Chapter 25 of Shirley is here in full — 181 sentences across 37 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXV
Chapter 25 of Shirley is here in full — 181 sentences across 37 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
THE WEST WIND BLOWS. Not always do those who dare such divine conflict prevail. Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible. "Spare my beloved," it may implore. "Heal my life's life.
Chapter 25 of Shirley is here in full — 181 sentences across 37 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/36 · 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.
an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)
From this reading “Not always do those who dare such divine conflict prevail.”
heal or recover
From this reading “"Heal my life's life.”
call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading “"Spare my beloved," it may implore.”
possessive form of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading “"Heal my life's life.”
be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
From this reading “Not always do those who dare such divine conflict prevail.”
someone who prays to God
From this reading “Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.”
salty fluid secreted by sweat glands
From this reading “Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.”
third-person singular of “utter” — articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading “Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.”
English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.
Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.
wind that blows from west to east
In this reading “THE WEST WIND BLOWS.”
In this reading “Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.”
In this reading “Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.”
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.
later than; following
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
Extreme physical or mental suffering; intense anguish.
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Not always do those who dare such divine conflict prevail.
take a court case to a higher court for review
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
dearly loved
From this reading "Spare my beloved," it may implore.
plural of “blow” — a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon
From this reading THE WEST WIND BLOWS.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)
From this reading Not always do those who dare such divine conflict prevail.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading Not always do those who dare such divine conflict prevail.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
emanating from God
From this reading Not always do those who dare such divine conflict prevail.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Not always do those who dare such divine conflict prevail.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
heal or recover
From this reading "Heal my life's life.
call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading "Spare my beloved," it may implore.
impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Spare my beloved," it may implore.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading "Heal my life's life.
possessive form of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading "Heal my life's life.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Spare my beloved," it may implore.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not always do those who dare such divine conflict prevail.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
From this reading Not always do those who dare such divine conflict prevail.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
refrain from harming
From this reading "Spare my beloved," it may implore.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Not always do those who dare such divine conflict prevail.
someone who prays to God
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
salty fluid secreted by sweat glands
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WEST WIND BLOWS.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Not always do those who dare such divine conflict prevail.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
third-person singular of “utter” — articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading THE WEST WIND BLOWS.
at the time that
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
which person or people
From this reading Not always do those who dare such divine conflict prevail.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading THE WEST WIND BLOWS.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Night after night the sweat of agony may burst dark on the forehead; the supplicant may cry for mercy with that soundless voice the soul utters when its appeal is to the Invisible.
Chapter 25 of Shirley by Charlotte Brontë holds 181 sentences, grouped into 37 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 25 holds 181 sentences of Shirley, unabridged, divided into 37 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 25 of Shirley by Charlotte Brontë exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 181 sentences, grouped into 37 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 37 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 37 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 25 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 Shirley by Charlotte Brontë on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 14226 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #30486 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #30486, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 600 minutes of reading across 2846 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Shirley section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 37 chapters of Shirley 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 Shirley, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
