

From this reading There she paused and stood listening to the conversation in the drawing room, waiting for Borís to come out.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Borís paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little dust from the sleeve of his uniform, and going up to a mirror examined his handsome face.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Borís paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little dust from the sleeve of his uniform, and going up to a mirror examined his handsome face.

man's

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

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

middle

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

From this reading Borís paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little dust from the sleeve of his uniform, and going up to a mirror examined his handsome face.

mirror

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

From this reading Borís paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little dust from the sleeve of his uniform, and going up to a mirror examined his handsome face.

Natásha

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

From this reading When Natásha ran out of the drawing room she only went as far as the conservatory.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When Natásha ran out of the drawing room she only went as far as the conservatory.

once

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

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

only

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

From this reading When Natásha ran out of the drawing room she only went as far as the conservatory.

out

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

From this reading When Natásha ran out of the drawing room she only went as far as the conservatory.

paused

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

From this reading There she paused and stood listening to the conversation in the drawing room, waiting for Borís to come out.

quickly

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

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

ran

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

From this reading When Natásha ran out of the drawing room she only went as far as the conservatory.

ready

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

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

room

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

From this reading When Natásha ran out of the drawing room she only went as far as the conservatory.

round

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

From this reading Borís paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little dust from the sleeve of his uniform, and going up to a mirror examined his handsome face.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading When Natásha ran out of the drawing room she only went as far as the conservatory.

sleeve

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

From this reading Borís paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little dust from the sleeve of his uniform, and going up to a mirror examined his handsome face.

slowly

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

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

stamped

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

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

steps

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

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There she paused and stood listening to the conversation in the drawing room, waiting for Borís to come out.

swiftly

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

From this reading At this Natásha dashed swiftly among the flower tubs and hid there.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading When Natásha ran out of the drawing room she only went as far as the conservatory.

There

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

From this reading There she paused and stood listening to the conversation in the drawing room, waiting for Borís to come out.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading At this Natásha dashed swiftly among the flower tubs and hid there.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading There she paused and stood listening to the conversation in the drawing room, waiting for Borís to come out.

tubs

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

From this reading At this Natásha dashed swiftly among the flower tubs and hid there.

uniform

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

From this reading Borís paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little dust from the sleeve of his uniform, and going up to a mirror examined his handsome face.

up

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

From this reading Borís paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little dust from the sleeve of his uniform, and going up to a mirror examined his handsome face.

waiting

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

From this reading There she paused and stood listening to the conversation in the drawing room, waiting for Borís to come out.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When Natásha ran out of the drawing room she only went as far as the conservatory.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When Natásha ran out of the drawing room she only went as far as the conservatory.

young

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

From this reading She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.