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Condensed Novels
Condensed Novels

Chapter XLVII · Chapter 47

Chapter 47 of Condensed Novels is here in full — 19 sentences across 4 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Condensed Novels
Context Illustration Reading 1/3 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Blunderbore Hall, the seat of James Rawjester, Esq., was encompassed by dark pines and funereal hemlocks on all sides.
The wind sang weirdly in the turrets and moaned through the long-drawn avenues of the park.
As I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the windows, and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the bell.
While I strove to repress my gloomy forebodings, the housekeeper, a timid, scared-looking old woman, showed me into the library.
I entered, overcome with conflicting emotions.
0:00 / 0:00
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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.

Condensed Novels

Chapter XLVII · Chapter 47

Chapter 47 of Condensed Novels is here in full — 19 sentences across 4 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/3 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Blunderbore Hall, the seat of James Rawjester, Esq., was encompassed by dark pines and funereal hemlocks on all sides.
Line 2
The wind sang weirdly in the turrets and moaned through the long-drawn avenues of the park.
Line 3
As I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the windows, and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the bell.
Line 4
While I strove to repress my gloomy forebodings, the housekeeper, a timid, scared-looking old woman, showed me into the library.
Line 5
I entered, overcome with conflicting emotions.
/aɪ ˈentərd ˈoʊvərkʌm wɪð kənˈflɪktɪŋ ɪˈmoʊʃənz/

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.

avenues noun US /ˈævənuːz/

plural of “avenue” — a line of approach

From this reading “The wind sang weirdly in the turrets and moaned through the long-drawn avenues of the park.”

conflicting adjective US /kənˈflɪktɪŋ/

in disagreement

From this reading “I entered, overcome with conflicting emotions.”

encompassed verb US /enˈkʌmpəst/

past form of “encompass” — include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory

From this reading “Blunderbore Hall, the seat of James Rawjester, Esq., was encompassed by dark pines and funereal hemlocks on all sides.”

flit verb US /flɪt/

move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart

From this reading “As I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the windows, and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the bell.”

moaned verb US /moʊnd/

past form of “moan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure

From this reading “The wind sang weirdly in the turrets and moaned through the long-drawn avenues of the park.”

repress verb US /riˈpres/

put down by force or intimidation

From this reading “While I strove to repress my gloomy forebodings, the housekeeper, a timid, scared-looking old woman, showed me into the library.”

turrets noun US /ˈtɜːrəts/

plural of “turret” — a small tower extending above a building

From this reading “The wind sang weirdly in the turrets and moaned through the long-drawn avenues of the park.”

weirdly adverb US /ˈwɪrdli/

in a weird manner

From this reading “The wind sang weirdly in the turrets and moaned through the long-drawn avenues of the park.”

All words in this reading · 69

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 As I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the windows, and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the bell.

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 Blunderbore Hall, the seat of James Rawjester, Esq., was encompassed by dark pines and funereal hemlocks on all sides.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Blunderbore Hall, the seat of James Rawjester, Esq., was encompassed by dark pines and funereal hemlocks on all sides.

answeredverbUS /ˈænsərd/

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading As I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the windows, and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the bell.

approachedverbUS /əˈproʊtʃt/

past form of “approach” — move towards

From this reading As I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the windows, and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the bell.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the windows, and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the bell.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading As I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the windows, and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the bell.

avenuesnounUS /ˈævənuːz/

plural of “avenue” — a line of approach

From this reading The wind sang weirdly in the turrets and moaned through the long-drawn avenues of the park.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading As I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the windows, and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the bell.

bellnounUS /bel/

a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck

From this reading As I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the windows, and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the bell.

