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David Copperfield
David Copperfield

Chapter XV · Chapter 15

Chapter 15 of David Copperfield is here in full — 464 sentences across 93 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for David Copperfield
Context Illustration Reading 1/92 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little Em’ly, and her emotion last night, after Martha had left.
I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.
I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.
The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.
I made a resolution, therefore, to keep it in my own breast; and there it gave her image a new grace.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

David Copperfield

Chapter XV · Chapter 15

Chapter 15 of David Copperfield is here in full — 464 sentences across 93 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/92 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little Em’ly, and her emotion last night, after Martha had left.
Line 2
I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.
Line 3
I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.
Line 4
The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.
Line 5
I made a resolution, therefore, to keep it in my own breast; and there it gave her image a new grace.

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.

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.”

All words in this reading · 104

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.

a

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

From this reading I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.

accident

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

after

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

From this reading When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little Em’ly, and her emotion last night, after Martha had left.

always

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

From this reading I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.

an

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

and

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

From this reading When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little Em’ly, and her emotion last night, after Martha had left.

any

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

anyone

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

From this reading I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.

as

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

From this reading I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.

awoke

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

From this reading When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little Em’ly, and her emotion last night, after Martha had left.

be

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

From this reading I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.

been

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

From this reading I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.

breast

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

From this reading I made a resolution, therefore, to keep it in my own breast; and there it gave her image a new grace.

by

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

childhood

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

come

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

From this reading I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.

confidence

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

From this reading I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.

creature

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

From this reading I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.

day

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

From this reading I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.

deed

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

devotedly

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

From this reading I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.

disclose

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

From this reading I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.

domestic

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

From this reading I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.

dying

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

From this reading I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.

ears

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

Em'ly

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

From this reading When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little Em’ly, and her emotion last night, after Martha had left.

emotion

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

From this reading When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little Em’ly, and her emotion last night, after Martha had left.

encircling

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

even

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

From this reading I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.

feeling

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

From this reading I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.

felt

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

From this reading I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.

gave

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

From this reading I made a resolution, therefore, to keep it in my own breast; and there it gave her image a new grace.

gentler

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

From this reading I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.

grace

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

From this reading I made a resolution, therefore, to keep it in my own breast; and there it gave her image a new grace.

had

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

From this reading When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little Em’ly, and her emotion last night, after Martha had left.

have

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

From this reading I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.

head

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

heart

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

her

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

From this reading When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little Em’ly, and her emotion last night, after Martha had left.

I

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

From this reading When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little Em’ly, and her emotion last night, after Martha had left.

if

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

From this reading I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.

image

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

From this reading I made a resolution, therefore, to keep it in my own breast; and there it gave her image a new grace.

in

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

From this reading When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little Em’ly, and her emotion last night, after Martha had left.

into

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

From this reading I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.

it

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

From this reading I made a resolution, therefore, to keep it in my own breast; and there it gave her image a new grace.

keep

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

From this reading I made a resolution, therefore, to keep it in my own breast; and there it gave her image a new grace.

knowledge

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

From this reading I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.

last

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

From this reading When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little Em’ly, and her emotion last night, after Martha had left.

lay

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

left

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

From this reading When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little Em’ly, and her emotion last night, after Martha had left.

light

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

little

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

From this reading When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little Em’ly, and her emotion last night, after Martha had left.

loved

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

From this reading I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.

made

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

From this reading I made a resolution, therefore, to keep it in my own breast; and there it gave her image a new grace.

Martha

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

From this reading When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little Em’ly, and her emotion last night, after Martha had left.

me

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

morning

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

From this reading When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little Em’ly, and her emotion last night, after Martha had left.

much

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

From this reading When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little Em’ly, and her emotion last night, after Martha had left.

my

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

From this reading I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.

myself

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

new

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

From this reading I made a resolution, therefore, to keep it in my own breast; and there it gave her image a new grace.

night

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

From this reading When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little Em’ly, and her emotion last night, after Martha had left.

no

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

From this reading I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.

of

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

From this reading When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little Em’ly, and her emotion last night, after Martha had left.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

our

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

own

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

From this reading I made a resolution, therefore, to keep it in my own breast; and there it gave her image a new grace.

persuaded

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

From this reading I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.

playmate

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

From this reading I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.

pretty

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

From this reading I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.

pure

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

repetition

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

repress

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

resolution

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

From this reading I made a resolution, therefore, to keep it in my own breast; and there it gave her image a new grace.

rough

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

sacred

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

From this reading I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.

saw

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

shall

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

From this reading I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.

she

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

Steerforth

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

From this reading I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.

Steerforth's

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

tendernesses

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

From this reading I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.

than

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

From this reading I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.

that

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

From this reading I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.

the

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

From this reading When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little Em’ly, and her emotion last night, after Martha had left.

them

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

From this reading I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.

then

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

From this reading I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.

there

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

From this reading I made a resolution, therefore, to keep it in my own breast; and there it gave her image a new grace.

therefore

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

From this reading I made a resolution, therefore, to keep it in my own breast; and there it gave her image a new grace.

those

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

From this reading I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.

thought

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

From this reading When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little Em’ly, and her emotion last night, after Martha had left.

to

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

From this reading I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.

towards

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

From this reading I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.

unable

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

unworthy

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

very

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

From this reading When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little Em’ly, and her emotion last night, after Martha had left.

weaknesses

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

From this reading I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.

what

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

When

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

From this reading When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little Em’ly, and her emotion last night, after Martha had left.

which

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

From this reading The repetition to any ears--even to Steerforth’s--of what she had been unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident, I felt would be a rough deed, unworthy of myself, unworthy of the light of our pure childhood, which I always saw encircling her head.

who

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

From this reading I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.

whom

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

From this reading I had no gentler feeling towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been my playmate, and whom I have always been persuaded, and shall always be persuaded, to my dying day, I then devotedly loved.

would

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

From this reading I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.

wrong

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

From this reading I felt as if I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and tendernesses in a sacred confidence, and that to disclose them, even to Steerforth, would be wrong.

Chapter 15 of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens holds 464 sentences, grouped into 93 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 15 of David Copperfield contain?

Chapter 15 holds 464 sentences of David Copperfield, unabridged, divided into 93 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 15 of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 464 sentences, grouped into 93 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 15 of David Copperfield?

Work through the 93 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 93 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 15 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 15 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 David Copperfield

Common questions about reading David Copperfield by Charles Dickens on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of David Copperfield?

Yes. All 18139 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #766 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of David Copperfield is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #766, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does David Copperfield take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 3628 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read David Copperfield section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of David Copperfield 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 David Copperfield

Words and structures a reader meets early in David Copperfield, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Whether
A word that appears in the opening chapter of David Copperfield; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Shall
A word that appears in the opening chapter of David Copperfield; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Station
A word that appears in the opening chapter of David Copperfield; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Anybody
A word that appears in the opening chapter of David Copperfield; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.