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Henry Dunbar: A Novel
Henry Dunbar: A Novel

Chapter XVIII · Chapter 18

Chapter 18 of Henry Dunbar: A Novel is here in full — 128 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/25 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE STEEPLE-CHASE.
After considerable discussion, it was settled that Laura Dunbar's wedding should take place upon the 7th of November.
It was to be a very quiet wedding.
The banker had especially impressed that condition upon his daughter.
His health was entirely broken, and he would assist in no splendid ceremonial to which half the county would be invited.
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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.

Henry Dunbar: A Novel

Chapter XVIII · Chapter 18

Chapter 18 of Henry Dunbar: A Novel is here in full — 128 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE STEEPLE-CHASE.
Line 2
After considerable discussion, it was settled that Laura Dunbar's wedding should take place upon the 7th of November.
Line 3
It was to be a very quiet wedding.
/ɪt wɑːz tuː biː ə ˈveri ˈkwaɪət ˈwedɪŋ/
Line 4
The banker had especially impressed that condition upon his daughter.
/ðə ˈbæŋkər hæd əˈspeʃli ˌɪmˈprest ðæt kənˈdɪʃən əˈpɑːn hɪz ˈdɔːtər/
Line 5
His health was entirely broken, and he would assist in no splendid ceremonial to which half the county would be invited.
/hɪz helθ wɑːz ɪnˈtaɪərli ˈbroʊkən ənd hiː wʊd əˈsɪst ɪn noʊ ˈsplendɪd ˌserəˈmoʊniəl tuː wɪtʃ hæf ðə ˈkaʊnti wʊd biː ˌɪnˈvaɪtəd/

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.

assist verb US /əˈsɪst/

give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading “His health was entirely broken, and he would assist in no splendid ceremonial to which half the county would be invited.”

banker noun US /ˈbæŋkər/

a financier who owns or is an executive in a bank

From this reading “The banker had especially impressed that condition upon his daughter.”

ceremonial noun US /ˌserəˈmoʊniəl/

a formal event performed on a special occasion

From this reading “His health was entirely broken, and he would assist in no splendid ceremonial to which half the county would be invited.”

county noun US /ˈkaʊnti/

(United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government

From this reading “His health was entirely broken, and he would assist in no splendid ceremonial to which half the county would be invited.”

discussion noun US /dɪˈskʌʃən/

an extended communication (often interactive) dealing with some particular topic

From this reading “After considerable discussion, it was settled that Laura Dunbar's wedding should take place upon the 7th of November.”

impressed adjective US /ˌɪmˈprest/

deeply or markedly affected or influenced

From this reading “The banker had especially impressed that condition upon his daughter.”

November noun US /noʊˈvembər/

the month following October and preceding December

From this reading “After considerable discussion, it was settled that Laura Dunbar's wedding should take place upon the 7th of November.”

wedding noun US /ˈwedɪŋ/

the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed

From this reading “After considerable discussion, it was settled that Laura Dunbar's wedding should take place upon the 7th of November.”

All words in this reading · 46

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.

7th

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

From this reading After considerable discussion, it was settled that Laura Dunbar's wedding should take place upon the 7th of November.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading It was to be a very quiet wedding.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading After considerable discussion, it was settled that Laura Dunbar's wedding should take place upon the 7th of November.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading His health was entirely broken, and he would assist in no splendid ceremonial to which half the county would be invited.

assistverbUS /əˈsɪst/

give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading His health was entirely broken, and he would assist in no splendid ceremonial to which half the county would be invited.

bankernounUS /ˈbæŋkər/

a financier who owns or is an executive in a bank

From this reading The banker had especially impressed that condition upon his daughter.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading It was to be a very quiet wedding.

brokenadjectiveUS /ˈbroʊkən/

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading His health was entirely broken, and he would assist in no splendid ceremonial to which half the county would be invited.

ceremonialnounUS /ˌserəˈmoʊniəl/

a formal event performed on a special occasion

From this reading His health was entirely broken, and he would assist in no splendid ceremonial to which half the county would be invited.

conditionnounUS /kənˈdɪʃən/

a state at a particular time

From this reading The banker had especially impressed that condition upon his daughter.

considerableadjectiveUS /kənˈsɪdərəbəl/

large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree

From this reading After considerable discussion, it was settled that Laura Dunbar's wedding should take place upon the 7th of November.

countynounUS /ˈkaʊnti/

(United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government

From this reading His health was entirely broken, and he would assist in no splendid ceremonial to which half the county would be invited.

daughternounUS /ˈdɔːtər/

a female human offspring

From this reading The banker had especially impressed that condition upon his daughter.

discussionnounUS /dɪˈskʌʃən/

an extended communication (often interactive) dealing with some particular topic

From this reading After considerable discussion, it was settled that Laura Dunbar's wedding should take place upon the 7th of November.

