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A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day
A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day

Chapter XXVII · Chapter 27

Chapter 27 of A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day is here in full — 78 sentences across 16 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Charles Reade • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day
Context Illustration Reading 1/15 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.
The keepers were thoroughly terrified, and roared for mercy.
“Hand him out here, you scoundrels!”
“Yes! yes!
Man alive, we are not resisting: what is the use?”
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.

A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day

Chapter XXVII · Chapter 27

Chapter 27 of A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day is here in full — 78 sentences across 16 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/15 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.
/ə bɪɡ mæn huː siːmd ðə ˈliːdər ˈfaɪərd ə ˈvɑːli ʌv fərˈoʊʃəs oʊðz æt ðə ˈkiːpərz ənd ˈθretənd tuː send ðem tuː hel ðæt ˈmoʊmənt ɪf ðeɪ dɪd nɑːt ˈɪnstəntli dɪˈlɪvər ʌp ðæt ˈdʒentəlmən/
Line 2
The keepers were thoroughly terrified, and roared for mercy.
/ðə ˈkiːpərz wɜːr ˈθɜːroʊli ˈterəfaɪd ənd rɔːrd fɔːr ˈmɜːrsi/
Line 3
“Hand him out here, you scoundrels!”
/hænd hɪm aʊt hiːr juː ˈskaʊndrəlz/
Line 4
“Yes! yes!
/jes jes/
Line 5
Man alive, we are not resisting: what is the use?”
/mæn əˈlaɪv wiː ɑːr nɑːt rɪˈzɪstɪŋ wʌt ɪz ðə juːs/

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.

ferocious adjective US /fərˈoʊʃəs/

marked by extreme and violent energy

From this reading “A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
keepers noun US /ˈkiːpərz/

plural of “keeper” — someone in charge of other people

From this reading “A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
oaths noun US /oʊðz/

plural of “oath” — profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger

From this reading “A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
resisting verb US /rɪˈzɪstɪŋ/

-ing form of “resist” — elude, especially in a baffling way

From this reading “Man alive, we are not resisting: what is the use?””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
roared verb US /rɔːrd/

past form of “roar” — make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles

From this reading “The keepers were thoroughly terrified, and roared for mercy.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
scoundrels noun US /ˈskaʊndrəlz/

plural of “scoundrel” — a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately

From this reading ““Hand him out here, you scoundrels!””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
terrified adjective US /ˈterəfaɪd/

thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation

From this reading “The keepers were thoroughly terrified, and roared for mercy.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
volley noun US /ˈvɑːli/

rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms

From this reading “A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 50

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.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/

possessing life

From this reading Man alive, we are not resisting: what is the use?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Man alive, we are not resisting: what is the use?”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
BIGadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
deliververbUS /dɪˈlɪvər/

deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ferociousadjectiveUS /fərˈoʊʃəs/

marked by extreme and violent energy

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/

having lost your job

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The keepers were thoroughly terrified, and roared for mercy.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
gentlemannounUS /ˈdʒentəlmən/

a man of refinement

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
HandnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading “Hand him out here, you scoundrels!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hellnounUS /hel/

any place of pain and turmoil

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading “Hand him out here, you scoundrels!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading “Hand him out here, you scoundrels!”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
instantlyadverbUS /ˈɪnstəntli/

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Man alive, we are not resisting: what is the use?”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
keepersnounUS /ˈkiːpərz/

plural of “keeper” — someone in charge of other people

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
leadernounUS /ˈliːdər/

a person who rules or guides or inspires others

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mercynounUS /ˈmɜːrsi/

leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice

From this reading The keepers were thoroughly terrified, and roared for mercy.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/

a particular point in time

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
oathsnounUS /oʊðz/

plural of “oath” — profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading “Hand him out here, you scoundrels!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
resistingverbUS /rɪˈzɪstɪŋ/

-ing form of “resist” — elude, especially in a baffling way

From this reading Man alive, we are not resisting: what is the use?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
roaredverbUS /rɔːrd/

past form of “roar” — make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles

From this reading The keepers were thoroughly terrified, and roared for mercy.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
scoundrelsnounUS /ˈskaʊndrəlz/

plural of “scoundrel” — a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately

From this reading “Hand him out here, you scoundrels!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seemedverbUS /siːmd/

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sendverbUS /send/

cause to go somewhere

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
terrifiedadjectiveUS /ˈterəfaɪd/

thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation

From this reading The keepers were thoroughly terrified, and roared for mercy.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thoroughlyadverbUS /ˈθɜːroʊli/

in an exhaustive manner

From this reading The keepers were thoroughly terrified, and roared for mercy.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
threatenedadjectiveUS /ˈθretənd/

(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
usenounUS /juːs/

the act of using

From this reading Man alive, we are not resisting: what is the use?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
volleynounUS /ˈvɑːli/

rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Man alive, we are not resisting: what is the use?”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The keepers were thoroughly terrified, and roared for mercy.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Man alive, we are not resisting: what is the use?”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
YesnounUS /jes/

an affirmative

From this reading “Yes! yes!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Hand him out here, you scoundrels!”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 27 of A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day by Charles Reade holds 78 sentences, grouped into 16 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 27 of A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day contain?

Chapter 27 holds 78 sentences of A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day, unabridged, divided into 16 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 27 of A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day by Charles Reade exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 78 sentences, grouped into 16 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 27 of A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day?

Work through the 16 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 16 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 27 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 27 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 A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day

Common questions about reading A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day by Charles Reade on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day?

Yes. All 8713 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #7895 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #7895, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1743 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day section by section

How to work through A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day 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

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Morning-room
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Large
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
House
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Portman
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.