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Sylvia's Lovers — Complete
Sylvia's Lovers — Complete

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of Sylvia's Lovers — Complete is here in full — 133 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Sylvia's Lovers — Complete
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.
Hepburn did not care to think--would not realize what this drawback, which need not have been mysterious in his case, was.
The May evening was glorious in light and shadow.
The crimson sun warmed up the chilly northern air to a semblance of pleasant heat.
The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Sylvia's Lovers — Complete

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of Sylvia's Lovers — Complete is here in full — 133 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.
Line 2
Hepburn did not care to think--would not realize what this drawback, which need not have been mysterious in his case, was.
Line 3
The May evening was glorious in light and shadow.
/ðə meɪ ˈiːvnɪŋ wɑːz ˈɡlɔːriəs ɪn laɪt ənd ˈʃæd.oʊ/
Line 4
The crimson sun warmed up the chilly northern air to a semblance of pleasant heat.
/ðə ˈkrɪmzən sʌn wɔːrmd ʌp ðə ˈtʃɪli ˈnɔːrðərn er tuː ə ˈsembləns ʌv ˈplezənt hiːt/
Line 5
The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

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.

chilly adjective US /ˈtʃɪli/

not characterized by emotion

From this reading “The crimson sun warmed up the chilly northern air to a semblance of pleasant heat.”

chirping verb US /ˈtʃɜːrpɪŋ/

-ing form of “chirp” — make high-pitched sounds

From this reading “The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.”

cloudless adjective US /ˈklaʊdləs/

free from clouds

From this reading “The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.”

drawback noun US /ˈdrɔːbæk/

the quality of being a hindrance

From this reading “LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.”

Hepburn noun US /ˈhepbərn/

United States film actress who appeared in many films with Spencer Tracy (1907-2003)

From this reading “Hepburn did not care to think--would not realize what this drawback, which need not have been mysterious in his case, was.”

lambs noun US /læmz/

plural of “lamb” — young sheep

From this reading “The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.”

lark noun US /lɑːrk/

North American songbirds having a yellow breast

From this reading “The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.”

Philip's noun US /ˈfɪləps/

possessive form of “philip” — Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)

From this reading “The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.”

All words in this reading · 111

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 LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

accordingadjectiveUS /əˈkɔːrdɪŋ/

(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading The crimson sun warmed up the chilly northern air to a semblance of pleasant heat.

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 The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Hepburn did not care to think--would not realize what this drawback, which need not have been mysterious in his case, was.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

bleating

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

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

broodingnounUS /ˈbruːdɪŋ/

sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

bushnounUS /bʊʃ/

a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

carenounUS /ker/

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading Hepburn did not care to think--would not realize what this drawback, which need not have been mysterious in his case, was.

casenounUS /keɪs/

an occurrence of something

From this reading Hepburn did not care to think--would not realize what this drawback, which need not have been mysterious in his case, was.

chillyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪli/

not characterized by emotion

From this reading The crimson sun warmed up the chilly northern air to a semblance of pleasant heat.

chirpingverbUS /ˈtʃɜːrpɪŋ/

-ing form of “chirp” — make high-pitched sounds

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

cloudlessadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdləs/

free from clouds

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

consciousadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnʃəs/

intentionally conceived

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

crimsonadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmzən/

of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies

From this reading The crimson sun warmed up the chilly northern air to a semblance of pleasant heat.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Hepburn did not care to think--would not realize what this drawback, which need not have been mysterious in his case, was.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

drawbacknounUS /ˈdrɔːbæk/

the quality of being a hindrance

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

dreamnounUS /driːm/

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

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

droppedverbUS /drɑːpt/

inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

enjoymentnounUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪmənt/

the pleasure felt when having a good time

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading The May evening was glorious in light and shadow.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

farmverbUS /fɑːrm/

be a farmer; work as a farmer

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

gentleadjectiveUS /ˈdʒentəl/

soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

gloriousadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɔːriəs/

having or deserving or conferring glory

From this reading The May evening was glorious in light and shadow.

goldenadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊldən/

having the deep slightly brownish color of gold

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

good-night

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

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

gorsenoun

very spiny and dense evergreen shrub with fragrant golden-yellow flowers; common throughout western Europe

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

greennounUS /ɡriːn/

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

grewverbUS /ɡruː/

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Hepburn did not care to think--would not realize what this drawback, which need not have been mysterious in his case, was.

heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

heatnounUS /hiːt/

a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature

From this reading The crimson sun warmed up the chilly northern air to a semblance of pleasant heat.