Blunderbore

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

From this reading Blunderbore Hall, the seat of James Rawjester, Esq., was encompassed by dark pines and funereal hemlocks on all sides.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Blunderbore Hall, the seat of James Rawjester, Esq., was encompassed by dark pines and funereal hemlocks on all sides.

conflictingadjectiveUS /kənˈflɪktɪŋ/

in disagreement

From this reading I entered, overcome with conflicting emotions.

darknounUS /dɑːrk/

absence of light or illumination

From this reading Blunderbore Hall, the seat of James Rawjester, Esq., was encompassed by dark pines and funereal hemlocks on all sides.

demoniacnoun

someone who acts as if possessed by a demon

From this reading As I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the windows, and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the bell.

emotionsnounUS /ɪˈmoʊʃənz/

plural of “emotion” — any strong feeling

From this reading I entered, overcome with conflicting emotions.

encompassedverbUS /enˈkʌmpəst/

past form of “encompass” — include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory

From this reading Blunderbore Hall, the seat of James Rawjester, Esq., was encompassed by dark pines and funereal hemlocks on all sides.

enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading I entered, overcome with conflicting emotions.

Esqnoun

a title of respect for a member of the English gentry ranking just below a knight; placed after the name

From this reading Blunderbore Hall, the seat of James Rawjester, Esq., was encompassed by dark pines and funereal hemlocks on all sides.

figuresnounUS /ˈfɪɡjərz/

plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading As I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the windows, and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the bell.

flitverbUS /flɪt/

move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart

From this reading As I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the windows, and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the bell.

forebodings

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

From this reading While I strove to repress my gloomy forebodings, the housekeeper, a timid, scared-looking old woman, showed me into the library.

funerealadjective

suited to or suggestive of a grave or burial

From this reading Blunderbore Hall, the seat of James Rawjester, Esq., was encompassed by dark pines and funereal hemlocks on all sides.

gloomyadjectiveUS /ˈɡluːmi/

depressingly dark

From this reading While I strove to repress my gloomy forebodings, the housekeeper, a timid, scared-looking old woman, showed me into the library.

HallnounUS /hɔːl/

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading Blunderbore Hall, the seat of James Rawjester, Esq., was encompassed by dark pines and funereal hemlocks on all sides.

hemlocks

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

From this reading Blunderbore Hall, the seat of James Rawjester, Esq., was encompassed by dark pines and funereal hemlocks on all sides.

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading As I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the windows, and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the bell.

housekeepernounUS /ˈhaʊskiːpər/

a servant who is employed to perform domestic task in a household

From this reading While I strove to repress my gloomy forebodings, the housekeeper, a timid, scared-looking old woman, showed me into the library.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading As I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the windows, and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the bell.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The wind sang weirdly in the turrets and moaned through the long-drawn avenues of the park.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading While I strove to repress my gloomy forebodings, the housekeeper, a timid, scared-looking old woman, showed me into the library.

JamesnounUS /dʒeɪmz/

a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)

From this reading Blunderbore Hall, the seat of James Rawjester, Esq., was encompassed by dark pines and funereal hemlocks on all sides.

laughternounUS /ˈlæftər/

the sound of laughing

From this reading As I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the windows, and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the bell.

librarynounUS /ˈlaɪbreriː/

a room where books are kept

From this reading While I strove to repress my gloomy forebodings, the housekeeper, a timid, scared-looking old woman, showed me into the library.

long-drawn

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

From this reading The wind sang weirdly in the turrets and moaned through the long-drawn avenues of the park.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading While I strove to repress my gloomy forebodings, the housekeeper, a timid, scared-looking old woman, showed me into the library.

moanedverbUS /moʊnd/

past form of “moan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure

From this reading The wind sang weirdly in the turrets and moaned through the long-drawn avenues of the park.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading As I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the windows, and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the bell.

mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/

of an obscure nature

From this reading As I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the windows, and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the bell.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Blunderbore Hall, the seat of James Rawjester, Esq., was encompassed by dark pines and funereal hemlocks on all sides.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

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

From this reading While I strove to repress my gloomy forebodings, the housekeeper, a timid, scared-looking old woman, showed me into the library.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Blunderbore Hall, the seat of James Rawjester, Esq., was encompassed by dark pines and funereal hemlocks on all sides.

overcomeverbUS /ˈoʊvərkʌm/

win a victory over

From this reading I entered, overcome with conflicting emotions.

parknounUS /pɑːrk/

a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property

From this reading The wind sang weirdly in the turrets and moaned through the long-drawn avenues of the park.

pinesnounUS /paɪnz/

plural of “pine” — a coniferous tree

From this reading Blunderbore Hall, the seat of James Rawjester, Esq., was encompassed by dark pines and funereal hemlocks on all sides.

