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A True Friend: A Novel
A True Friend: A Novel

Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

Chapter 16 of A True Friend: A Novel is here in full — 157 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SIR PHILIP'S OPINION.
"Is anything the matter?" said Lady Caroline, suavely.
She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.
She might at least prevent Margaret from saying anything foolish.
Sir Philip drew back a little.
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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.

A True Friend: A Novel

Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

Chapter 16 of A True Friend: A Novel is here in full — 157 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SIR PHILIP'S OPINION.
/sɜːr ˈfɪləps əˈpɪnjən/
Line 2
"Is anything the matter?" said Lady Caroline, suavely.
Line 3
She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.
Line 4
She might at least prevent Margaret from saying anything foolish.
Line 5
Sir Philip drew back a little.
/sɜːr ˈfɪləp druː bæk ə ˈlɪtəl/

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.

Caroline adjective US /ˈkerəlaɪn/

of or relating to the life and times of kings Charles I or Charles II of England

From this reading “"Is anything the matter?" said Lady Caroline, suavely.”

distressed adjective US /dɪˈstrest/

facing or experiencing financial trouble or difficulty

From this reading “She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.”

foolish adjective US /ˈfuːlɪʃ/

devoid of good sense or judgment

From this reading “She might at least prevent Margaret from saying anything foolish.”

philip's noun US /ˈfɪləps/

possessive form of “philip” — Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)

From this reading “SIR PHILIP'S OPINION.”

prevent verb US /prɪˈvent/

keep from happening or arising; make impossible

From this reading “She might at least prevent Margaret from saying anything foolish.”

undecided adjective US /ˌʌndɪˈsaɪdɪd/

not brought to a conclusion; subject to further thought

From this reading “She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.”

unseen adjective US /ənˈsiːn/

not seen or perceived

From this reading “She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.”

withdraw verb US /wɪðˈdrɔː/

pull back or move away or backward

From this reading “She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.”

All words in this reading · 46

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 She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading "Is anything the matter?" said Lady Caroline, suavely.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She might at least prevent Margaret from saying anything foolish.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Sir Philip drew back a little.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.

betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.

CarolineadjectiveUS /ˈkerəlaɪn/

of or relating to the life and times of kings Charles I or Charles II of England

From this reading "Is anything the matter?" said Lady Caroline, suavely.

decidedadjectiveUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪd/

recognizable; marked

From this reading She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.

distressedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstrest/

facing or experiencing financial trouble or difficulty

From this reading She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.

drewnounUS /druː/

United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)

From this reading Sir Philip drew back a little.

expressionnounUS /ɪkˈspreʃən/

the feelings expressed on a person's face

From this reading She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.

facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.

foolishadjectiveUS /ˈfuːlɪʃ/

devoid of good sense or judgment

From this reading She might at least prevent Margaret from saying anything foolish.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading She might at least prevent Margaret from saying anything foolish.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.

her-daughter's

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

From this reading She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.

Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "Is anything the matter?" said Lady Caroline, suavely.

LadynounUS /ˈleɪdi/

a polite name for any woman

From this reading "Is anything the matter?" said Lady Caroline, suavely.

leastadjectiveUS /liːst/

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading She might at least prevent Margaret from saying anything foolish.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Sir Philip drew back a little.

Margaret

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

From this reading She might at least prevent Margaret from saying anything foolish.

matternounUS /ˈmætər/

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading "Is anything the matter?" said Lady Caroline, suavely.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading She might at least prevent Margaret from saying anything foolish.

minutenounUS /ˈmɪnət/

a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

From this reading She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.

OPINIONnounUS /əˈpɪnjən/

a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

From this reading SIR PHILIP'S OPINION.

PhilipnounUS /ˈfɪləp/

Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)

From this reading Sir Philip drew back a little.

PHILIP'SnounUS /ˈfɪləps/

possessive form of “philip” — Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)

From this reading SIR PHILIP'S OPINION.

preventverbUS /prɪˈvent/

keep from happening or arising; make impossible

From this reading She might at least prevent Margaret from saying anything foolish.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Is anything the matter?" said Lady Caroline, suavely.

sayingnounUS /ˈseɪɪŋ/

a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

From this reading She might at least prevent Margaret from saying anything foolish.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.

SIRnounUS /sɜːr/

term of address for a man

From this reading SIR PHILIP'S OPINION.

speakverbUS /spiːk/

express in speech

From this reading She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.

suavelyadverb

with suavity; in a suave manner

From this reading "Is anything the matter?" said Lady Caroline, suavely.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Is anything the matter?" said Lady Caroline, suavely.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.

undecidedadjectiveUS /ˌʌndɪˈsaɪdɪd/

not brought to a conclusion; subject to further thought

From this reading She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.

unseenadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːn/

not seen or perceived

From this reading She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.

withdrawverbUS /wɪðˈdrɔː/

pull back or move away or backward

From this reading She had been undecided for a minute as to whether she had not better withdraw unseen, but the distressed expression on her-daughter's face decided her to speak.

Chapter 16 of A True Friend: A Novel by Adeline Sergeant holds 157 sentences, grouped into 32 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 16 of A True Friend: A Novel contain?

Chapter 16 holds 157 sentences of A True Friend: A Novel, unabridged, divided into 32 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 16 of A True Friend: A Novel by Adeline Sergeant exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 157 sentences, grouped into 32 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 16 of A True Friend: A Novel?

Work through the 32 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 32 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 16 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 16 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 True Friend: A Novel

Common questions about reading A True Friend: A Novel by Adeline Sergeant on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A True Friend: A Novel?

Yes. All 6831 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #23797 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A True Friend: A Novel is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #23797, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A True Friend: A Novel take to read?

About 569 minutes of reading across 1367 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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  1. Open a chapter

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Vocabulary met early in A True Friend: A Novel

Words and structures a reader meets early in A True Friend: A Novel, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Friend
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A True Friend: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Novel
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A True Friend: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A True Friend: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
House
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A True Friend: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.