HepburnnounUS /ˈhepbərn/

United States film actress who appeared in many films with Spencer Tracy (1907-2003)

From this reading Hepburn did not care to think--would not realize what this drawback, which need not have been mysterious in his case, was.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

inevitableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnevətəbəl/

incapable of being avoided or prevented

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

lambsnounUS /læmz/

plural of “lamb” — young sheep

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

larknounUS /lɑːrk/

North American songbirds having a yellow breast

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading The May evening was glorious in light and shadow.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

linnets

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

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

LOSTadjectiveUS /lɔːst/

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

LOVEDadjectiveUS /lʌvd/

held dear

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading The May evening was glorious in light and shadow.

mothersnounUS /ˈmʌðərz/

plural of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/

of an obscure nature

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

neednounUS /niːd/

a condition requiring relief

From this reading Hepburn did not care to think--would not realize what this drawback, which need not have been mysterious in his case, was.

nestnounUS /nest/

a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

northernadjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrðərn/

in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading The crimson sun warmed up the chilly northern air to a semblance of pleasant heat.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Hepburn did not care to think--would not realize what this drawback, which need not have been mysterious in his case, was.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

peacenounUS /piːs/

the state prevailing during the absence of war

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

PhilipnounUS /ˈfɪləp/

Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

Philip'snounUS /ˈfɪləps/

possessive form of “philip” — Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

pleasantadjectiveUS /ˈplezənt/

affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings

From this reading The crimson sun warmed up the chilly northern air to a semblance of pleasant heat.

realizeverbUS /ˈriːəlaɪz/

be fully aware or cognizant of

From this reading Hepburn did not care to think--would not realize what this drawback, which need not have been mysterious in his case, was.

restverbUS /rest/

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

Robsons

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

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

sankverbUS /sæŋk/

inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

semblancenounUS /ˈsembləns/

an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading

From this reading The crimson sun warmed up the chilly northern air to a semblance of pleasant heat.

shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading The May evening was glorious in light and shadow.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

sidenounUS /saɪd/

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

sightsnounUS /saɪts/

an optical instrument for aiding the eye in aiming, as on a firearm or surveying instrument

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

singingnounUS /ˈsɪŋɪŋ/

the act of singing vocal music

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

skynounUS /skaɪ/

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

soundsnounUS /saʊndz/

plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

spokenounUS /spoʊk/

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

springnounUS /sprɪŋ/

the season of growth

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

stonenounUS /stoʊn/

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

sunnounUS /sʌn/

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading The crimson sun warmed up the chilly northern air to a semblance of pleasant heat.

tenderadjectiveUS /ˈtendər/

given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading Hepburn did not care to think--would not realize what this drawback, which need not have been mysterious in his case, was.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Hepburn did not care to think--would not realize what this drawback, which need not have been mysterious in his case, was.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The crimson sun warmed up the chilly northern air to a semblance of pleasant heat.

walkedverbUS /wɔːkt/

past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

wallsnounUS /wɔːlz/

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

warmedadjectiveUS /wɔːrmd/

having been warmed up

From this reading The crimson sun warmed up the chilly northern air to a semblance of pleasant heat.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Hepburn did not care to think--would not realize what this drawback, which need not have been mysterious in his case, was.

wearinessnounUS /ˈwɪrinəs/

temporary loss of strength and energy resulting from hard physical or mental work

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Hepburn did not care to think--would not realize what this drawback, which need not have been mysterious in his case, was.

wheatnounUS /wiːt/

annual or biennial grass having erect flower spikes and light brown grains

From this reading The spring sights and sounds were all about; the lambs were bleating out their gentle weariness before they sank to rest by the side of their mothers; the linnets were chirping in every bush of golden gorse that grew out of the stone walls; the lark was singing her good-night in the cloudless sky, before she dropped down to her nest in the tender green wheat; all spoke of brooding peace--but Philip's heart was not at peace.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Hepburn did not care to think--would not realize what this drawback, which need not have been mysterious in his case, was.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

wishverbUS /wɪʃ/

hope for; have a wish

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Hepburn did not care to think--would not realize what this drawback, which need not have been mysterious in his case, was.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading LOVED AND LOST Philip walked towards the Robsons' farm like a man in a dream, who has everything around him according to his wish, and yet is conscious of a secret mysterious inevitable drawback to his enjoyment.

Chapter 17 of Sylvia's Lovers — Complete by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell holds 133 sentences, grouped into 27 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 17 of Sylvia's Lovers — Complete contain?

Chapter 17 holds 133 sentences of Sylvia's Lovers — Complete, unabridged, divided into 27 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 17 of Sylvia's Lovers — Complete by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 133 sentences, grouped into 27 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 17 of Sylvia's Lovers — Complete?

Work through the 27 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 27 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 17 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 17 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 Sylvia's Lovers — Complete

Common questions about reading Sylvia's Lovers — Complete by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Sylvia's Lovers — Complete?

Yes. All 7382 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4537 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Sylvia's Lovers — Complete is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #4537, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Sylvia's Lovers — Complete take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1477 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Sylvia's Lovers — Complete section by section

How to work through Sylvia's Lovers — Complete section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  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 Sylvia's Lovers — Complete

Words and structures a reader meets early in Sylvia's Lovers — Complete, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Early
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Sylvia's Lovers — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
October
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Sylvia's Lovers — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Girls
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Sylvia's Lovers — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Country
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Sylvia's Lovers — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.