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Round the Sofa
Round the Sofa

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of Round the Sofa is here in full — 79 sentences across 16 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/15 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The vehemence with which Susan Dixon threw herself into occupation could not last for ever.
Times of languor and remembrance would cometimes when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.
She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.
This time, last year,” thought she, we went nutting togetherthis very day last year; just such a day as to-day.
Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Round the Sofa

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of Round the Sofa is here in full — 79 sentences across 16 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/15 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The vehemence with which Susan Dixon threw herself into occupation could not last for ever.
Line 2
Times of languor and remembrance would cometimes when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.
Line 3
She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.
/ʃiː smaɪld əˈnuː æt ðə ˈmædʒɪkəl ˈswiːtnəs ʌv sʌm tʌtʃ ɔːr toʊn wɪtʃ ɪn ˈmem.ər.i ʃiː felt ənd hɜːrd ənd dræŋk ðə dɪˈlɪʃəs kʌp ʌv ˈpɔɪzən ˌɔːlˈðoʊ æt ðə ˈveri taɪm ʃiː nuː wʌt ðə ˈkɑːnsəkwensəz ʌv ˈrækɪŋ peɪn wʊd biː/
Line 4
This time, last year,” thought she, “we went nutting togetherthis very day last year; just such a day as to-day.
Line 5
Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

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.

beck noun US /bek/

a beckoning gesture

From this reading “Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.”

bygone noun US /ˈbaɪɡɔːn/

past events to be put aside

From this reading “Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.”

cleft noun US /kleft/

a split or indentation in something (as the palate or chin)

From this reading “Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.”

magical adjective US /ˈmædʒɪkəl/

possessing or using or characteristic of or appropriate to supernatural powers

From this reading “She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.”

nutting verb US /ˈnʌtɪŋ/

inflected form of “nut” — gather nuts

From this reading ““This time, last year,” thought she, “we went nutting together—this very day last year; just such a day as to-day.”

racking adjective US /ˈrækɪŋ/

causing great physical or mental suffering

From this reading “She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.”

recurred verb US /riˈkɜːrd/

inflected form of “recur” — happen or occur again

From this reading “Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.”

tawny adjective US /ˈtɑːni/

of a light brown to brownish orange color; the color of tanned leather

From this reading “Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.”

All words in this reading · 110

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 Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

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

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

althoughconjunctionUS /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

anewadverbUS /əˈnuː/

again but in a new or different way

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

bareness

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

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

becknounUS /bek/

a beckoning gesture

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

bleakadjectiveUS /bliːk/

offering little or no hope

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

brownnounUS /braʊn/

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

bygonenounUS /ˈbaɪɡɔːn/

past events to be put aside

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

cleftnounUS /kleft/

a split or indentation in something (as the palate or chin)

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

consequencesnounUS /ˈkɑːnsəkwensəz/

plural of “consequence” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading The vehemence with which Susan Dixon threw herself into occupation could not last for ever.

cupnounUS /kʌp/

a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading “This time, last year,” thought she, “we went nutting together—this very day last year; just such a day as to-day.

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

deliciousadjectiveUS /dɪˈlɪʃəs/

greatly pleasing or entertaining

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

Dixon

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

From this reading The vehemence with which Susan Dixon threw herself into occupation could not last for ever.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

drankverbUS /dræŋk/

inflected form of “drink” — take in liquids

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

dreamnounUS /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading The vehemence with which Susan Dixon threw herself into occupation could not last for ever.

fellverbUS /fel/

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

feltverbUS /felt/

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The vehemence with which Susan Dixon threw herself into occupation could not last for ever.

glancingverbUS /ˈɡlænsɪŋ/

-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

goldnounUS /ɡoʊld/

coins made of gold

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

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

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading The vehemence with which Susan Dixon threw herself into occupation could not last for ever.

hillsnounUS /hɪlz/

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The vehemence with which Susan Dixon threw herself into occupation could not last for ever.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading “This time, last year,” thought she, “we went nutting together—this very day last year; just such a day as to-day.

knewverbUS /nuː/

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

languor

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

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading The vehemence with which Susan Dixon threw herself into occupation could not last for ever.

leavesnounUS /liːvz/

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

lightsnounUS /laɪts/

plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

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

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

magicaladjectiveUS /ˈmædʒɪkəl/

possessing or using or characteristic of or appropriate to supernatural powers

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The vehemence with which Susan Dixon threw herself into occupation could not last for ever.

nuttingverbUS /ˈnʌtɪŋ/

inflected form of “nut” — gather nuts

From this reading “This time, last year,” thought she, “we went nutting together—this very day last year; just such a day as to-day.

