The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery- page 20

"The grown-ups are certainly very odd," he said to himself, as he continued on his journey.

• The grown-ups: adults; people who are no longer children [ðə ˈgroʊˌnəps]
• are certainly: definitely; without a doubt [ər ˈsərtənli]
• very odd: strange; peculiar; unusual [ˈvɛri ɑd]
• he said to himself: he thought; he spoke quietly so only he could hear [hi sɛd tɪ hɪmˈsɛlf]
• as: while; during the time that [ɛz]
• he continued: he went on; he proceeded [hi kənˈtɪnjud]
• on his journey: traveling from one place to another [ɔn hɪz ˈʤərni]

XII

• XII: Roman numeral for twelve [xii]

Buveur.jpg

The next planet was inhabited by a tippler.

• The next planet: the subsequent celestial body visited [ðə nɛkst ˈplænət]
• was inhabited: had residents; was lived on [wɑz ˌɪnˈhæbətəd]
• by a tippler: by someone who drinks alcohol regularly [baɪ ə tippler]

This was a very short visit, but it plunged the little prince into deep dejection.

• This: referring to the visit [ðɪs]
• was a very short visit: the duration of stay was brief [wɑz ə ˈvɛri ʃɔrt ˈvɪzɪt]
• but: conjunction indicating contrast [bət]
• it plunged: it caused to descend; it thrust [ɪt plənʤd]
• the little prince: the young royal figure [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]
• into deep dejection: into a state of sadness and discouragement [ˈɪntu dip dejection]

"What are you doing there?" he said to the tippler, whom he found settled down in silence before a collection of empty bottles and also a collection of full bottles.

• What are you doing there: asking about the activity being performed at that location [wət ər ju duɪŋ ðɛr]
• he said: he spoke [hi sɛd]
• to the tippler: addressing the person who drinks alcohol regularly [tɪ ðə tippler]
• whom: relative pronoun referring to the tippler [hum]
• he found: he discovered; he located [hi faʊnd]
• settled down: seated comfortably; established [ˈsɛtəld daʊn]
• in silence: without speaking [ɪn ˈsaɪləns]
• before: in front of; facing [ˌbiˈfɔr]
• a collection of empty bottles: a group of bottles that have nothing inside [ə kəˈlɛkʃən əv ˈɛmti ˈbɑtəlz]
• and also: in addition; as well [ənd ˈɔlsoʊ]
• a collection of full bottles: a group of bottles that are filled [ə kəˈlɛkʃən əv fʊl ˈbɑtəlz]

I am drinking," replied the tippler, with a lugubrious air.

• I am drinking: the act of consuming a liquid, specifically alcohol in this context [aɪ æm ˈdrɪŋkɪŋ]
• replied: answered [rɪˈplaɪd]
• the tippler: the person who drinks alcohol regularly [ðə tippler]
• with a lugubrious air: in a mournful or gloomy manner [wɪθ ə luˈgjubriəs ɛr]

"Why are you drinking?" demanded the little prince.

• Why are you drinking: asking the reason for consuming alcohol [waɪ ər ju ˈdrɪŋkɪŋ]
• demanded: asked forcefully; inquired with insistence [dɪˈmændɪd]
• the little prince: the young royal figure [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]

"So that I may forget," replied the tippler.

• So that I may forget: Indicates the purpose of an action, which is to forget something. [soʊ ðət aɪ meɪ fərˈgɛt]
• replied: Answered; responded in words. [rɪˈplaɪd]
• the tippler: The drunkard; the person who drinks alcohol regularly and to excess. [ðə tippler]

"Forget what?" inquired the little prince, who already was sorry for him.

• Forget what: Asking what the person wants to forget. [fərˈgɛt wət]
• inquired: Asked; posed a question. [ˌɪnkˈwaɪərd]
• the little prince: Referring to the character of the little prince. [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]
• who already was sorry for him: Expressing that the little prince felt pity or regret for the tippler's situation. [hu ɔˈrɛdi wɑz ˈsɑri fər ɪm]

"Forget that I am ashamed," the tippler confessed, hanging his head.

• Forget that I am ashamed: To not remember or think about the feeling of shame. [fərˈgɛt ðət aɪ æm əˈʃeɪmd]
• the tippler confessed: The drunkard admitted or acknowledged something, in this case, his shame. [ðə tippler kənˈfɛst]
• hanging his head: Lowering his head, often indicating shame, guilt, or sadness. [ˈhæŋɪŋ hɪz hɛd]

"Ashamed of what?" insisted the little prince, who wanted to help him.

• Ashamed of what: Asking what is causing the feeling of shame. [əˈʃeɪmd əv wət]
• insisted: Persisted in asking; demanded an answer. [ˌɪnˈsɪstɪd]
• the little prince: Referring to the character of the little prince. [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]
• who wanted to help him: Expressing the little prince's desire to assist the tippler. [hu ˈwɔntɪd tɪ hɛlp ɪm]

"Ashamed of drinking!" The tippler brought his speech to an end, and shut himself up in an impregnable silence.

• Ashamed of drinking: Feeling shame or embarrassment because of consuming alcohol. [əˈʃeɪmd əv ˈdrɪŋkɪŋ]
• The tippler: The drunkard; the person who drinks alcohol regularly and to excess. [ðə tippler]
• brought his speech to an end: Finished speaking. [brɔt hɪz spiʧ tɪ ən ɛnd]
• and shut himself up in an impregnable silence: Refused to speak further, creating a silence that could not be broken or penetrated. 'Impregnable' suggests a strong, unyielding silence. [ənd ʃət hɪmˈsɛlf əp ɪn ən ˌɪmˈprɛgnəbəl ˈsaɪləns]

And the little prince went away, puzzled.

