Chapter 8 of Tales of Men and Ghosts is here in full — 419 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VIII
Chapter 8 of Tales of Men and Ghosts is here in full — 419 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
“I see,” Bernald mused. “Yet you say there _is_ an original element?” “Yes; but unluckily it’s no good.” “It’s not--conceivably--in any sense a development of Pellerin’s idea: a logical step farther?” “_Logical?_ Howland says it’s twaddle at white heat.”
Chapter 8 of Tales of Men and Ghosts is here in full — 419 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/83 · 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.
within the realm of possibility
From this reading ““It’s not--conceivably--in any sense a development of Pellerin’s idea: a logical step farther?””
act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining
From this reading ““It’s not--conceivably--in any sense a development of Pellerin’s idea: a logical step farther?””
an abstract part of something
From this reading ““Yet you say there _is_ an original element?””
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading ““_Logical?_ Howland says it’s twaddle at white heat.””
capable of or reflecting the capability for correct and valid reasoning
From this reading ““It’s not--conceivably--in any sense a development of Pellerin’s idea: a logical step farther?””
past form of “muse” — reflect deeply on a subject
From this reading ““I see,” Bernald mused.”
preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed
From this reading ““Yet you say there _is_ an original element?””
pretentious or silly talk or writing
From this reading ““_Logical?_ Howland says it’s twaddle at white heat.””
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 “It’s not--conceivably--in any sense a development of Pellerin’s idea: a logical step farther?”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “Yet you say there _is_ an original element?”
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “It’s not--conceivably--in any sense a development of Pellerin’s idea: a logical step farther?”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “_Logical?_ Howland says it’s twaddle at white heat.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I see,” Bernald mused.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “Yes; but unluckily it’s no good.”
within the realm of possibility
From this reading “It’s not--conceivably--in any sense a development of Pellerin’s idea: a logical step farther?”
act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining
From this reading “It’s not--conceivably--in any sense a development of Pellerin’s idea: a logical step farther?”
an abstract part of something
From this reading “Yet you say there _is_ an original element?”
more distant in especially space or time
From this reading “It’s not--conceivably--in any sense a development of Pellerin’s idea: a logical step farther?”
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading “Yes; but unluckily it’s no good.”
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading “_Logical?_ Howland says it’s twaddle at white heat.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “_Logical?_ Howland says it’s twaddle at white heat.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I see,” Bernald mused.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “It’s not--conceivably--in any sense a development of Pellerin’s idea: a logical step farther?”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “It’s not--conceivably--in any sense a development of Pellerin’s idea: a logical step farther?”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Yet you say there _is_ an original element?”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes; but unluckily it’s no good.”
capable of or reflecting the capability for correct and valid reasoning
From this reading “It’s not--conceivably--in any sense a development of Pellerin’s idea: a logical step farther?”
past form of “muse” — reflect deeply on a subject
From this reading “I see,” Bernald mused.
not any; not one
From this reading “Yes; but unluckily it’s no good.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “It’s not--conceivably--in any sense a development of Pellerin’s idea: a logical step farther?”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “It’s not--conceivably--in any sense a development of Pellerin’s idea: a logical step farther?”
preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed
From this reading “Yet you say there _is_ an original element?”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s not--conceivably--in any sense a development of Pellerin’s idea: a logical step farther?”
express in words
From this reading “Yet you say there _is_ an original element?”
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading “_Logical?_ Howland says it’s twaddle at white heat.”
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “I see,” Bernald mused.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading “It’s not--conceivably--in any sense a development of Pellerin’s idea: a logical step farther?”
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading “It’s not--conceivably--in any sense a development of Pellerin’s idea: a logical step farther?”
in or at that place or location
From this reading “Yet you say there _is_ an original element?”
pretentious or silly talk or writing
From this reading “_Logical?_ Howland says it’s twaddle at white heat.”
by bad luck
From this reading “Yes; but unluckily it’s no good.”
a Caucasian
From this reading “_Logical?_ Howland says it’s twaddle at white heat.”
an affirmative
From this reading “Yes; but unluckily it’s no good.”
but in spite of that
From this reading “Yet you say there _is_ an original element?”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Yet you say there _is_ an original element?”
Chapter 8 of Tales of Men and Ghosts by Edith Wharton holds 419 sentences, grouped into 84 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 8 holds 419 sentences of Tales of Men and Ghosts, unabridged, divided into 84 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 8 of Tales of Men and Ghosts by Edith Wharton exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 419 sentences, grouped into 84 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 84 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 84 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 8 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 Tales of Men and Ghosts by Edith Wharton on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 5406 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4514 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #4514, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 450 minutes of reading across 1082 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Tales of Men and Ghosts section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 13 chapters of Tales of Men and Ghosts 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 Tales of Men and Ghosts, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
