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Jack Sheppard: A Romance
Jack Sheppard: A Romance

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Jack Sheppard: A Romance is here in full — 200 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/40 · 5 lines
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The Roof and the Window.
Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.
But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.
Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.
Satisfied, however, that she did not notice him, Jonathan glided away as noiselessly as he came, and ascended another short flight of stairs leading to the garret.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Jack Sheppard: A Romance

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Jack Sheppard: A Romance 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

Line 1
The Roof and the Window.
/ðə ruːf ənd ðə ˈwɪndoʊ/
Line 2
Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.
/ˈliːvɪŋ ðem tuː pərˈsuː ðer ˈkɑːnfərəns wiː ʃæl ˈfɑːloʊ ðə ˈfʊtsteps ʌv ˈdʒɑːnəθən huː æz ðə ˈmæstər sərˈmaɪzd ənd æz wiː hæv ˈɪntəmeɪtɪd hæd ənˈkwestʃənəbli ˈentərd ðə haʊs/
Line 3
But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.
Line 4
Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.
Line 5
Satisfied, however, that she did not notice him, Jonathan glided away as noiselessly as he came, and ascended another short flight of stairs leading to the garret.

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.

avoiding verb US /əˈvɔɪdɪŋ/

-ing form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something

From this reading “But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.”

cowardice noun US /ˈkaʊərdəs/

the trait of lacking courage

From this reading “But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.”

crouching verb US /ˈkraʊtʃɪŋ/

-ing form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down

From this reading “Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.”

failings noun US /ˈfeɪlɪŋz/

plural of “failing” — a flaw or weak point

From this reading “But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.”

intimated verb US /ˈɪntəmeɪtɪd/

past form of “intimate” — give to understand

From this reading “Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.”

Jonathan noun US /ˈdʒɑːnəθən/

red late-ripening apple; primarily eaten raw

From this reading “Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.”

surmised verb US /sərˈmaɪzd/

past form of “surmise” — infer from incomplete evidence

From this reading “Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.”

unquestionably adverb US /ənˈkwestʃənəbli/

without question

From this reading “Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.”

All words in this reading · 98

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 Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.

absencenounUS /ˈæbsəns/

the state of being absent

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

affraynoun

noisy quarrel

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The Roof and the Window.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

appearancenounUS /əˈpɪrəns/

outward or visible aspect of a person or thing

From this reading Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.

ascendedverbUS /əˈsendɪd/

past form of “ascend” — travel up

From this reading Satisfied, however, that she did not notice him, Jonathan glided away as noiselessly as he came, and ascended another short flight of stairs leading to the garret.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

avoidingverbUS /əˈvɔɪdɪŋ/

-ing form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

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

From this reading Satisfied, however, that she did not notice him, Jonathan glided away as noiselessly as he came, and ascended another short flight of stairs leading to the garret.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

beginningnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

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

From this reading Satisfied, however, that she did not notice him, Jonathan glided away as noiselessly as he came, and ascended another short flight of stairs leading to the garret.

concernsnounUS /kənˈsɜːrnz/

plural of “concern” — something that interests you because it is important or affects you

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

conferencenounUS /ˈkɑːnfərəns/

a prearranged meeting for consultation or exchange of information or discussion (especially one with a formal agenda)

From this reading Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.

cowardicenounUS /ˈkaʊərdəs/

the trait of lacking courage

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

CreepingnounUS /ˈkriːpɪŋ/

a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body

From this reading Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.

crouchingverbUS /ˈkraʊtʃɪŋ/

-ing form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down

From this reading Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.

darknounUS /dɑːrk/

absence of light or illumination

From this reading Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Satisfied, however, that she did not notice him, Jonathan glided away as noiselessly as he came, and ascended another short flight of stairs leading to the garret.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.

engagementnounUS /enˈɡeɪdʒmənt/

a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

failingsnounUS /ˈfeɪlɪŋz/

plural of “failing” — a flaw or weak point

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

flightnounUS /flaɪt/

a formation of aircraft in flight

From this reading Satisfied, however, that she did not notice him, Jonathan glided away as noiselessly as he came, and ascended another short flight of stairs leading to the garret.

floornounUS /flɔːr/

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.

followverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊ/

to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.

footstepsnounUS /ˈfʊtsteps/

plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking

From this reading Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

garretnounUS /ˈɡerɪt/

floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage

From this reading Satisfied, however, that she did not notice him, Jonathan glided away as noiselessly as he came, and ascended another short flight of stairs leading to the garret.

glancingverbUS /ˈɡlænsɪŋ/

-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.

glidedverbUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪd/

past form of “glide” — move smoothly and effortlessly

From this reading Satisfied, however, that she did not notice him, Jonathan glided away as noiselessly as he came, and ascended another short flight of stairs leading to the garret.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Satisfied, however, that she did not notice him, Jonathan glided away as noiselessly as he came, and ascended another short flight of stairs leading to the garret.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

housenounUS /haʊs/

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

From this reading Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Satisfied, however, that she did not notice him, Jonathan glided away as noiselessly as he came, and ascended another short flight of stairs leading to the garret.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

intimatedverbUS /ˈɪntəmeɪtɪd/

past form of “intimate” — give to understand

From this reading Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.

