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Peculiar: A Tale of the Great Transition
Peculiar: A Tale of the Great Transition

Chapter VI · An Unconscious Heiress

Chapter VI of Peculiar: A Tale of the Great Transition, “An Unconscious Heiress,” is here in full — 208 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Epes Sargent • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Peculiar: A Tale of the Great Transition
Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._
We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.
The knock at the outer door was succeeded by the entrance of a person of rather imposing presence.
Mr. Albert Pompilard stood upwards of six feet in his polished shoes and variegated silk stockings.
He was bulky, and could not conceal, by any art of dress, an incipient paunch.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Peculiar: A Tale of the Great Transition

Chapter VI · An Unconscious Heiress

Chapter VI of Peculiar: A Tale of the Great Transition, “An Unconscious Heiress,” is here in full — 208 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._
/ʃiː ɪz ˈkʌmɪŋ maɪ dʌv maɪ dɪr ʃiː ɪz ˈkʌmɪŋ maɪ laɪf maɪ feɪt ðə red roʊz kraɪz ʃiː ɪz nɪr ʃiː ɪz nɪr ənd ðə waɪt roʊz wiːps ʃiː ɪz leɪt ðə ˈlɑːrkspɜːr ˈlɪsənz aɪ hiːr aɪ hiːr ənd ðə ˈlɪli ˈwɪspərz aɪ weɪt ˈtenɪsən/
Line 2
We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.
Line 3
The knock at the outer door was succeeded by the entrance of a person of rather imposing presence.
/ðə nɑːk æt ðə ˈaʊtər dɔːr wɑːz səkˈsiːdɪd baɪ ðə ˈentrəns ʌv ə ˈpɜːrsən ʌv ˈræðər ˌɪmˈpoʊzɪŋ ˈprezəns/
Line 4
Mr. Albert Pompilard stood upwards of six feet in his polished shoes and variegated silk stockings.
Line 5
He was bulky, and could not conceal, by any art of dress, an incipient paunch.

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.

bulky adjective US /ˈbʌlki/

of large size for its weight

From this reading “He was bulky, and could not conceal, by any art of dress, an incipient paunch.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
incipient adjective US /ˌɪnˈsɪpiənt/

only partly in existence; imperfectly formed

From this reading “He was bulky, and could not conceal, by any art of dress, an incipient paunch.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Jacobs noun US /ˈdʒeɪkəbz/

English writer of macabre short stories (1863-1943)

From this reading “We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
larkspur noun US /ˈlɑːrkspɜːr/

any of numerous cultivated plants of the genus Delphinium

From this reading ““She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
listens verb US /ˈlɪsənz/

third-person singular of “listen” — hear with intention

From this reading ““She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Peek noun US /piːk/

a secret look

From this reading “We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
variegated adjective US /ˈverɪɡeɪtɪd/

having a variety of colors

From this reading “Mr. Albert Pompilard stood upwards of six feet in his polished shoes and variegated silk stockings.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
weeps verb US /wiːps/

third-person singular of “weep” — shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain

From this reading ““She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

silk stockings noun + noun counted as “silk stocking”

women's stockings made from a sheer material (nylon or rayon or silk)

In this reading “Mr. Albert Pompilard stood upwards of six feet in his polished shoes and variegated silk stockings.”

1,791 times in 426,211 chapters
outer door adjective + noun

In this reading “The knock at the outer door was succeeded by the entrance of a person of rather imposing presence.”

3,473 times in 426,211 chapters
six feet noun + noun counted as “six foot”

In this reading “Mr. Albert Pompilard stood upwards of six feet in his polished shoes and variegated silk stockings.”

7,787 times in 426,211 chapters
red rose noun + noun

In this reading ““She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._”

2,041 times in 426,211 chapters
knock at verb + particle

In this reading “The knock at the outer door was succeeded by the entrance of a person of rather imposing presence.”

12,461 times in 426,211 chapters
white rose noun + noun

In this reading ““She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._”

1,920 times in 426,211 chapters
succeeded by verb + particle counted as “succeed by”

In this reading “The knock at the outer door was succeeded by the entrance of a person of rather imposing presence.”

