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Little Dorrit
Little Dorrit

Chapter XXII · Chapter 22

Chapter 22 of Little Dorrit is here in full — 66 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/13 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers Book.
Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.
A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.
His proposal of marriage being accepted by the lady, the commissary took his seat behind the proprieties with great decorum, and Mrs General drove until the commissary died.
In the course of their united journey, they ran over several people who came in the way of the proprieties; but always in a high style and with composure.
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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.

Little Dorrit

Chapter XXII · Chapter 22

Chapter 22 of Little Dorrit is here in full — 66 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/13 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the TravellersBook.
Line 2
Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.
/ˈmɪsɪz ˈdʒenərəl wɑːz ðə ˈdɔːtər ʌv ə ˈklerəkəl ˈdɪɡnəteri ɪn ə kəˈθiːdrəl taʊn wer ʃiː hæd led ðə ˈfæʃən ənˈtɪl ʃiː wɑːz æz nɪr ˈfɔːrtifaɪv æz ə ˈsɪŋɡəl ˈleɪdi kæn biː/
Line 3
A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.
Line 4
His proposal of marriage being accepted by the lady, the commissary took his seat behind the proprieties with great decorum, and Mrs General drove until the commissary died.
Line 5
In the course of their united journey, they ran over several people who came in the way of the proprieties; but always in a high style and with composure.

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.

clerical adjective US /ˈklerəkəl/

of or relating to clerks

From this reading “Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.”

commissary noun US /ˈkɑːməseri/

a retail store that sells equipment and provisions (usually to military personnel)

From this reading “His proposal of marriage being accepted by the lady, the commissary took his seat behind the proprieties with great decorum, and Mrs General drove until the commissary died.”

decorum noun US /dɪˈkɔːrəm/

propriety in manners and conduct

From this reading “His proposal of marriage being accepted by the lady, the commissary took his seat behind the proprieties with great decorum, and Mrs General drove until the commissary died.”

dignitary noun US /ˈdɪɡnəteri/

an important or influential (and often overbearing) person

From this reading “Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.”

forty-five noun US /ˈfɔːrtifaɪv/

a .45-caliber pistol

From this reading “Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.”

harnessed adjective US /ˈhɑːrnəst/

brought under control and put to use

From this reading “A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.”

indispensable adjective US /ˌɪndɪˈspensəbəl/

not to be dispensed with; essential

From this reading “It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.”

solicited verb US /səˈlɪsɪtɪd/

past form of “solicit” — make a solicitation or entreaty for something; request urgently or persistently

From this reading “A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.”

All words in this reading · 101

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 It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.

acceptedadjectiveUS /ækˈseptɪd/

generally approved or compelling recognition

From this reading His proposal of marriage being accepted by the lady, the commissary took his seat behind the proprieties with great decorum, and Mrs General drove until the commissary died.

accomplishedadjectiveUS /əˈkɑːmplɪʃt/

highly skilled

From this reading It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading In the course of their united journey, they ran over several people who came in the way of the proprieties; but always in a high style and with composure.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.

becomeverbUS /bɪˈkʌm/

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading His proposal of marriage being accepted by the lady, the commissary took his seat behind the proprieties with great decorum, and Mrs General drove until the commissary died.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading His proposal of marriage being accepted by the lady, the commissary took his seat behind the proprieties with great decorum, and Mrs General drove until the commissary died.

besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

BooknounUS /bʊk/

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.

boxnounUS /bɑːks/

a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading In the course of their united journey, they ran over several people who came in the way of the proprieties; but always in a high style and with composure.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading His proposal of marriage being accepted by the lady, the commissary took his seat behind the proprieties with great decorum, and Mrs General drove until the commissary died.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

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

From this reading In the course of their united journey, they ran over several people who came in the way of the proprieties; but always in a high style and with composure.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.

cathedralnounUS /kəˈθiːdrəl/

any large and important church

From this reading Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.

ceremonynounUS /ˈserəmoʊni/

a formal event performed on a special occasion

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

clericaladjectiveUS /ˈklerəkəl/

of or relating to clerks

From this reading Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.

coachverbUS /koʊtʃ/

teach and supervise (someone); act as a trainer or coach (to), as in sports

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

commissariatnoun

a stock or supply of foods

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

commissarynounUS /ˈkɑːməseri/

a retail store that sells equipment and provisions (usually to military personnel)

From this reading His proposal of marriage being accepted by the lady, the commissary took his seat behind the proprieties with great decorum, and Mrs General drove until the commissary died.

composurenounUS /kəmˈpoʊʒər/

steadiness of mind under stress

From this reading In the course of their united journey, they ran over several people who came in the way of the proprieties; but always in a high style and with composure.

cooladjectiveUS /kuːl/

neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

coursenounUS /kɔːrs/

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading In the course of their united journey, they ran over several people who came in the way of the proprieties; but always in a high style and with composure.

daughternounUS /ˈdɔːtər/

a female human offspring

From this reading Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.

decorumnounUS /dɪˈkɔːrəm/

propriety in manners and conduct

From this reading His proposal of marriage being accepted by the lady, the commissary took his seat behind the proprieties with great decorum, and Mrs General drove until the commissary died.

diedverbUS /daɪd/

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading His proposal of marriage being accepted by the lady, the commissary took his seat behind the proprieties with great decorum, and Mrs General drove until the commissary died.

dignitarynounUS /ˈdɪɡnəteri/

an important or influential (and often overbearing) person

From this reading Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.