JonathannounUS /ˈdʒɑːnəθən/

red late-ripening apple; primarily eaten raw

From this reading Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.

lanternnounUS /ˈlæntərn/

light in a transparent protective case

From this reading Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.

leadingadjectiveUS /ˈliːdɪŋ/

indicating the most important performer or role

From this reading Satisfied, however, that she did not notice him, Jonathan glided away as noiselessly as he came, and ascended another short flight of stairs leading to the garret.

LeavingnounUS /ˈliːvɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.

MasternounUS /ˈmæstər/

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.

MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

noiselesslyadverb

without a sound

From this reading Satisfied, however, that she did not notice him, Jonathan glided away as noiselessly as he came, and ascended another short flight of stairs leading to the garret.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

noticenounUS /ˈnoʊtəs/

an announcement containing information about an event

From this reading Satisfied, however, that she did not notice him, Jonathan glided away as noiselessly as he came, and ascended another short flight of stairs leading to the garret.

objectnounUS /ˈɑːbdʒekt/

a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

occupiedadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkjəpaɪd/

held or filled or in use

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

passedverbUS /pæst/

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.

purposenounUS /ˈpɜːrpəs/

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

pursueverbUS /pərˈsuː/

carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in

From this reading Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.

remarknounUS /rɪˈmɑːrk/

a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

RoofnounUS /ruːf/

a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building

From this reading The Roof and the Window.

roomnounUS /ruːm/

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

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

SatisfiedadjectiveUS /ˈsætəsfaɪd/

filled with satisfaction

From this reading Satisfied, however, that she did not notice him, Jonathan glided away as noiselessly as he came, and ascended another short flight of stairs leading to the garret.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

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

From this reading Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Satisfied, however, that she did not notice him, Jonathan glided away as noiselessly as he came, and ascended another short flight of stairs leading to the garret.

Sheppard

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

From this reading Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading Satisfied, however, that she did not notice him, Jonathan glided away as noiselessly as he came, and ascended another short flight of stairs leading to the garret.

slippedverbUS /slɪpt/

inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

stairsnounUS /sterz/

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.

startledadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtəld/

excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement

From this reading Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.

stealthilyadverb

in a stealthy manner

From this reading Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.

surmisedverbUS /sərˈmaɪzd/

past form of “surmise” — infer from incomplete evidence

From this reading Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Satisfied, however, that she did not notice him, Jonathan glided away as noiselessly as he came, and ascended another short flight of stairs leading to the garret.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The Roof and the Window.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

unmaskingnoun

the exposure of an impostor or a fraud

From this reading Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.

unquestionablyadverbUS /ənˈkwestʃənəbli/

without question

From this reading Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Creeping stealthily up stairs, unmasking a dark lantern, and glancing into each room as he passed, he was startled in one of them by the appearance of Mrs. Sheppard, who seemed to be crouching upon the floor.

viewnounUS /vjuː/

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Leaving them to pursue their conference, we shall follow the footsteps of Jonathan, who, as the Master surmised, and, as we have intimated, had unquestionably entered the house.

WindownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading The Roof and the Window.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading But at the beginning of the affray, when he thought every one was too much occupied with his own concerns to remark his absence, he slipped out of the room, not for the purpose of avoiding the engagement (for cowardice was not one of his failings), but because he had another object in view.

Chapter 3 of Jack Sheppard: A Romance by William Harrison Ainsworth holds 200 sentences, grouped into 40 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 3 of Jack Sheppard: A Romance contain?

Chapter 3 holds 200 sentences of Jack Sheppard: A Romance, unabridged, divided into 40 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of Jack Sheppard: A Romance by William Harrison Ainsworth exactly as it stands in the 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.

How do I study chapter 3 of Jack Sheppard: A Romance?

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.

Can chapter 3 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading Jack Sheppard: A Romance

Common questions about reading Jack Sheppard: A Romance by William Harrison Ainsworth on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Jack Sheppard: A Romance?

Yes. All 9404 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #16215 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Jack Sheppard: A Romance is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #16215, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Jack Sheppard: A Romance take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1881 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Jack Sheppard: A Romance section by section

How to work through Jack Sheppard: A Romance section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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    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 Jack Sheppard: A Romance

Words and structures a reader meets early in Jack Sheppard: A Romance, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Widow
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Jack Sheppard: A Romance; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Child
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Jack Sheppard: A Romance; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Night
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Jack Sheppard: A Romance; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Friday
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Jack Sheppard: A Romance; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.