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Pelham — Complete
Pelham — Complete

Chapter XXIV · Chapter 24

Chapter 24 of Pelham — Complete is here in full — 176 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The history of a philosophical vagabond, pursuing novelty, and losing content.--Vicar of Wakefield.
We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.
This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.
Accordingly, we pretended not to notice this invitation, and merely said, we would follow his guidance.
He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Pelham — Complete

Chapter XXIV · Chapter 24

Chapter 24 of Pelham — Complete is here in full — 176 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The history of a philosophical vagabond, pursuing novelty, and losing content.--Vicar of Wakefield.
Line 2
We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.
/wiː ˈfɑːloʊd ˈaʊər streɪndʒ frend θruː ðə kraʊd æt ðə dɔːr wɪtʃ hiː ˈelboʊd ɑːn ˈiːðər saɪd wɪð ðə moʊst ərˌɪstəˈkrætɪk dɪsˈdeɪn ˈpɜːrfəktli rəˈɡɑːrdləs ʌv ðer dʒoʊks æt hɪz dres ənd ˈmænər hiː noʊ ˈsuːnər ɡɑːt θruː ðə θrɔːŋ ðæn hiː stɑːpt ʃɔːrt ðoʊ ɪn ðə mɪdst ʌv ðə ˈkenəl ənd ˈɔːfərd ʌs hɪz ɑːrm/
Line 3
This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.
Line 4
Accordingly, we pretended not to notice this invitation, and merely said, we would follow his guidance.
/əˈkɔːrdɪŋli wiː priˈtendɪd nɑːt tuː ˈnoʊtəs ðɪs ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃən ənd ˈmɪrli sed wiː wʊd ˈfɑːloʊ hɪz ˈɡaɪdəns/
Line 5
He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

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.

alleys noun US /ˈæliz/

plural of “alley” — a narrow street with walls on both sides

From this reading “He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.”

beholding noun US /bɪˈhoʊldɪŋ/

perception by means of the eyes

From this reading “He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.”

elbowed verb US /ˈelboʊd/

past form of “elbow” — push one's way with the elbows

From this reading “We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.”

kennel noun US /ˈkenəl/

outbuilding that serves as a shelter for a dog

From this reading “We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.”

profusion noun US /prəˈfjuːʒən/

the property of being extremely abundant

From this reading “He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.”

vagabond noun US /ˈvæɡəbɑːnd/

anything that resembles a vagabond in having no fixed place

From this reading “The history of a philosophical vagabond, pursuing novelty, and losing content.--Vicar of Wakefield.”

wearer noun US /ˈwerər/

a person who wears or carries or displays something as a body covering or accessory

From this reading “This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.”

yawning adjective US /ˈjɔːnɪŋ/

gaping open as if threatening to engulf someone or something

From this reading “He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.”

All words in this reading · 117

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 history of a philosophical vagabond, pursuing novelty, and losing content.--Vicar of Wakefield.

AccordinglyadverbUS /əˈkɔːrdɪŋli/

(sentence connectors) because of the reason given

From this reading Accordingly, we pretended not to notice this invitation, and merely said, we would follow his guidance.

acquaintancenounUS /əˈkweɪntəns/

personal knowledge or information about someone or something

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

admittedverbUS /ədˈmɪtɪd/

inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

alleysnounUS /ˈæliz/

plural of “alley” — a narrow street with walls on both sides

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The history of a philosophical vagabond, pursuing novelty, and losing content.--Vicar of Wakefield.

aristocraticadjectiveUS /ərˌɪstəˈkrætɪk/

belonging to or characteristic of the nobility or aristocracy

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

armnounUS /ɑːrm/

a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

armsnounUS /ɑːrmz/

weapons considered collectively

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

beholdingnounUS /bɪˈhoʊldɪŋ/

perception by means of the eyes

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

contentnounUS /ˈkɑːntent/

(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something

From this reading The history of a philosophical vagabond, pursuing novelty, and losing content.--Vicar of Wakefield.

crowdverbUS /kraʊd/

cause to herd, drive, or crowd together

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

desirousadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪrəs/

having or expressing desire for something

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

disdainverbUS /dɪsˈdeɪn/

look down on with disdain

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

displeasingadjective

causing displeasure or lacking pleasing qualities

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

doornounUS /dɔːr/

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

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

dressverbUS /dres/

put on clothes

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

elbowedverbUS /ˈelboʊd/

past form of “elbow” — push one's way with the elbows

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

exteriornounUS /ɪkˈstɪriər/

the region that is outside of something

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

favoured

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

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

followverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊ/

to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading Accordingly, we pretended not to notice this invitation, and merely said, we would follow his guidance.

followedverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊd/

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

friendnounUS /frend/

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

garmentsnounUS /ˈɡɑːrmənts/

plural of “garment” — an article of clothing

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

Gordon's

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

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

guidancenounUS /ˈɡaɪdəns/

something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action

From this reading Accordingly, we pretended not to notice this invitation, and merely said, we would follow his guidance.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

hairnounUS /her/

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

happinessnounUS /ˈhæpinəs/

state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

historynounUS /ˈhɪstəri/

the aggregate of past events

From this reading The history of a philosophical vagabond, pursuing novelty, and losing content.--Vicar of Wakefield.

honournounUS /ˈɑːnər/

the state of being honored

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

illadjectiveUS /ɪl/

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

invitationnounUS /ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/

a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something

From this reading Accordingly, we pretended not to notice this invitation, and merely said, we would follow his guidance.

