Chapter 4 of Sylvia: A Novel is here in full — 672 sentences across 135 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IV
Chapter 4 of Sylvia: A Novel is here in full — 672 sentences across 135 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Of course, the news came to the Hall. Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia. “Sylvia,” said Mrs. Chilton, trying her best to look casual, “I understand that Frank Shirley was at the ball.” “Yes, Aunt Nannie.” There was a pause.
Chapter 4 of Sylvia: A Novel is here in full — 672 sentences across 135 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/134 · 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.
-ing form of “announce” — make known; make an announcement
From this reading “Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.”
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading ““Sylvia,” said Mrs. Chilton, trying her best to look casual, “I understand that Frank Shirley was at the ball.””
marked by blithe unconcern
From this reading ““Sylvia,” said Mrs. Chilton, trying her best to look casual, “I understand that Frank Shirley was at the ball.””
a confidential or secret meeting
From this reading “Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.”
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading ““Sylvia,” said Mrs. Chilton, trying her best to look casual, “I understand that Frank Shirley was at the ball.””
information about recent and important events
From this reading “Of course, the news came to the Hall.”
a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
From this reading “There was a pause.”
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading “Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.”
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.
as might be expected
In this reading “Of course, the news came to the Hall.”
In this reading “Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.”
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 Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.
-ing form of “announce” — make known; make an announcement
From this reading Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Sylvia,” said Mrs. Chilton, trying her best to look casual, “I understand that Frank Shirley was at the ball.”
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading “Sylvia,” said Mrs. Chilton, trying her best to look casual, “I understand that Frank Shirley was at the ball.”
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading “Sylvia,” said Mrs. Chilton, trying her best to look casual, “I understand that Frank Shirley was at the ball.”
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Of course, the news came to the Hall.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.
marked by blithe unconcern
From this reading “Sylvia,” said Mrs. Chilton, trying her best to look casual, “I understand that Frank Shirley was at the ball.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sylvia,” said Mrs. Chilton, trying her best to look casual, “I understand that Frank Shirley was at the ball.”
a confidential or secret meeting
From this reading Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course, the news came to the Hall.
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.
a social unit living together
From this reading Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading “Sylvia,” said Mrs. Chilton, trying her best to look casual, “I understand that Frank Shirley was at the ball.”
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Of course, the news came to the Hall.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “Sylvia,” said Mrs. Chilton, trying her best to look casual, “I understand that Frank Shirley was at the ball.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Sylvia,” said Mrs. Chilton, trying her best to look casual, “I understand that Frank Shirley was at the ball.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading “Sylvia,” said Mrs. Chilton, trying her best to look casual, “I understand that Frank Shirley was at the ball.”
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.
information about recent and important events
From this reading Of course, the news came to the Hall.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of course, the news came to the Hall.
a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
From this reading There was a pause.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Sylvia,” said Mrs. Chilton, trying her best to look casual, “I understand that Frank Shirley was at the ball.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sylvia,” said Mrs. Chilton, trying her best to look casual, “I understand that Frank Shirley was at the ball.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Sylvia,” said Mrs. Chilton, trying her best to look casual, “I understand that Frank Shirley was at the ball.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Of course, the news came to the Hall.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Of course, the news came to the Hall.
hard to endure
From this reading “Sylvia,” said Mrs. Chilton, trying her best to look casual, “I understand that Frank Shirley was at the ball.”
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading “Sylvia,” said Mrs. Chilton, trying her best to look casual, “I understand that Frank Shirley was at the ball.”
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Sylvia,” said Mrs. Chilton, trying her best to look casual, “I understand that Frank Shirley was at the ball.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading Early in the morning, Aunt Nannie called up, announcing a visit, and there followed a family conclave with Mrs. Castleman, Aunt Varina and Sylvia.
an affirmative
From this reading “Yes, Aunt Nannie.”
Chapter 4 of Sylvia: A Novel by Upton Sinclair holds 672 sentences, grouped into 135 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 672 sentences of Sylvia: A Novel, unabridged, divided into 135 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 4 of Sylvia: A Novel by Upton Sinclair exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 672 sentences, grouped into 135 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 135 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 135 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.
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Project Gutenberg eBook #?, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
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Choose one of the 0 chapters of Sylvia: A Novel to begin.
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Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Sylvia: A Novel, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
