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Far from the Madding Crowd
Far from the Madding Crowd

Chapter XXXIX · Chapter 39

Chapter 39 of Far from the Madding Crowd is here in full — 110 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Thomas Hardy • Curated US English Learning Edition

Chapter 39 of Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy holds 110 sentences, grouped into 22 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 39 of Far from the Madding Crowd contain?

Chapter 39 holds 110 sentences of Far from the Madding Crowd, unabridged, divided into 22 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 39 of Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 110 sentences, grouped into 22 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 39 of Far from the Madding Crowd?

Work through the 22 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 22 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 39 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 39 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 Far from the Madding Crowd

Common questions about reading Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Far from the Madding Crowd?

Yes. All 7856 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #27 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Far from the Madding Crowd is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #27, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Far from the Madding Crowd take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1572 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Far from the Madding Crowd section by section

How to work through Far from the Madding Crowd section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 39 chapters of Far from the Madding Crowd 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 Far from the Madding Crowd

Words and structures a reader meets early in Far from the Madding Crowd, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Illustrations
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Far from the Madding Crowd; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Hands
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Far from the Madding Crowd; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Loosening
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Far from the Madding Crowd; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Neckerchief
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Far from the Madding Crowd; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cover illustration for Far from the Madding Crowd
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION “The most private, secret, plainest wedding that it is possible to have.”
Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.
“A licence—Oh yes, it must be a licence,” he said to himself at last.
“Very well, then; first, a licence.”
On a dark night, a few days later, Oak came with mysterious steps from the surrogate’s door, in Casterbridge.
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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.

Far from the Madding Crowd

Chapter XXXIX · Chapter 39

Chapter 39 of Far from the Madding Crowd is here in full — 110 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION “The most private, secret, plainest wedding that it is possible to have.”
Line 2
Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.
Line 3
“A licence—Oh yes, it must be a licence,” he said to himself at last.
Line 4
“Very well, then; first, a licence.”
Line 5
On a dark night, a few days later, Oak came with mysterious steps from the surrogate’s door, in Casterbridge.

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.

Secret noun US /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading “A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION “The most private, secret, plainest wedding that it is possible to have.””

Velmora curated lexicon
All words in this reading · 73

Every word is available to listen to. 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 A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION “The most private, secret, plainest wedding that it is possible to have.”

Pending verification
after

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
AND

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

From this reading A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION “The most private, secret, plainest wedding that it is possible to have.”

Pending verification
at

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

From this reading “A licence—Oh yes, it must be a licence,” he said to himself at last.

Pending verification
Bathsheba's

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
be

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

From this reading “A licence—Oh yes, it must be a licence,” he said to himself at last.

Pending verification
been

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
by

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
came

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

From this reading On a dark night, a few days later, Oak came with mysterious steps from the surrogate’s door, in Casterbridge.

Pending verification
carry

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
Casterbridge

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

From this reading On a dark night, a few days later, Oak came with mysterious steps from the surrogate’s door, in Casterbridge.

Pending verification
chapter

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
clock

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
CONCLUSION

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

From this reading A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION “The most private, secret, plainest wedding that it is possible to have.”

Pending verification
dark

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

From this reading On a dark night, a few days later, Oak came with mysterious steps from the surrogate’s door, in Casterbridge.

Pending verification
days

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

From this reading On a dark night, a few days later, Oak came with mysterious steps from the surrogate’s door, in Casterbridge.

Pending verification
door

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

From this reading On a dark night, a few days later, Oak came with mysterious steps from the surrogate’s door, in Casterbridge.

Pending verification
evening

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
event

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
few

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

From this reading On a dark night, a few days later, Oak came with mysterious steps from the surrogate’s door, in Casterbridge.

Pending verification
first

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

From this reading “Very well, then; first, a licence.”

Pending verification
FOGGY

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

From this reading A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION “The most private, secret, plainest wedding that it is possible to have.”

