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Delaware
Delaware

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of Delaware is here in full — 124 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Delaware
Context Illustration Reading 1/24 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.
A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.
The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.
Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.
Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Delaware

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of Delaware is here in full — 124 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.
/əˈbaʊt θriː oʊ ðə klɑːk ʌv ðə deɪ æt wɪtʃ wiː ɑːr stɪl ˈpɔːzɪŋ ðə skaɪ bɪˈɡæn tuː ʃoʊ ə strɔːŋ ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən tuː wiːp/
Line 2
A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.
Line 3
The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.
/ðə hoʊl ˈhevənz bɪˈkeɪm blæk ənd ˈɡluːmi ənd fɔːr əˈbaʊt æn ˈaʊər ðer wɑːz ˈnʌθɪŋ tuː biː siːn bʌt ə ˈskænti əˈlaʊəns ʌv ˈprɑːspekt hæf əbsˈkjʊrd baɪ ðə ɡreɪ ˈdrɪzəl/
Line 4
Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.
Line 5
Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.

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.

blackened adjective US /ˈblækənd/

darkened by smoke

From this reading “A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.”

drizzle noun US /ˈdrɪzəl/

very light rain; stronger than mist but less than a shower

From this reading “The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.”

edging noun US /ˈedʒɪŋ/

border consisting of anything placed on the edge to finish something (such as a fringe on clothing or on a rug)

From this reading “Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.”

mingling noun US /ˈmɪŋɡəlɪŋ/

the action of people mingling and coming into contact

From this reading “Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.”

obscured verb US /əbsˈkjʊrd/

past form of “obscure” — make less visible or unclear

From this reading “The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.”

scarf noun US /skɑːrf/

a garment worn around the head or neck or shoulders for warmth or decoration

From this reading “Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.”

streaks noun US /striːks/

plural of “streak” — an unbroken series of events

From this reading “Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.”

wherewithal noun US /ˈwerwɪðɔːl/

the necessary means (especially financial means)

From this reading “A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.”

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.

burst forth verb + particle

jump out from a hiding place and surprise (someone)

In this reading “Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.”

heavy shower adjective + noun

In this reading “A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.”

whole world adjective + noun

In this reading “Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.”

heavy mass adjective + noun

In this reading “Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.”

came down verb + adjective counted as “come down”

move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way

In this reading “A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.”

obscured by verb + particle counted as “obscure by”

In this reading “The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.”

About three preposition + noun

In this reading “About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.”

whole heavens adjective + noun

In this reading “The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.”

All words in this reading · 120

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 About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.

AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.

allowancenounUS /əˈlaʊəns/

an amount allowed or granted (as during a given period)

From this reading The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.

amongstprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋst/

surrounded by; in the company of

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

appearancenounUS /əˈpɪrəns/

outward or visible aspect of a person or thing

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.

becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.

beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.

blackadjectiveUS /blæk/

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.

blackenedadjectiveUS /ˈblækənd/

darkened by smoke

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

breakverbUS /breɪk/

terminate

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

brightenedverbUS /ˈbraɪtənd/

past form of “brighten” — make more cheerful through the use of color

From this reading Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.

burstverbUS /bɜːrst/

come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure

From this reading Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

certainlyadverbUS /ˈsɜːrtənli/

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

clocknounUS /klɑːk/

a timepiece that shows the time of day

From this reading About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.

cloudverbUS /klaʊd/

make overcast or cloudy

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

Darlington's

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

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.

dispositionnounUS /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/

your usual mood

From this reading About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

drizzlenounUS /ˈdrɪzəl/

very light rain; stronger than mist but less than a shower

From this reading The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.

drownverbUS /draʊn/

cover completely or make imperceptible

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

edgenounUS /edʒ/

the boundary of a surface

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

edgingnounUS /ˈedʒɪŋ/

border consisting of anything placed on the edge to finish something (such as a fringe on clothing or on a rug)

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

effectuallyadverb

in an effectual manner

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.

fallingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlɪŋ/

decreasing in amount or degree

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.

forthadverbUS /fɔːrθ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.

fringenounUS /frɪndʒ/

the outside boundary or surface of something

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

glassnounUS /ɡlæs/

a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

gloomyadjectiveUS /ˈɡluːmi/

depressingly dark

From this reading The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.

graynounUS /ɡreɪ/

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.

halfadjectiveUS /hæf/

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.

heavensnounUS /ˈhevənz/

the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected

From this reading The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.

heavyadjectiveUS /ˈhevi/

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

horizonnounUS /hərˈaɪzən/

the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

hournounUS /ˈaʊər/

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.

housenounUS /haʊs/

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

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

joynounUS /dʒɔɪ/

the emotion of great happiness

From this reading Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.

leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

massnounUS /mæs/

the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field

From this reading Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.

minglingnounUS /ˈmɪŋɡəlɪŋ/

the action of people mingling and coming into contact

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

MovingadjectiveUS /ˈmuːvɪŋ/

in motion

From this reading Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.

MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

onounUS /oʊ/

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.

obscuredverbUS /əbsˈkjʊrd/

past form of “obscure” — make less visible or unclear

From this reading The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

onwardadverbUS /ˈɔːnwərd/

forward in time or order or degree

From this reading Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

pastnounUS /pæst/

the time that has elapsed

From this reading Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.

pausingverbUS /ˈpɔːzɪŋ/

-ing form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

From this reading About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.

pouredverbUS /pɔːrd/

past form of “pour” — cause to run

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

prospectnounUS /ˈprɑːspekt/

the possibility of future success

From this reading The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.

rainnounUS /reɪn/

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

rainbownounUS /ˈreɪnboʊ/

an arc of colored light in the sky caused by refraction of the sun's rays by rain

From this reading Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.

raysnounUS /reɪz/

plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

refreshedadjectiveUS /riˈfreʃt/

with restored energy

From this reading Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.

remainsnounUS /rɪˈmeɪnz/

any object that is left unused or still extant

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

roomnounUS /ruːm/

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.

scantyadjectiveUS /ˈskænti/

lacking in magnitude or quantity

From this reading The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.

scarfnounUS /skɑːrf/

a garment worn around the head or neck or shoulders for warmth or decoration

From this reading Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

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

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

seenverbUS /siːn/

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.

SeptembernounUS /sepˈtembər/

the month following August and preceding October

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

ShortlyadverbUS /ˈʃɔːrtli/

for a short time

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

showverbUS /ʃoʊ/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.

showernounUS /ˈʃaʊər/

a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

skynounUS /skaɪ/

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.

slowlyadverbUS /ˈsloʊli/

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.

south-western

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

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

sparknounUS /spɑːrk/

a momentary flash of light

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

sparkledverbUS /ˈspɑːrkəld/

past form of “sparkle” — reflect brightly

From this reading Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.

spunverbUS /spʌn/

inflected form of “spin” — revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.

streaksnounUS /striːks/

plural of “streak” — an unbroken series of events

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

strongadjectiveUS /strɔːŋ/

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.

sunnounUS /sʌn/

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

threenounUS /θriː/

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

From this reading About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

tillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.

unextinguished

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

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.

vapoursnoun

a state of depression

From this reading Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.

wavedverbUS /weɪvd/

past form of “wave” — signal with the hands or nod

From this reading Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.

weepverbUS /wiːp/

shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain

From this reading About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

wherewithalnounUS /ˈwerwɪðɔːl/

the necessary means (especially financial means)

From this reading A heavy shower came on, and if there were a spark left till then unextinguished amongst the blackened remains of Mrs. Darlington's house, there certainly now came down from above the wherewithal to drown it out effectually.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading About three o the clock of the day at which we are still pausing, the sky began to show a strong disposition to weep.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.

wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading The whole heavens became black and gloomy, and for about an hour there was nothing to be seen but a scanty allowance of prospect, half obscured by the gray drizzle.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading Moving slowly onward, the heavy mass of vapours left room for the evening sun to burst forth, and, while the rainbow waved its scarf of joy in the air, the whole world sparkled up refreshed and brightened by the past rain.

yellowadjectiveUS /ˈjeloʊ/

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading Shortly after, however, a yellow break made its appearance on the south-western edge of the horizon, and the rays of a September sun, mingling with the falling shower, poured through the streaks of rain, and seemed to fringe the cloud with an edging of spun glass.

Chapter 8 of Delaware by G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James holds 124 sentences, grouped into 25 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 8 of Delaware contain?

Chapter 8 holds 124 sentences of Delaware, unabridged, divided into 25 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of Delaware by G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 124 sentences, grouped into 25 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 8 of Delaware?

Work through the 25 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 25 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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 Delaware

Common questions about reading Delaware by G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Delaware?

Yes. All 1674 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #51628 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Delaware is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #51628, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Delaware take to read?

About 139 minutes of reading across 335 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Delaware section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 14 chapters of Delaware 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 Delaware

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

Diphthong
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Delaware; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Represented
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Delaware; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Ruined
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Delaware; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Family
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Delaware; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.