occupationnounUS /ˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/

the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money

From this reading The vehemence with which Susan Dixon threw herself into occupation could not last for ever.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

painnounUS /peɪn/

a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

passionateadjectiveUS /ˈpæʃənət/

having or expressing strong emotions

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

poisonverbUS /ˈpɔɪzən/

spoil as if by poison

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

presentverbUS /ˈprezənt/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

PurplenounUS /ˈpɜːrpəl/

a purple color or pigment

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

rackingadjectiveUS /ˈrækɪŋ/

causing great physical or mental suffering

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

realitynounUS /ˌriːˈælətiː/

all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

recollectionnounUS /ˌrekəˈlekʃən/

the ability to recall past occurrences

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

recurredverbUS /riˈkɜːrd/

inflected form of “recur” — happen or occur again

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

remembrancenounUS /riˈmembrəns/

the ability to recall past occurrences

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

silvernounUS /ˈsɪlvər/

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

slate-rock

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

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

slopesnounUS /sloʊps/

plural of “slope” — an elevated geological formation

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

smiledverbUS /smaɪld/

past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

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

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

stubble-fields

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

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading “This time, last year,” thought she, “we went nutting together—this very day last year; just such a day as to-day.

sunnyadjectiveUS /ˈsʌni/

bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

Susan

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

From this reading The vehemence with which Susan Dixon threw herself into occupation could not last for ever.

sweetnessnounUS /ˈswiːtnəs/

the taste experience when sugar dissolves in the mouth

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

tawnyadjectiveUS /ˈtɑːni/

of a light brown to brownish orange color; the color of tanned leather

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The vehemence with which Susan Dixon threw herself into occupation could not last for ever.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading “This time, last year,” thought she, “we went nutting together—this very day last year; just such a day as to-day.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading “This time, last year,” thought she, “we went nutting together—this very day last year; just such a day as to-day.

threadverbUS /θred/

to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

threwverbUS /θruː/

inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air

From this reading The vehemence with which Susan Dixon threw herself into occupation could not last for ever.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

TimesnounUS /taɪmz/

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

to-day

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

From this reading “This time, last year,” thought she, “we went nutting together—this very day last year; just such a day as to-day.

togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading “This time, last year,” thought she, “we went nutting together—this very day last year; just such a day as to-day.

tonenounUS /toʊn/

the quality of a person's voice

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

touchverbUS /tʌtʃ/

make physical contact with, come in contact with

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

turningnounUS /ˈtɜːrnɪŋ/

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

vehemencenounUS /ˈviːəməns/

intensity or forcefulness of expression

From this reading The vehemence with which Susan Dixon threw herself into occupation could not last for ever.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

vividadjectiveUS /ˈvɪvəd/

evoking lifelike images within the mind

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “This time, last year,” thought she, “we went nutting together—this very day last year; just such a day as to-day.

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading “This time, last year,” thought she, “we went nutting together—this very day last year; just such a day as to-day.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading She smiled anew at the magical sweetness of some touch or tone which in memory she felt and heard, and drank the delicious cup of poison, although at the very time she knew what the consequences of racking pain would be.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The vehemence with which Susan Dixon threw herself into occupation could not last for ever.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The vehemence with which Susan Dixon threw herself into occupation could not last for ever.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

yearnounUS /jɪr/

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading “This time, last year,” thought she, “we went nutting together—this very day last year; just such a day as to-day.

yearningnounUS /ˈjɜːrnɪŋ/

prolonged unfulfilled desire or need

From this reading Times of languor and remembrance would come—times when she recurred with a passionate yearning to bygone days, the recollection of which was so vivid and delicious, that it seemed as though it were the reality, and the present bleak bareness the dream.

yonadjectiveUS /jɑːn/

distant but within sight (“yon” is dialectal)

From this reading Purple and gold were the lights on the hills; the leaves were just turning brown; here and there on the sunny slopes the stubble-fields looked tawny; down in a cleft of yon purple slate-rock the beck fell like a silver glancing thread; all just as it is to-day.

Chapter 20 of Round the Sofa by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell holds 79 sentences, grouped into 16 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 20 of Round the Sofa contain?

Chapter 20 holds 79 sentences of Round the Sofa, unabridged, divided into 16 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of Round the Sofa by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 79 sentences, grouped into 16 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 20 of Round the Sofa?

Work through the 16 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 16 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 20 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 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 Round the Sofa

Common questions about reading Round the Sofa by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Round the Sofa?

Yes. All 5853 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2533 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Round the Sofa is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2533, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Round the Sofa take to read?

About 487 minutes of reading across 1171 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Round the Sofa section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 24 chapters of Round the Sofa to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in Round the Sofa

Words and structures a reader meets early in Round the Sofa, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Woman
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Round the Sofa; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Things
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Round the Sofa; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Different
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Round the Sofa; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Youth
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Round the Sofa; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.