Rawjester

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

From this reading Blunderbore Hall, the seat of James Rawjester, Esq., was encompassed by dark pines and funereal hemlocks on all sides.

repressverbUS /riˈpres/

put down by force or intimidation

From this reading While I strove to repress my gloomy forebodings, the housekeeper, a timid, scared-looking old woman, showed me into the library.

sangnounUS /sæŋ/

North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng

From this reading The wind sang weirdly in the turrets and moaned through the long-drawn avenues of the park.

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading As I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the windows, and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the bell.

scared-looking

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

From this reading While I strove to repress my gloomy forebodings, the housekeeper, a timid, scared-looking old woman, showed me into the library.

seatnounUS /siːt/

a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)

From this reading Blunderbore Hall, the seat of James Rawjester, Esq., was encompassed by dark pines and funereal hemlocks on all sides.

severaladjectiveUS /ˈsevrəl/

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading As I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the windows, and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the bell.

showedverbUS /ʃoʊd/

past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading While I strove to repress my gloomy forebodings, the housekeeper, a timid, scared-looking old woman, showed me into the library.

sidesnounUS /saɪdz/

plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Blunderbore Hall, the seat of James Rawjester, Esq., was encompassed by dark pines and funereal hemlocks on all sides.

stroveverbUS /stroʊv/

inflected form of “strive” — attempt by employing effort

From this reading While I strove to repress my gloomy forebodings, the housekeeper, a timid, scared-looking old woman, showed me into the library.

summonsnounUS /ˈsʌmənz/

a request to be present

From this reading As I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the windows, and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the bell.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Blunderbore Hall, the seat of James Rawjester, Esq., was encompassed by dark pines and funereal hemlocks on all sides.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading The wind sang weirdly in the turrets and moaned through the long-drawn avenues of the park.

timidadjectiveUS /ˈtɪmɪd/

showing fear and lack of confidence

From this reading While I strove to repress my gloomy forebodings, the housekeeper, a timid, scared-looking old woman, showed me into the library.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading While I strove to repress my gloomy forebodings, the housekeeper, a timid, scared-looking old woman, showed me into the library.

turretsnounUS /ˈtɜːrəts/

plural of “turret” — a small tower extending above a building

From this reading The wind sang weirdly in the turrets and moaned through the long-drawn avenues of the park.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Blunderbore Hall, the seat of James Rawjester, Esq., was encompassed by dark pines and funereal hemlocks on all sides.

weirdlyadverbUS /ˈwɪrdli/

in a weird manner

From this reading The wind sang weirdly in the turrets and moaned through the long-drawn avenues of the park.

WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading While I strove to repress my gloomy forebodings, the housekeeper, a timid, scared-looking old woman, showed me into the library.

windnounUS /waɪnd/

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading The wind sang weirdly in the turrets and moaned through the long-drawn avenues of the park.

windowsnounUS /ˈwɪndoʊz/

(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface

From this reading As I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the windows, and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the bell.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I entered, overcome with conflicting emotions.

womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading While I strove to repress my gloomy forebodings, the housekeeper, a timid, scared-looking old woman, showed me into the library.

yellnounUS /jel/

a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition

From this reading As I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the windows, and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the bell.

Chapter 47 of Condensed Novels by Bret Harte holds 19 sentences, grouped into 4 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 47 of Condensed Novels contain?

Chapter 47 holds 19 sentences of Condensed Novels, unabridged, divided into 4 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 47 of Condensed Novels by Bret Harte exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 19 sentences, grouped into 4 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 47 of Condensed Novels?

Work through the 4 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 4 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 47 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 47 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 Condensed Novels

Common questions about reading Condensed Novels by Bret Harte on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Condensed Novels?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Condensed Novels is used?

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

How long does Condensed Novels take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Condensed Novels section by section

How to work through Condensed Novels section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 0 chapters of Condensed Novels to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in Condensed Novels

Words and structures a reader meets early in Condensed Novels, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of Condensed Novels, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
One of the 0 chapters of Condensed Novels, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of Condensed Novels, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.