An Isle of Surrey: A Novel

Chapter XIV

Chapter 14 of An Isle of Surrey: A Novel is here in full — 196 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Richard Dowling • Curated US English Learning Edition

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THE FIRE AT RICHMOND.

A more devoted husband was not in all Richmond than William Crawford.

A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.

To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.

Her name in his mouth had always seemed cold and stately; at home she had always been Nellie.

Narrator

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LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter XIV Reading 1/39

An Isle of Surrey: A Novel Richard Dowling

Chapter XIV

Chapter 14 of An Isle of Surrey: A Novel is here in full — 196 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

THE FIRE AT RICHMOND. A more devoted husband was not in all Richmond than William Crawford. A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie. To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen. Her name in his mouth had always seemed cold and stately; at home she had always been Nellie.

An Isle of Surrey: A Novel

Chapter XIV

Chapter 14 of An Isle of Surrey: A Novel is here in full — 196 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/39 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

THE FIRE AT RICHMOND.

/ðə ˈfaɪər æt ˈrɪtʃmənd/

Line 2

A more devoted husband was not in all Richmond than William Crawford.

Line 3

A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.

Line 4

To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.

Line 5

Her name in his mouth had always seemed cold and stately; at home she had always been Nellie.

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.

affectionate adjective US /əˈfekʃənət/

having or displaying warmth or affection

From this reading “A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.”

Crawford noun US /ˈkrɔːfərd/

United States neoclassical sculptor (1814-1857)

From this reading “A more devoted husband was not in all Richmond than William Crawford.”

richmond noun US /ˈrɪtʃmənd/

capital of the state of Virginia located in the east central part of the state; was capital of the Confederacy during the American Civil War

From this reading “THE FIRE AT RICHMOND.”

stately adjective US /ˈsteɪtli/

impressive in appearance

From this reading “Her name in his mouth had always seemed cold and stately; at home she had always been Nellie.”

trusting adjective US /ˈtrʌstɪŋ/

inclined to believe or confide readily; full of trust

From this reading “A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.”

twenty-five adjective US /ˈtwentifaɪv/

being five more than twenty

From this reading “To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.”

twenty-two noun US /ˈtwentituː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-one and one

From this reading “To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.”

zenith noun US /ˈziːnəθ/

the point above the observer that is directly opposite the nadir on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected

From this reading “To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.”

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.

twenty-five years adjective + noun

In this reading “To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.”

at home preposition + noun

a reception held in your own home

In this reading “Her name in his mouth had always seemed cold and stately; at home she had always been Nellie.”

great tenderness adjective + noun

In this reading “A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.”

All words in this reading · 58

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 more devoted husband was not in all Richmond than William Crawford.

affectionateadjectiveUS /əˈfekʃənət/

having or displaying warmth or affection

From this reading A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.

agoadverbUS /əˈɡoʊ/

in the past

From this reading To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.

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 A more devoted husband was not in all Richmond than William Crawford.

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.

ATprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE FIRE AT RICHMOND.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.

beautynounUS /ˈbjuːti/

the qualities that give pleasure to the senses

From this reading To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.

calledverbUS /kɔːld/

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.

coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading Her name in his mouth had always seemed cold and stately; at home she had always been Nellie.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.

CrawfordnounUS /ˈkrɔːfərd/

United States neoclassical sculptor (1814-1857)

From this reading A more devoted husband was not in all Richmond than William Crawford.

devotedadjectiveUS /dɪˈvoʊtɪd/

zealous in devotion or affection

From this reading A more devoted husband was not in all Richmond than William Crawford.

Ellen

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

From this reading A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.

EnglandnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlənd/

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.

FIREverbUS /ˈfaɪər/

start firing a weapon

From this reading THE FIRE AT RICHMOND.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Her name in his mouth had always seemed cold and stately; at home she had always been Nellie.

husbandnounUS /ˈhʌzbənd/

a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading A more devoted husband was not in all Richmond than William Crawford.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A more devoted husband was not in all Richmond than William Crawford.

maidennounUS /ˈmeɪdən/

an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)

From this reading To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.

marriedadjectiveUS /ˈmerid/

joined in matrimony

From this reading To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading A more devoted husband was not in all Richmond than William Crawford.

mouthnounUS /maʊθ/

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading Her name in his mouth had always seemed cold and stately; at home she had always been Nellie.

nameverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Her name in his mouth had always seemed cold and stately; at home she had always been Nellie.

Nellie

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

From this reading A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading A more devoted husband was not in all Richmond than William Crawford.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.

RICHMONDnounUS /ˈrɪtʃmənd/

capital of the state of Virginia located in the east central part of the state; was capital of the Confederacy during the American Civil War

From this reading THE FIRE AT RICHMOND.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

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

From this reading Her name in his mouth had always seemed cold and stately; at home she had always been Nellie.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.

statelyadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪtli/

impressive in appearance

From this reading Her name in his mouth had always seemed cold and stately; at home she had always been Nellie.

tendernessnounUS /ˈtendərnəs/

a tendency to express warm and affectionate feeling

From this reading A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading A more devoted husband was not in all Richmond than William Crawford.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE FIRE AT RICHMOND.

ThomasnounUS /ˈtɑːməs/

United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)

From this reading To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.

tonesnounUS /toʊnz/

plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice

From this reading A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.

trustingadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌstɪŋ/

inclined to believe or confide readily; full of trust

From this reading A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.

twenty-fiveadjectiveUS /ˈtwentifaɪv/

being five more than twenty

From this reading To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.

twenty-twonounUS /ˈtwentituː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-one and one

From this reading To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A more devoted husband was not in all Richmond than William Crawford.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.

wifenounUS /waɪf/

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading A more trusting and affectionate wife could not be found in all England than Ellen, his wife, whom in tones of great tenderness he always called Nellie.

William

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

From this reading A more devoted husband was not in all Richmond than William Crawford.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.

zenithnounUS /ˈziːnəθ/

the point above the observer that is directly opposite the nadir on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected

From this reading To her first husband, old Thomas Crawford, whom she had married in the zenith of her maiden beauty twenty-five years ago, when she was twenty-two, she had ever been Ellen.

Chapter 14 of An Isle of Surrey: A Novel by Richard Dowling holds 196 sentences, grouped into 40 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 14 of An Isle of Surrey: A Novel contain?

Chapter 14 holds 196 sentences of An Isle of Surrey: A Novel, unabridged, divided into 40 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 14 of An Isle of Surrey: A Novel by Richard Dowling exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 196 sentences, grouped into 40 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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Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 14 can be played aloud in United States English.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #42756, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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Chapter XIV

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