Dorrit

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

From this reading It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.

drovenounUS /droʊv/

a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

enamoured

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

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

FamilynounUS /ˈfæməli/

a social unit living together

From this reading It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.

famousadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪməs/

widely known and esteemed

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

fashionnounUS /ˈfæʃən/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.

forty-fivenounUS /ˈfɔːrtifaɪv/

a .45-caliber pistol

From this reading Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.

four-in-handnoun

a long necktie that is tied in a slipknot with one end hanging in front of the other

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

GeneraladjectiveUS /ˈdʒenərəl/

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.

gravitynounUS /ˈɡrævəti/

(physics) the force of attraction between all masses in the universe; especially the attraction of the earth's mass for bodies near its surface

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading His proposal of marriage being accepted by the lady, the commissary took his seat behind the proprieties with great decorum, and Mrs General drove until the commissary died.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.

harnessedadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrnəst/

brought under control and put to use

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.

highadjectiveUS /haɪ/

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading In the course of their united journey, they ran over several people who came in the way of the proprieties; but always in a high style and with composure.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading His proposal of marriage being accepted by the lady, the commissary took his seat behind the proprieties with great decorum, and Mrs General drove until the commissary died.

importancenounUS /ˌɪmˈpɔːrtəns/

the quality of being important and worthy of note

From this reading It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.

indispensableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈspensəbəl/

not to be dispensed with; essential

From this reading It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.

journeyverbUS /ˈdʒɜːrni/

undertake a journey or trip

From this reading In the course of their united journey, they ran over several people who came in the way of the proprieties; but always in a high style and with composure.

ladynounUS /ˈleɪdi/

a polite name for any woman

From this reading It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.

lednounUS /led/

diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used

From this reading Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.

linenounUS /laɪn/

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.

marriagenounUS /ˈmerɪdʒ/

the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)

From this reading His proposal of marriage being accepted by the lady, the commissary took his seat behind the proprieties with great decorum, and Mrs General drove until the commissary died.

martinetnoun

someone who demands exact conformity to rules and forms

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.

nearadverbUS /nɪr/

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.

officernounUS /ˈɔːfəsər/

any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading In the course of their united journey, they ran over several people who came in the way of the proprieties; but always in a high style and with composure.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading In the course of their united journey, they ran over several people who came in the way of the proprieties; but always in a high style and with composure.

presentverbUS /ˈprezənt/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.

proposalnounUS /prəˈpoʊzəl/

something proposed (such as a plan or assumption)

From this reading His proposal of marriage being accepted by the lady, the commissary took his seat behind the proprieties with great decorum, and Mrs General drove until the commissary died.

proprieties

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

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

ranverbUS /ræn/

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading In the course of their united journey, they ran over several people who came in the way of the proprieties; but always in a high style and with composure.

seatnounUS /siːt/

a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)

From this reading His proposal of marriage being accepted by the lady, the commissary took his seat behind the proprieties with great decorum, and Mrs General drove until the commissary died.

severaladjectiveUS /ˈsevrəl/

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading In the course of their united journey, they ran over several people who came in the way of the proprieties; but always in a high style and with composure.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.

singleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪŋɡəl/

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.

sixtyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪksti/

being ten more than fifty

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

societynounUS /səˈsaɪəti/

an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

solicitedverbUS /səˈlɪsɪtɪd/

past form of “solicit” — make a solicitation or entreaty for something; request urgently or persistently

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

stiffadjectiveUS /stɪf/

not moving or operating freely

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

stylenounUS /staɪl/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading In the course of their united journey, they ran over several people who came in the way of the proprieties; but always in a high style and with composure.

sufficientadjectiveUS /səˈfɪʃənt/

of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant

From this reading It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.

suitenounUS /swiːt/

a musical composition of several movements only loosely connected

From this reading It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.

takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

teamnounUS /tiːm/

a cooperative unit (especially in sports)

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading In the course of their united journey, they ran over several people who came in the way of the proprieties; but always in a high style and with composure.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading In the course of their united journey, they ran over several people who came in the way of the proprieties; but always in a high style and with composure.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.

tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading His proposal of marriage being accepted by the lady, the commissary took his seat behind the proprieties with great decorum, and Mrs General drove until the commissary died.

townnounUS /taʊn/

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.

TravellersnounUS /ˈtrævələrz/

plural of “traveller” — a person who changes location

From this reading It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.

unitedadjectiveUS /juːˈnaɪtɪd/

characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity

From this reading In the course of their united journey, they ran over several people who came in the way of the proprieties; but always in a high style and with composure.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading In the course of their united journey, they ran over several people who came in the way of the proprieties; but always in a high style and with composure.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty-five as a single lady can be.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the Travellers’ Book.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A stiff commissariat officer of sixty, famous as a martinet, had then become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties four-in-hand through the cathedral town society, and had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was harnessed.

Chapter 22 of Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens holds 66 sentences, grouped into 14 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 22 of Little Dorrit contain?

Chapter 22 holds 66 sentences of Little Dorrit, unabridged, divided into 14 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 22 of Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 66 sentences, grouped into 14 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 22 of Little Dorrit?

Work through the 14 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 14 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 22 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 22 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 Little Dorrit

Common questions about reading Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Little Dorrit?

Yes. All 17355 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #963 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Little Dorrit is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #963, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Little Dorrit take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 3471 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Little Dorrit section by section

How to work through Little Dorrit section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of Little Dorrit 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 Little Dorrit

Words and structures a reader meets early in Little Dorrit, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Thirty
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Little Dorrit; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Years
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Little Dorrit; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Marseilles
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Little Dorrit; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Burning
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Little Dorrit; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.