3,968 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 81

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 The knock at the outer door was succeeded by the entrance of a person of rather imposing presence.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AlbertnounUS /ˈælbərt/

prince consort of Queen Victoria of England (1819-1861)

From this reading Mr. Albert Pompilard stood upwards of six feet in his polished shoes and variegated silk stockings.

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 He was bulky, and could not conceal, by any art of dress, an incipient paunch.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading He was bulky, and could not conceal, by any art of dress, an incipient paunch.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
apartmentnounUS /əˈpɑːrtmənt/

a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house

From this reading We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading He was bulky, and could not conceal, by any art of dress, an incipient paunch.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
bulkyadjectiveUS /ˈbʌlki/

of large size for its weight

From this reading He was bulky, and could not conceal, by any art of dress, an incipient paunch.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The knock at the outer door was succeeded by the entrance of a person of rather imposing presence.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Charlton

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

From this reading We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.

Pending verification
closetnounUS /ˈklɑːzət/

a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space

From this reading We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
concealverbUS /kənˈsiːl/

prevent from being seen or discovered

From this reading He was bulky, and could not conceal, by any art of dress, an incipient paunch.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading He was bulky, and could not conceal, by any art of dress, an incipient paunch.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
criesnounUS /kraɪz/

plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dearadjectiveUS /dɪr/

dearly loved

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
doornounUS /dɔːr/

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading The knock at the outer door was succeeded by the entrance of a person of rather imposing presence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dovenounUS /dʌv/

any of numerous small pigeons

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dressverbUS /dres/

put on clothes

From this reading He was bulky, and could not conceal, by any art of dress, an incipient paunch.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
entrancenounUS /ˈentrəns/

something that provides access (to get in or get out)

From this reading The knock at the outer door was succeeded by the entrance of a person of rather imposing presence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fatenounUS /feɪt/

an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
feetnounUS /fiːt/

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading Mr. Albert Pompilard stood upwards of six feet in his polished shoes and variegated silk stockings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was bulky, and could not conceal, by any art of dress, an incipient paunch.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hearverbUS /hiːr/

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
imposingadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpoʊzɪŋ/

impressive in appearance

From this reading The knock at the outer door was succeeded by the entrance of a person of rather imposing presence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
incipientadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsɪpiənt/

only partly in existence; imperfectly formed

From this reading He was bulky, and could not conceal, by any art of dress, an incipient paunch.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
JacobsnounUS /ˈdʒeɪkəbz/

English writer of macabre short stories (1863-1943)

From this reading We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
knockverbUS /nɑːk/

deliver a sharp blow or push

From this reading The knock at the outer door was succeeded by the entrance of a person of rather imposing presence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/

apprehended with certainty

From this reading We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
larkspurnounUS /ˈlɑːrkspɜːr/

any of numerous cultivated plants of the genus Delphinium

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lateadjectiveUS /leɪt/

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lilynounUS /ˈlɪli/

any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
listensverbUS /ˈlɪsənz/

third-person singular of “listen” — hear with intention

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading Mr. Albert Pompilard stood upwards of six feet in his polished shoes and variegated silk stockings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
nearadverbUS /nɪr/

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
NewadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He was bulky, and could not conceal, by any art of dress, an incipient paunch.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The knock at the outer door was succeeded by the entrance of a person of rather imposing presence.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
openingnounUS /ˈoʊpənɪŋ/

an open or empty space in or between things

From this reading We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/

being on the outside or further from a center

From this reading The knock at the outer door was succeeded by the entrance of a person of rather imposing presence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
papersnounUS /ˈpeɪpərz/

writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
paunchnoun

a protruding abdomen

From this reading He was bulky, and could not conceal, by any art of dress, an incipient paunch.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PeeknounUS /piːk/

a secret look

From this reading We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
personnounUS /ˈpɜːrsən/

a human being

From this reading The knock at the outer door was succeeded by the entrance of a person of rather imposing presence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
polishedadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃt/

perfected or made shiny and smooth

From this reading Mr. Albert Pompilard stood upwards of six feet in his polished shoes and variegated silk stockings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Pompilard

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

From this reading Mr. Albert Pompilard stood upwards of six feet in his polished shoes and variegated silk stockings.

