Chapter 5 of Poems by Emily Dickinson, Series Two is here in full — 159 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter V
Chapter 5 of Poems by Emily Dickinson, Series Two is here in full — 159 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Spending scarlet like a woman, Yellow she affords Only scantly and selectly, Like a lover's words. XXXII. GOSSIP. The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety. XXXIII.
Chapter 5 of Poems by Emily Dickinson, Series Two is here in full — 159 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/31 · 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.
third-person singular of “afford” — be able to spare or give up
From this reading “Spending scarlet like a woman, Yellow she affords Only scantly and selectly, Like a lover's words.”
(law) a judicial remedy issued in order to prohibit a party from doing or continuing to do a certain activity
From this reading “The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.”
the reasoning involved in drawing a conclusion or making a logical judgment on the basis of circumstantial evidence and prior conclusions rather than on the basis of direct observation
From this reading “The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.”
a junction of highways on different levels that permits traffic to move from one to another without crossing traffic streams
From this reading “The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.”
incapable of being transgressed or dishonored
From this reading “The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.”
plural of “nod” — a sign of assent or salutation or command
From this reading “The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.”
the state of being known for some unfavorable act or quality
From this reading “The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.”
of momentous or ominous significance
From this reading “The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.”
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 Spending scarlet like a woman, Yellow she affords Only scantly and selectly, Like a lover's words.
third-person singular of “afford” — be able to spare or give up
From this reading Spending scarlet like a woman, Yellow she affords Only scantly and selectly, Like a lover's words.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Spending scarlet like a woman, Yellow she affords Only scantly and selectly, Like a lover's words.
the two together, not just one
From this reading The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.
plural of “case” — an occurrence of something
From this reading The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.
a small cosmetics case with a mirror; to be carried in a woman's purse
From this reading The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.
(law) a judicial remedy issued in order to prohibit a party from doing or continuing to do a certain activity
From this reading The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.
light informal conversation for social occasions
From this reading GOSSIP.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.
the reasoning involved in drawing a conclusion or making a logical judgment on the basis of circumstantial evidence and prior conclusions rather than on the basis of direct observation
From this reading The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.
a junction of highways on different levels that permits traffic to move from one to another without crossing traffic streams
From this reading The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.
incapable of being transgressed or dishonored
From this reading The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Spending scarlet like a woman, Yellow she affords Only scantly and selectly, Like a lover's words.
possessive form of “lover” — a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading Spending scarlet like a woman, Yellow she affords Only scantly and selectly, Like a lover's words.
plural of “nod” — a sign of assent or salutation or command
From this reading The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.
the state of being known for some unfavorable act or quality
From this reading The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.
and nothing more
From this reading Spending scarlet like a woman, Yellow she affords Only scantly and selectly, Like a lover's words.
plural of “party” — an organization to gain political power
From this reading The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.
of momentous or ominous significance
From this reading The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.
acutely insightful and wise
From this reading The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spending scarlet like a woman, Yellow she affords Only scantly and selectly, Like a lover's words.
a variable color that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge
From this reading Spending scarlet like a woman, Yellow she affords Only scantly and selectly, Like a lover's words.
the trait of keeping things secret
From this reading The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spending scarlet like a woman, Yellow she affords Only scantly and selectly, Like a lover's words.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Spending scarlet like a woman, Yellow she affords Only scantly and selectly, Like a lover's words.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.
the act of spending or disbursing money
From this reading Spending scarlet like a woman, Yellow she affords Only scantly and selectly, Like a lover's words.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Spending scarlet like a woman, Yellow she affords Only scantly and selectly, Like a lover's words.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The leaves, like women, interchange Sagacious confidence; Somewhat of nods, and somewhat of Portentous inference, The parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy, -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Spending scarlet like a woman, Yellow she affords Only scantly and selectly, Like a lover's words.
being two more than thirty
From this reading XXXII.
being three more than thirty
From this reading XXXIII.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading Spending scarlet like a woman, Yellow she affords Only scantly and selectly, Like a lover's words.
Chapter 5 of Poems by Emily Dickinson, Series Two by Emily Dickinson holds 159 sentences, grouped into 32 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 5 holds 159 sentences of Poems by Emily Dickinson, Series Two, unabridged, divided into 32 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 5 of Poems by Emily Dickinson, Series Two by Emily Dickinson exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 159 sentences, grouped into 32 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 32 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 32 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 5 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.
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Project Gutenberg eBook #2679, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 77 minutes of reading across 185 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Poems by Emily Dickinson, Series Two section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 6 chapters of Poems by Emily Dickinson, Series Two 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 Poems by Emily Dickinson, Series Two, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
