Chapter 3 of Gettysburg is here in full — 505 sentences across 101 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter III
Chapter 3 of Gettysburg is here in full — 505 sentences across 101 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Gunner Criswell sprang to his feet. He did not like to acknowledge his infirmity; it seemed always like bidding for sympathy. But now the words rushed from him, words than which there are none more heartrending. "Madam, forgive me! I am blind."
Chapter 3 of Gettysburg is here in full — 505 sentences across 101 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/101 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading “He did not like to acknowledge his infirmity; it seemed always like bidding for sympathy.”
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading “He did not like to acknowledge his infirmity; it seemed always like bidding for sympathy.”
people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading “I am blind."”
stop blaming or grant forgiveness
From this reading “"Madam, forgive me!”
a serviceman in the artillery
From this reading “Gunner Criswell sprang to his feet.”
the state of being weak in health or body (especially from old age)
From this reading “He did not like to acknowledge his infirmity; it seemed always like bidding for sympathy.”
a woman of refinement
From this reading “"Madam, forgive me!”
an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion
From this reading “He did not like to acknowledge his infirmity; it seemed always like bidding for sympathy.”
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.
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.
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading He did not like to acknowledge his infirmity; it seemed always like bidding for sympathy.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He did not like to acknowledge his infirmity; it seemed always like bidding for sympathy.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am blind."
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But now the words rushed from him, words than which there are none more heartrending.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading He did not like to acknowledge his infirmity; it seemed always like bidding for sympathy.
people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading I am blind."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But now the words rushed from him, words than which there are none more heartrending.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gunner Criswell sprang to his feet.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not like to acknowledge his infirmity; it seemed always like bidding for sympathy.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Gunner Criswell sprang to his feet.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He did not like to acknowledge his infirmity; it seemed always like bidding for sympathy.
stop blaming or grant forgiveness
From this reading "Madam, forgive me!
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But now the words rushed from him, words than which there are none more heartrending.
a serviceman in the artillery
From this reading Gunner Criswell sprang to his feet.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did not like to acknowledge his infirmity; it seemed always like bidding for sympathy.
causing or marked by grief or anguish
From this reading But now the words rushed from him, words than which there are none more heartrending.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But now the words rushed from him, words than which there are none more heartrending.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Gunner Criswell sprang to his feet.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I am blind."
the state of being weak in health or body (especially from old age)
From this reading He did not like to acknowledge his infirmity; it seemed always like bidding for sympathy.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He did not like to acknowledge his infirmity; it seemed always like bidding for sympathy.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He did not like to acknowledge his infirmity; it seemed always like bidding for sympathy.
a woman of refinement
From this reading "Madam, forgive me!
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Madam, forgive me!
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But now the words rushed from him, words than which there are none more heartrending.
not one, and not any
From this reading But now the words rushed from him, words than which there are none more heartrending.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not like to acknowledge his infirmity; it seemed always like bidding for sympathy.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But now the words rushed from him, words than which there are none more heartrending.
done under pressure
From this reading But now the words rushed from him, words than which there are none more heartrending.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He did not like to acknowledge his infirmity; it seemed always like bidding for sympathy.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Gunner Criswell sprang to his feet.
an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion
From this reading He did not like to acknowledge his infirmity; it seemed always like bidding for sympathy.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But now the words rushed from him, words than which there are none more heartrending.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But now the words rushed from him, words than which there are none more heartrending.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But now the words rushed from him, words than which there are none more heartrending.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Gunner Criswell sprang to his feet.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But now the words rushed from him, words than which there are none more heartrending.
the words that are spoken
From this reading But now the words rushed from him, words than which there are none more heartrending.
Chapter 3 of Gettysburg by Elsie Singmaster holds 505 sentences, grouped into 101 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.
Chapter 3 holds 505 sentences of Gettysburg, unabridged, divided into 101 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 3 of Gettysburg by Elsie Singmaster exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 505 sentences, grouped into 101 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.
Work through the 101 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 101 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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.
Common questions about reading Gettysburg by Elsie Singmaster on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 1988 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #54358 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #54358, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 165 minutes of reading across 398 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Gettysburg section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 4 chapters of Gettysburg to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Gettysburg, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