Pending verification
presencenounUS /ˈprezəns/

the state of being present; current existence

From this reading The knock at the outer door was succeeded by the entrance of a person of rather imposing presence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/

on the contrary

From this reading The knock at the outer door was succeeded by the entrance of a person of rather imposing presence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rednounUS /red/

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rosenounUS /roʊz/

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
satnounUS /sæt/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
shoesnounUS /ʃuːz/

a particular situation

From this reading Mr. Albert Pompilard stood upwards of six feet in his polished shoes and variegated silk stockings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
silknounUS /sɪlk/

a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae

From this reading Mr. Albert Pompilard stood upwards of six feet in his polished shoes and variegated silk stockings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sixnounUS /sɪks/

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading Mr. Albert Pompilard stood upwards of six feet in his polished shoes and variegated silk stockings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stockingsnounUS /ˈstɑːkɪŋz/

plural of “stocking” — close-fitting hosiery to cover the foot and leg; come in matched pairs (usually used in the plural)

From this reading Mr. Albert Pompilard stood upwards of six feet in his polished shoes and variegated silk stockings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Mr. Albert Pompilard stood upwards of six feet in his polished shoes and variegated silk stockings.

Velmora curated lexicon
succeededverbUS /səkˈsiːdɪd/

past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal

From this reading The knock at the outer door was succeeded by the entrance of a person of rather imposing presence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TennysonnounUS /ˈtenɪsən/

Englishman and Victorian poet (1809-1892)

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

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 “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
upwardsadverbUS /ˈʌpwərdz/

spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position

From this reading Mr. Albert Pompilard stood upwards of six feet in his polished shoes and variegated silk stockings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
variegatedadjectiveUS /ˈverɪɡeɪtɪd/

having a variety of colors

From this reading Mr. Albert Pompilard stood upwards of six feet in his polished shoes and variegated silk stockings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
waitverbUS /weɪt/

stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

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 The knock at the outer door was succeeded by the entrance of a person of rather imposing presence.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
weepsverbUS /wiːps/

third-person singular of “weep” — shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whispersnounUS /ˈwɪspərz/

plural of “whisper” — speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading “She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, ‘She is near, she is near’; And the white rose weeps, ‘She is late’; The larkspur listens, ‘I hear, I hear’; And the lily whispers, ‘I wait.’” _Tennyson._

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
YorknounUS /jɔːrk/

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading We left Peek (known in New York as Jacobs) in the little closet opening from the apartment where Charlton sat at his papers.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 6 of Peculiar: A Tale of the Great Transition by Epes Sargent holds 208 sentences, grouped into 42 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 6 of Peculiar: A Tale of the Great Transition contain?

Chapter 6 holds 208 sentences of Peculiar: A Tale of the Great Transition, unabridged, divided into 42 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 6 of Peculiar: A Tale of the Great Transition by Epes Sargent exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 208 sentences, grouped into 42 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 6 of Peculiar: A Tale of the Great Transition?

Work through the 42 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 42 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.

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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 Peculiar: A Tale of the Great Transition

Common questions about reading Peculiar: A Tale of the Great Transition by Epes Sargent on this page, its source edition and its audio.

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Yes. All 12265 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #67872 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #67872, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Peculiar: A Tale of the Great Transition take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 2453 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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How to work through Peculiar: A Tale of the Great Transition section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

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Vocabulary met early in Peculiar: A Tale of the Great Transition

Words and structures a reader meets early in Peculiar: A Tale of the Great Transition, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Version
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Peculiar: A Tale of the Great Transition; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cannot
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Peculiar: A Tale of the Great Transition; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Represent
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Peculiar: A Tale of the Great Transition; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Certain
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Peculiar: A Tale of the Great Transition; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.