Dunbar's

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

From this reading After considerable discussion, it was settled that Laura Dunbar's wedding should take place upon the 7th of November.

entirelyadverbUS /ɪnˈtaɪərli/

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading His health was entirely broken, and he would assist in no splendid ceremonial to which half the county would be invited.

especiallyadverbUS /əˈspeʃli/

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading The banker had especially impressed that condition upon his daughter.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The banker had especially impressed that condition upon his daughter.

halfadjectiveUS /hæf/

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading His health was entirely broken, and he would assist in no splendid ceremonial to which half the county would be invited.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading His health was entirely broken, and he would assist in no splendid ceremonial to which half the county would be invited.

healthnounUS /helθ/

a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease

From this reading His health was entirely broken, and he would assist in no splendid ceremonial to which half the county would be invited.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The banker had especially impressed that condition upon his daughter.

impressedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈprest/

deeply or markedly affected or influenced

From this reading The banker had especially impressed that condition upon his daughter.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading His health was entirely broken, and he would assist in no splendid ceremonial to which half the county would be invited.

invitedverbUS /ˌɪnˈvaɪtəd/

past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of

From this reading His health was entirely broken, and he would assist in no splendid ceremonial to which half the county would be invited.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading After considerable discussion, it was settled that Laura Dunbar's wedding should take place upon the 7th of November.

Laura

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

From this reading After considerable discussion, it was settled that Laura Dunbar's wedding should take place upon the 7th of November.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading His health was entirely broken, and he would assist in no splendid ceremonial to which half the county would be invited.

NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/

the month following October and preceding December

From this reading After considerable discussion, it was settled that Laura Dunbar's wedding should take place upon the 7th of November.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading After considerable discussion, it was settled that Laura Dunbar's wedding should take place upon the 7th of November.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading After considerable discussion, it was settled that Laura Dunbar's wedding should take place upon the 7th of November.

quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading It was to be a very quiet wedding.

settledadjectiveUS /ˈsetəld/

established or decided beyond dispute or doubt

From this reading After considerable discussion, it was settled that Laura Dunbar's wedding should take place upon the 7th of November.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading After considerable discussion, it was settled that Laura Dunbar's wedding should take place upon the 7th of November.

splendidadjectiveUS /ˈsplendɪd/

having great beauty and splendor

From this reading His health was entirely broken, and he would assist in no splendid ceremonial to which half the county would be invited.

STEEPLE-CHASE

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

From this reading THE STEEPLE-CHASE.

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading After considerable discussion, it was settled that Laura Dunbar's wedding should take place upon the 7th of November.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading After considerable discussion, it was settled that Laura Dunbar's wedding should take place upon the 7th of November.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE STEEPLE-CHASE.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was to be a very quiet wedding.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading After considerable discussion, it was settled that Laura Dunbar's wedding should take place upon the 7th of November.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading It was to be a very quiet wedding.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading After considerable discussion, it was settled that Laura Dunbar's wedding should take place upon the 7th of November.

weddingnounUS /ˈwedɪŋ/

the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed

From this reading After considerable discussion, it was settled that Laura Dunbar's wedding should take place upon the 7th of November.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading His health was entirely broken, and he would assist in no splendid ceremonial to which half the county would be invited.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading His health was entirely broken, and he would assist in no splendid ceremonial to which half the county would be invited.

Chapter 18 of Henry Dunbar: A Novel by M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon holds 128 sentences, grouped into 26 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 18 of Henry Dunbar: A Novel contain?

Chapter 18 holds 128 sentences of Henry Dunbar: A Novel, unabridged, divided into 26 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 18 of Henry Dunbar: A Novel by M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 128 sentences, grouped into 26 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 18 of Henry Dunbar: A Novel?

Work through the 26 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 26 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 18 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 18 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 Henry Dunbar: A Novel

Common questions about reading Henry Dunbar: A Novel by M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Henry Dunbar: A Novel?

Yes. All 7133 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #9189 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Henry Dunbar: A Novel is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #9189, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Henry Dunbar: A Novel take to read?

About 594 minutes of reading across 1427 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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  3. Listen and tap

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Vocabulary met early in Henry Dunbar: A Novel

Words and structures a reader meets early in Henry Dunbar: A Novel, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Margaret's
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Henry Dunbar: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Father
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Henry Dunbar: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Wandsworth
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Henry Dunbar: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Place
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Henry Dunbar: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.