Chapter 3 of Heart of the West is here in full — 200 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter III
Chapter 3 of Heart of the West is here in full — 200 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
“Listen, sissy,” I begins. “My name is Miss Rebosa Redd,” says she in a pained way. “I know it,” says I. “Now, Rebosa, I’m old enough to have owed money to your father. And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.
Chapter 3 of Heart of the West is here in full — 200 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/40 · 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.
lacking orderly continuity
From this reading “And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.”
a hasty eater who swallows large mouthfuls
From this reading “And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.”
impossible to remedy or correct or redress
From this reading “And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.”
emotionally hurt or upset or annoyed
From this reading ““My name is Miss Rebosa Redd,” says she in a pained way.”
-ing form of “prance” — to walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others
From this reading “And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.”
any of various amines (such as putrescine or cadaverine) formed by the action of putrefactive bacteria
From this reading “And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.”
a timid man or boy considered childish or unassertive
From this reading ““Listen, sissy,” I begins.”
plausible but false
From this reading “And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “My name is Miss Rebosa Redd,” says she in a pained way.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.
plural of “begin” — Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)
From this reading “Listen, sissy,” I begins.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.
dressed in fancy or formal clothing
From this reading And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading “Now, Rebosa, I’m old enough to have owed money to your father.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading “Now, Rebosa, I’m old enough to have owed money to your father.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.
lacking orderly continuity
From this reading And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.
a hasty eater who swallows large mouthfuls
From this reading And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Now, Rebosa, I’m old enough to have owed money to your father.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Listen, sissy,” I begins.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now, Rebosa, I’m old enough to have owed money to your father.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “My name is Miss Rebosa Redd,” says she in a pained way.
impossible to remedy or correct or redress
From this reading And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “My name is Miss Rebosa Redd,” says she in a pained way.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I know it,” says I.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “I know it,” says I.
an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning
From this reading And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.
hear with intention
From this reading “Listen, sissy,” I begins.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading “My name is Miss Rebosa Redd,” says she in a pained way.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading “Now, Rebosa, I’m old enough to have owed money to your father.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “My name is Miss Rebosa Redd,” says she in a pained way.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading “My name is Miss Rebosa Redd,” says she in a pained way.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Now, Rebosa, I’m old enough to have owed money to your father.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “Now, Rebosa, I’m old enough to have owed money to your father.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.
past form of “owe” — be obliged to pay or repay
From this reading “Now, Rebosa, I’m old enough to have owed money to your father.
emotionally hurt or upset or annoyed
From this reading “My name is Miss Rebosa Redd,” says she in a pained way.
obtain a patent for
From this reading And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.
-ing form of “prance” — to walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others
From this reading And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.
any of various amines (such as putrescine or cadaverine) formed by the action of putrefactive bacteria
From this reading And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My name is Miss Rebosa Redd,” says she in a pained way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My name is Miss Rebosa Redd,” says she in a pained way.
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading “My name is Miss Rebosa Redd,” says she in a pained way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “My name is Miss Rebosa Redd,” says she in a pained way.
a particular situation
From this reading And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.
a timid man or boy considered childish or unassertive
From this reading “Listen, sissy,” I begins.
plausible but false
From this reading And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Now, Rebosa, I’m old enough to have owed money to your father.
large gallinaceous bird with fan-shaped tail; widely domesticated for food
From this reading And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading “My name is Miss Rebosa Redd,” says she in a pained way.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And that old, specious, dressed-up, garbled, sea-sick ptomaine prancing about avidiously like an irremediable turkey gobbler with patent leather shoes on is my best friend.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Now, Rebosa, I’m old enough to have owed money to your father.
Chapter 3 of Heart of the West by O. Henry holds 200 sentences, grouped into 40 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.
Chapter 3 holds 200 sentences of Heart of the West, unabridged, divided into 40 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 3 of Heart of the West by O. Henry exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 200 sentences, grouped into 40 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 40 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 40 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 Heart of the West by O. Henry on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 5041 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1725 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #1725, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 420 minutes of reading across 1009 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Heart of the West section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 26 chapters of Heart of the West 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 Heart of the West, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