jokesnounUS /dʒoʊks/

plural of “joke” — a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

kennelnounUS /ˈkenəl/

outbuilding that serves as a shelter for a dog

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

knockedverbUS /nɑːkt/

past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

lessadverbUS /les/

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

losingverbUS /ˈluːzɪŋ/

-ing form of “lose” — fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense

From this reading The history of a philosophical vagabond, pursuing novelty, and losing content.--Vicar of Wakefield.

lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

mannernounUS /ˈmænər/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

meansnounUS /miːnz/

thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

merelyadverbUS /ˈmɪrli/

and nothing more

From this reading Accordingly, we pretended not to notice this invitation, and merely said, we would follow his guidance.

midstnounUS /mɪdst/

the location of something surrounded by other things

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

narrowverbUS /ˈneroʊ/

make or become more narrow or restricted

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Accordingly, we pretended not to notice this invitation, and merely said, we would follow his guidance.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

noticenounUS /ˈnoʊtəs/

an announcement containing information about an event

From this reading Accordingly, we pretended not to notice this invitation, and merely said, we would follow his guidance.

noveltynounUS /ˈnɑːvəlti/

originality by virtue of being refreshingly novel

From this reading The history of a philosophical vagabond, pursuing novelty, and losing content.--Vicar of Wakefield.

odournounUS /ˈoʊdər/

the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The history of a philosophical vagabond, pursuing novelty, and losing content.--Vicar of Wakefield.

offeredverbUS /ˈɔːfərd/

past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

passingnounUS /ˈpæsɪŋ/

(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

perfectlyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrfəktli/

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

philosophicaladjectiveUS /ˌfɪləˈsɑːfɪkəl/

of or relating to philosophy or philosophers

From this reading The history of a philosophical vagabond, pursuing novelty, and losing content.--Vicar of Wakefield.

possiblyadverbUS /ˈpɑːsəbli/

by chance

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

pretendedadjectiveUS /priˈtendɪd/

adopted in order to deceive

From this reading Accordingly, we pretended not to notice this invitation, and merely said, we would follow his guidance.

profusionnounUS /prəˈfjuːʒən/

the property of being extremely abundant

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

pursuingadjectiveUS /pərˈsuːɪŋ/

following in order to overtake or capture or as accompaniment to such pursuit

From this reading The history of a philosophical vagabond, pursuing novelty, and losing content.--Vicar of Wakefield.

rednounUS /red/

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

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

regardlessadverbUS /rəˈɡɑːrdləs/

in spite of everything; without regard to drawbacks

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Accordingly, we pretended not to notice this invitation, and merely said, we would follow his guidance.

sandyadjectiveUS /ˈsændi/

of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

shabbinessnoun

a lack of elegance as a consequence of wearing threadbare or dirty clothing

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/

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

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

sidenounUS /saɪd/

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

slip-shod

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

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

sooneradverbUS /ˈsuːnər/

comparatives of “soon” or “early”

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

stoppedadjectiveUS /stɑːpt/

(of a nose) blocked

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

streetnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The history of a philosophical vagabond, pursuing novelty, and losing content.--Vicar of Wakefield.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

throngnounUS /θrɔːŋ/

a large gathering of people

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/

moved around an axis or center

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

twiceadverbUS /twaɪs/

two times

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

vagabondnounUS /ˈvæɡəbɑːnd/

anything that resembles a vagabond in having no fixed place

From this reading The history of a philosophical vagabond, pursuing novelty, and losing content.--Vicar of Wakefield.

VicarnounUS /ˈvɪkər/

a Roman Catholic priest who acts for another higher-ranking clergyman

From this reading The history of a philosophical vagabond, pursuing novelty, and losing content.--Vicar of Wakefield.

Wakefield

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

From this reading The history of a philosophical vagabond, pursuing novelty, and losing content.--Vicar of Wakefield.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

wearernounUS /ˈwerər/

a person who wears or carries or displays something as a body covering or accessory

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

wenchnounUS /wentʃ/

informal terms for a (young) woman

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading This was an honour of which we were by no means desirous; for, to say nothing of the shabbiness of Mr. Gordon's exterior, there was a certain odour in his garments which was possibly less displeasing to the wearer than to his acquaintance.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading We followed our strange friend through the crowd at the door, which he elbowed on either side with the most aristocratic disdain, perfectly regardless of their jokes at his dress and manner; he no sooner got through the throng, than he stopped short (though in the midst of the kennel) and offered us his arm.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Accordingly, we pretended not to notice this invitation, and merely said, we would follow his guidance.

yawningadjectiveUS /ˈjɔːnɪŋ/

gaping open as if threatening to engulf someone or something

From this reading He turned up a narrow street, and after passing some of the most ill favoured alleys I ever had the happiness of beholding, he stopped at a low door; here he knocked twice, and was at last admitted by a slip-shod, yawning wench, with red arms, and a profusion of sandy hair.

Chapter 24 of Pelham — Complete by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton holds 176 sentences, grouped into 36 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 24 of Pelham — Complete contain?

Chapter 24 holds 176 sentences of Pelham — Complete, unabridged, divided into 36 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 24 of Pelham — Complete by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 176 sentences, grouped into 36 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 24 of Pelham — Complete?

Work through the 36 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 36 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 24 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 24 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 Pelham — Complete

Common questions about reading Pelham — Complete by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Pelham — Complete?

Yes. All 6697 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #7623 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Pelham — Complete is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #7623, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Pelham — Complete take to read?

About 558 minutes of reading across 1340 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Pelham — Complete section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

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    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Pelham — Complete

Words and structures a reader meets early in Pelham — Complete, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Peut-on
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Pelham — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Mieux
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Pelham — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Qu'au
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Pelham — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Famille
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Pelham — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.