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Outpost
Outpost

Chapter XXXVIII · Chapter 38

Chapter 38 of Outpost is here in full — 104 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Jane G. (Jane Goodwin) Austin • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Outpost
Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A SURPRISE FOR MRS.
GINNISS.
"SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.
"An' who'll they all be, I'm woondherin'?
The missus says fove bids was wanted; an' faith it's well she said no more, for sorra a place 'ud there be to stand anudder in.
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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.

Outpost

Chapter XXXVIII · Chapter 38

Chapter 38 of Outpost is here in full — 104 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A SURPRISE FOR MRS.
/ə sərˈpraɪz fɔːr ˈmɪsɪz/
Line 2
GINNISS.
Line 3
"SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.
Line 4
"An' who'll they all be, I'm woondherin'?
Line 5
The missus says fove bids was wanted; an' faith it's well she said no more, for sorra a place 'ud there be to stand anudder in.

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.

bids noun US /bɪdz/

plural of “bid” — an authoritative direction or instruction to do something

From this reading “The missus says fove bids was wanted; an' faith it's well she said no more, for sorra a place 'ud there be to stand anudder in.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
faith noun US /feɪθ/

a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny

From this reading “The missus says fove bids was wanted; an' faith it's well she said no more, for sorra a place 'ud there be to stand anudder in.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
level noun US /ˈlevəl/

a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading “"SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
missus noun US /ˈmɪsɪz/

informal term of address for someone's wife

From this reading “The missus says fove bids was wanted; an' faith it's well she said no more, for sorra a place 'ud there be to stand anudder in.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rays noun US /reɪz/

plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)

From this reading “"SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shading noun US /ˈʃeɪdɪŋ/

graded markings that indicate light or shaded areas in a drawing or painting

From this reading “"SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
steadfastly adverb US /ˈstedfæstli/

with resolute determination

From this reading “"SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sunset noun US /ˈsʌnset/

the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon

From this reading “"SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 55

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 A SURPRISE FOR MRS.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
a-coomin

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

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

Pending verification
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading "An' who'll they all be, I'm woondherin'?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
anudder

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

From this reading The missus says fove bids was wanted; an' faith it's well she said no more, for sorra a place 'ud there be to stand anudder in.

Pending verification
asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "An' who'll they all be, I'm woondherin'?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
bidsnounUS /bɪdz/

plural of “bid” — an authoritative direction or instruction to do something

From this reading The missus says fove bids was wanted; an' faith it's well she said no more, for sorra a place 'ud there be to stand anudder in.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
door-stone

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

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

Pending verification
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
faithnounUS /feɪθ/

a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny

From this reading The missus says fove bids was wanted; an' faith it's well she said no more, for sorra a place 'ud there be to stand anudder in.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FORprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A SURPRISE FOR MRS.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
fove

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

From this reading The missus says fove bids was wanted; an' faith it's well she said no more, for sorra a place 'ud there be to stand anudder in.

Pending verification
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
GINNISS

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

From this reading GINNISS.

Pending verification
goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
I'm

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

From this reading "An' who'll they all be, I'm woondherin'?

Pending verification
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The missus says fove bids was wanted; an' faith it's well she said no more, for sorra a place 'ud there be to stand anudder in.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
it's

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

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

Pending verification
levelnounUS /ˈlevəl/

a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
missusnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

informal term of address for someone's wife

From this reading The missus says fove bids was wanted; an' faith it's well she said no more, for sorra a place 'ud there be to stand anudder in.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading The missus says fove bids was wanted; an' faith it's well she said no more, for sorra a place 'ud there be to stand anudder in.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MRSnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading A SURPRISE FOR MRS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The missus says fove bids was wanted; an' faith it's well she said no more, for sorra a place 'ud there be to stand anudder in.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading The missus says fove bids was wanted; an' faith it's well she said no more, for sorra a place 'ud there be to stand anudder in.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
raysnounUS /reɪz/

plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
roadnounUS /roʊd/

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
saysnounUS /sez/

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading The missus says fove bids was wanted; an' faith it's well she said no more, for sorra a place 'ud there be to stand anudder in.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shadingnounUS /ˈʃeɪdɪŋ/

graded markings that indicate light or shaded areas in a drawing or painting

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
sorra

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

From this reading The missus says fove bids was wanted; an' faith it's well she said no more, for sorra a place 'ud there be to stand anudder in.

Pending verification
standverbUS /stænd/

be standing; be upright

From this reading The missus says fove bids was wanted; an' faith it's well she said no more, for sorra a place 'ud there be to stand anudder in.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
steadfastlyadverbUS /ˈstedfæstli/

with resolute determination

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sunsetnounUS /ˈsʌnset/

the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SUREadjectiveUS /ʃʊr/

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SURPRISEnounUS /sərˈpraɪz/

the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading A SURPRISE FOR MRS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading The missus says fove bids was wanted; an' faith it's well she said no more, for sorra a place 'ud there be to stand anudder in.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The missus says fove bids was wanted; an' faith it's well she said no more, for sorra a place 'ud there be to stand anudder in.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ud

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

From this reading The missus says fove bids was wanted; an' faith it's well she said no more, for sorra a place 'ud there be to stand anudder in.

Pending verification
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wantedadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːntɪd/

desired or wished for or sought

From this reading The missus says fove bids was wanted; an' faith it's well she said no more, for sorra a place 'ud there be to stand anudder in.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "SURE an' it's time they was a-coomin'," said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone, and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading The missus says fove bids was wanted; an' faith it's well she said no more, for sorra a place 'ud there be to stand anudder in.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
who'll

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

From this reading "An' who'll they all be, I'm woondherin'?

Pending verification
woondherin

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

From this reading "An' who'll they all be, I'm woondherin'?

Pending verification

Chapter 38 of Outpost by Jane G. (Jane Goodwin) Austin holds 104 sentences, grouped into 21 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 38 of Outpost contain?

Chapter 38 holds 104 sentences of Outpost, unabridged, divided into 21 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 38 of Outpost by Jane G. (Jane Goodwin) Austin exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 104 sentences, grouped into 21 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 38 of Outpost?

Work through the 21 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 21 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 38 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 38 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 Outpost

Common questions about reading Outpost by Jane G. (Jane Goodwin) Austin on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Outpost?

Yes. All 3450 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4676 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Outpost is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #4676, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Outpost take to read?

About 287 minutes of reading across 690 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Outpost section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

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  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 Outpost

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

Little
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Outpost; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Three
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Outpost; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
O'clock
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Outpost; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Although
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Outpost; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.