Chapter 4 of Pipefuls is here in full — 459 sentences across 92 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IV
Chapter 4 of Pipefuls is here in full — 459 sentences across 92 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Pershing sat with his palms on his knees. He looked worried. There was a wavering crease down his lean cheeks. The plumply genial countenance of Governor Sproul next to him was an odd contrast to that dry, hard face. The bell in the tower tolled eleven times.
Chapter 4 of Pipefuls is here in full — 459 sentences across 92 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/91 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
From this reading “The plumply genial countenance of Governor Sproul next to him was an odd contrast to that dry, hard face.”
make wrinkles or creases on a smooth surface; make a pressed, folded or wrinkled line in; “crisp” is archaic
From this reading “There was a wavering crease down his lean cheeks.”
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading “The plumply genial countenance of Governor Sproul next to him was an odd contrast to that dry, hard face.”
plural of “palm” — the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading “Pershing sat with his palms on his knees.”
United States general who commanded the American forces in Europe during World War I (1860-1948)
From this reading “Pershing sat with his palms on his knees.”
past form of “toll” — ring slowly
From this reading “The bell in the tower tolled eleven times.”
indecision in speech or action
From this reading “There was a wavering crease down his lean cheeks.”
afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief
From this reading “He looked worried.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a wavering crease down his lean cheeks.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The plumply genial countenance of Governor Sproul next to him was an odd contrast to that dry, hard face.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading The bell in the tower tolled eleven times.
plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading There was a wavering crease down his lean cheeks.
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
From this reading The plumply genial countenance of Governor Sproul next to him was an odd contrast to that dry, hard face.
the appearance conveyed by a person's face
From this reading The plumply genial countenance of Governor Sproul next to him was an odd contrast to that dry, hard face.
make wrinkles or creases on a smooth surface; make a pressed, folded or wrinkled line in; “crisp” is archaic
From this reading There was a wavering crease down his lean cheeks.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading There was a wavering crease down his lean cheeks.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading The plumply genial countenance of Governor Sproul next to him was an odd contrast to that dry, hard face.
being one more than ten
From this reading The bell in the tower tolled eleven times.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The plumply genial countenance of Governor Sproul next to him was an odd contrast to that dry, hard face.
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading The plumply genial countenance of Governor Sproul next to him was an odd contrast to that dry, hard face.
the head of a state government
From this reading The plumply genial countenance of Governor Sproul next to him was an odd contrast to that dry, hard face.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The plumply genial countenance of Governor Sproul next to him was an odd contrast to that dry, hard face.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He looked worried.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The plumply genial countenance of Governor Sproul next to him was an odd contrast to that dry, hard face.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Pershing sat with his palms on his knees.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The bell in the tower tolled eleven times.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Pershing sat with his palms on his knees.
to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading There was a wavering crease down his lean cheeks.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked worried.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The plumply genial countenance of Governor Sproul next to him was an odd contrast to that dry, hard face.
not divisible by two
From this reading The plumply genial countenance of Governor Sproul next to him was an odd contrast to that dry, hard face.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The plumply genial countenance of Governor Sproul next to him was an odd contrast to that dry, hard face.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Pershing sat with his palms on his knees.
plural of “palm” — the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading Pershing sat with his palms on his knees.
United States general who commanded the American forces in Europe during World War I (1860-1948)
From this reading Pershing sat with his palms on his knees.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plumply genial countenance of Governor Sproul next to him was an odd contrast to that dry, hard face.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Pershing sat with his palms on his knees.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plumply genial countenance of Governor Sproul next to him was an odd contrast to that dry, hard face.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The plumply genial countenance of Governor Sproul next to him was an odd contrast to that dry, hard face.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The plumply genial countenance of Governor Sproul next to him was an odd contrast to that dry, hard face.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a wavering crease down his lean cheeks.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading The bell in the tower tolled eleven times.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The plumply genial countenance of Governor Sproul next to him was an odd contrast to that dry, hard face.
past form of “toll” — ring slowly
From this reading The bell in the tower tolled eleven times.
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading The bell in the tower tolled eleven times.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a wavering crease down his lean cheeks.
indecision in speech or action
From this reading There was a wavering crease down his lean cheeks.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Pershing sat with his palms on his knees.
afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief
From this reading He looked worried.
Chapter 4 of Pipefuls by Christopher Morley holds 459 sentences, grouped into 92 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.
Chapter 4 holds 459 sentences of Pipefuls, unabridged, divided into 92 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 4 of Pipefuls by Christopher Morley exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 459 sentences, grouped into 92 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.
Work through the 92 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 92 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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.
Common questions about reading Pipefuls by Christopher Morley on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 2692 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #22699 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #22699, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 224 minutes of reading across 539 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Pipefuls section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 6 chapters of Pipefuls to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Pipefuls, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