Pending verification
from

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

From this reading On a dark night, a few days later, Oak came with mysterious steps from the surrogate’s door, in Casterbridge.

Pending verification
full

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
had

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
have

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

From this reading A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION “The most private, secret, plainest wedding that it is possible to have.”

Pending verification
he

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
her

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
himself

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

From this reading “A licence—Oh yes, it must be a licence,” he said to himself at last.

Pending verification
hour

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
how

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
in

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

From this reading On a dark night, a few days later, Oak came with mysterious steps from the surrogate’s door, in Casterbridge.

Pending verification
is

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

From this reading A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION “The most private, secret, plainest wedding that it is possible to have.”

Pending verification
it

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

From this reading A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION “The most private, secret, plainest wedding that it is possible to have.”

Pending verification
last

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

From this reading “A licence—Oh yes, it must be a licence,” he said to himself at last.

Pending verification
later

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

From this reading On a dark night, a few days later, Oak came with mysterious steps from the surrogate’s door, in Casterbridge.

Pending verification
letter

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
licence

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

From this reading “A licence—Oh yes, it must be a licence,” he said to himself at last.

Pending verification
meditated

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
MORNING

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

From this reading A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION “The most private, secret, plainest wedding that it is possible to have.”

Pending verification
most

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

From this reading A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION “The most private, secret, plainest wedding that it is possible to have.”

Pending verification
must

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

From this reading “A licence—Oh yes, it must be a licence,” he said to himself at last.

Pending verification
mysterious

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

From this reading On a dark night, a few days later, Oak came with mysterious steps from the surrogate’s door, in Casterbridge.

Pending verification
NIGHT

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

From this reading A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION “The most private, secret, plainest wedding that it is possible to have.”

Pending verification
Oak

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
of

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
Oh

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

From this reading “A licence—Oh yes, it must be a licence,” he said to himself at last.

Pending verification
On

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

From this reading On a dark night, a few days later, Oak came with mysterious steps from the surrogate’s door, in Casterbridge.

Pending verification
one

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
out

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
plainest

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

From this reading A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION “The most private, secret, plainest wedding that it is possible to have.”

Pending verification
possible

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

From this reading A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION “The most private, secret, plainest wedding that it is possible to have.”

Pending verification
preceding

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
private

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

From this reading A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION “The most private, secret, plainest wedding that it is possible to have.”

Pending verification
said

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

From this reading “A licence—Oh yes, it must be a licence,” he said to himself at last.

Pending verification
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION “The most private, secret, plainest wedding that it is possible to have.”

Velmora curated lexicon
some

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
steps

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

From this reading On a dark night, a few days later, Oak came with mysterious steps from the surrogate’s door, in Casterbridge.

Pending verification
surrogate's

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

From this reading On a dark night, a few days later, Oak came with mysterious steps from the surrogate’s door, in Casterbridge.

Pending verification
that

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

From this reading A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION “The most private, secret, plainest wedding that it is possible to have.”

Pending verification
The

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

From this reading A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION “The most private, secret, plainest wedding that it is possible to have.”

Pending verification
then

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

From this reading “Very well, then; first, a licence.”

Pending verification
Those

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
time

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
to

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

From this reading A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION “The most private, secret, plainest wedding that it is possible to have.”

Pending verification
upon

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
Very

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

From this reading “Very well, then; first, a licence.”

Pending verification
wedding

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

From this reading A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION “The most private, secret, plainest wedding that it is possible to have.”

Pending verification
well

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

From this reading “Very well, then; first, a licence.”

Pending verification
wishes

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
with

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

From this reading On a dark night, a few days later, Oak came with mysterious steps from the surrogate’s door, in Casterbridge.

Pending verification
words

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

From this reading Those had been Bathsheba’s words to Oak one evening, some time after the event of the preceding chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon how to carry out her wishes to the letter.

Pending verification
yes

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

From this reading “A licence—Oh yes, it must be a licence,” he said to himself at last.

Pending verification