• And: A conjunction used to connect clauses or sentences. [ənd]
• the little prince: Referring to the character of the little prince. [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]
• went away: Departed; left the scene. [wɛnt əˈweɪ]
• puzzled: Confused; bewildered. [ˈpəzəld]

"The grown-ups are certainly very, very odd," he said to himself, as he continued on his journey.

• The grown-ups: Adults. [ðə ˈgroʊˌnəps]
• are certainly: Definitely; without a doubt. [ər ˈsərtənli]
• very, very odd: Extremely strange or peculiar. The repetition emphasizes the degree of oddness. [ˈvɛri ˈvɛri ɑd]
• he said: He spoke. [hi sɛd]
• to himself: Speaking quietly, so only he can hear. [tɪ hɪmˈsɛlf]
• as he continued: While he proceeded. [ɛz hi kənˈtɪnjud]
• on his journey: On his travels or voyage. [ɔn hɪz ˈʤərni]

XIII

The fourth planet belonged to a businessman.

• The fourth planet: Refers to a specific planet in a sequence, indicating its ordinal position [ðə fɔrθ ˈplænət]
• belonged to: was owned by or associated with [bɪˈlɔŋd tɪ]
• a businessman: a person engaged in commercial or industrial business [ə ˈbɪznɪsˌmæn]

This man was so much occupied that he did not even raise his head at the little prince's arrival.

• This man: Refers back to the businessman mentioned in the previous sentence [ðɪs mæn]
• was so much occupied: was extremely busy or preoccupied [wɑz soʊ məʧ ˈɑkjəˌpaɪd]
• that he did not even raise his head: implying he was too busy to acknowledge someone's presence [ðət hi dɪd nɑt ˈivɪn reɪz hɪz hɛd]
• at the little prince's arrival: when the little prince arrived; 'arrival' refers to the act of coming to a place [æt ðə ˈlɪtəl ˈprɪnsɪz ərˈaɪvəl]

Businessman.jpg

"Good morning," the little prince said to him. "Your cigarette has gone out."

• Good morning: a polite greeting used in the morning [gʊd ˈmɔrnɪŋ]
• the little prince: Refers to the main character, a young prince [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]
• said to him: spoke to the businessman [sɛd tɪ ɪm]
• Your cigarette: Refers to the cigarette of the person being addressed [jʊr ˌsɪgəˈrɛt]
• has gone out: the cigarette is no longer lit [həz gɔn aʊt]

"Three and two make five.

• Three and two make five: Basic arithmetic calculation [θri ənd tu meɪk faɪv]

Five and seven make twelve.

• Five and seven make twelve: Basic arithmetic calculation [faɪv ənd ˈsɛvən meɪk twɛlv]

Twelve and three make fifteen.

• Twelve and three make fifteen: Basic arithmetic calculation [twɛlv ənd θri meɪk ˈfɪfˈtin]

Good morning.

• Good morning: A polite greeting used in the morning [gʊd ˈmɔrnɪŋ]

Fifteen and seven make twenty-two.

• Fifteen and seven make twenty-two: Basic arithmetic calculation [ˈfɪfˈtin ənd ˈsɛvən meɪk tˈwɛntiˌtu]

Twenty-two and six make twenty-eight.

• Twenty-two and six make twenty-eight: Basic arithmetic calculation [tˈwɛntiˌtu ənd sɪks meɪk twenty-eight]

I haven't time to light it again.

• I haven't time: I do not have enough time [aɪ ˈhævənt taɪm]
• to light it again: to relight the cigarette [tɪ laɪt ɪt əˈgɛn]

Twenty-six and five make thirty-one.

• Twenty-six and five make thirty-one: Basic arithmetic calculation [twenty-six ənd faɪv meɪk thirty-one]

Phew!

• Phew: An exclamation of relief or exhaustion [fju]

"Five hundred million what?" asked the little prince.

• Five hundred million what: A question expressing confusion or demanding clarification about a large quantity. [faɪv ˈhənərd ˈmɪljən wət]
• asked: Inquired; posed a question. [æst]
• the little prince: Referring to a character known as 'the little prince'. [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]

"Eh?

• Eh: An expression of surprise or confusion. [ɛ]

Are you still there?

• Are you still there: A question asking if someone is still present or listening. [ər ju stɪl ðɛr]

Five-hundred-and-one million — I can't stop...

• Five-hundred-and-one million: A very large number, specifically 501,000,000. [five-hundred-and-one ˈmɪljən]
• I can't stop: Indicates an inability to pause or cease an activity. [ aɪ kænt stɑp]

I have so much to do!

• I have so much to do: Expresses being very busy and having many tasks. [aɪ hæv soʊ məʧ tɪ du]

I am concerned with matters of consequence.

• I am concerned with: To be worried or interested in something. [aɪ æm kənˈsərnd wɪθ]
• matters of consequence: Important or significant issues. [ˈmætərz əv ˈkɑnsəkwəns]

I don't amuse myself with balderdash.

• I don't amuse myself with balderdash: I do not waste time on nonsense. [aɪ doʊnt əmˈjuz ˌmaɪˈsɛlf wɪθ ˈbɔldərˌdæʃ]

"Five-hundred-and-one million what?" repeated the little prince, who never in his life had let go of a question once he had asked it.

• Five-hundred-and-one million what: A question expressing confusion or demanding clarification about a large quantity. [five-hundred-and-one ˈmɪljən wət]
• repeated: Said again. [rɪˈpitɪd]
• the little prince: Referring to a character known as 'the little prince'. [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]
• who never in his life had let go of a question: Referring to someone who is persistent in seeking answers. [hu ˈnɛvər ɪn hɪz laɪf hæd lɛt goʊ əv ə kˈwɛʃən]
• once he had asked it: After a question has been posed. [wəns hi hæd æst ɪt]