The Cathedral

Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

Chapter 16 of The Cathedral is here in full — 168 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By J.-K. (Joris-Karl) Huysmans • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

The day had come for Durtal to strap his portmanteau and set out with the Abbe Plomb.

He became fidgety with waiting as the hours went by.

At last, unable to sit still, he went out to kill the time, but a drizzling rain drove him for shelter into the cathedral.

After offering his devotions to the Virgin of the Pillar, he seated himself amid a camp of vacant chairs to meditate.

"Before interrupting the quiet monotony of my life at Chartres by this journey, shall I not do well to look into myself, if only for a minute, and take stock of what I have gained before and since settling in this town?

Narrator

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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.

Chapter XVI Reading 1/33

The Cathedral J.-K. (Joris-Karl) Huysmans

Chapter XVI

Chapter 16

Chapter 16 of The Cathedral is here in full — 168 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

The day had come for Durtal to strap his portmanteau and set out with the Abbe Plomb. He became fidgety with waiting as the hours went by. At last, unable to sit still, he went out to kill the time, but a drizzling rain drove him for shelter into the cathedral. After offering his devotions to the Virgin of the Pillar, he seated himself amid a camp of vacant chairs to meditate. "Before interrupting the quiet monotony of my life at Chartres by this journey, shall I not do well to look into myself, if only for a minute, and take stock of what I have gained before and since settling in this town?

The Cathedral

Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

Chapter 16 of The Cathedral is here in full — 168 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

The day had come for Durtal to strap his portmanteau and set out with the Abbe Plomb.

Line 2

He became fidgety with waiting as the hours went by.

Line 3

At last, unable to sit still, he went out to kill the time, but a drizzling rain drove him for shelter into the cathedral.

/æt læst əˈneɪbəl tuː sɪt stɪl hiː went aʊt tuː kɪl ðə taɪm bʌt ə ˈdrɪzəlɪŋ reɪn droʊv hɪm fɔːr ˈʃeltər ˈɪntuː ðə kəˈθiːdrəl/

Line 4

After offering his devotions to the Virgin of the Pillar, he seated himself amid a camp of vacant chairs to meditate.

Line 5

/bɪˈfɔːr ˌɪntərˈʌptɪŋ ðə ˈkwaɪət məˈnɑːtəni ʌv maɪ laɪf æt ˈtʃɑːrtriz baɪ ðɪs ˈdʒɜːrni ʃæl aɪ nɑːt duː wel tuː lʊk ˈɪntuː ˌmaɪˈself ɪf ˈoʊnli fɔːr ə ˈmɪnət ənd teɪk stɑːk ʌv wʌt aɪ hæv ɡeɪnd bɪˈfɔːr ənd sɪns ˈsetəlɪŋ ɪn ðɪs taʊn/

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.

Chartres noun US /ˈtʃɑːrtriz/

a town in northern France that is noted for its Gothic Cathedral

From this reading “"Before interrupting the quiet monotony of my life at Chartres by this journey, shall I not do well to look into myself, if only for a minute, and take stock of what I have gained before and since settling in this town?”

drizzling adjective US /ˈdrɪzəlɪŋ/

(of rain) falling lightly in very small drops

From this reading “At last, unable to sit still, he went out to kill the time, but a drizzling rain drove him for shelter into the cathedral.”

interrupting verb US /ˌɪntərˈʌptɪŋ/

-ing form of “interrupt” — make a break in

meditate verb US /ˈmedəteɪt/

reflect deeply on a subject

From this reading “After offering his devotions to the Virgin of the Pillar, he seated himself amid a camp of vacant chairs to meditate.”

monotony noun US /məˈnɑːtəni/

the quality of wearisome constancy, routine, and lack of variety

Pillar noun US /ˈpɪlər/

a fundamental principle or practice

From this reading “After offering his devotions to the Virgin of the Pillar, he seated himself amid a camp of vacant chairs to meditate.”

portmanteau noun US /ˈpɔːrtmɑːntoʊ/

a new word formed by joining two others and combining their meanings

From this reading “The day had come for Durtal to strap his portmanteau and set out with the Abbe Plomb.”

strap noun US /stræp/

an elongated leather strip (or a strip of similar material) for binding things together or holding something in position

From this reading “The day had come for Durtal to strap his portmanteau and set out with the Abbe Plomb.”

All words in this reading · 81

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 At last, unable to sit still, he went out to kill the time, but a drizzling rain drove him for shelter into the cathedral.

AbbenounUS /ˈæbi/

a French abbot

From this reading The day had come for Durtal to strap his portmanteau and set out with the Abbe Plomb.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading After offering his devotions to the Virgin of the Pillar, he seated himself amid a camp of vacant chairs to meditate.

amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/

in the middle of; surrounded by

From this reading After offering his devotions to the Virgin of the Pillar, he seated himself amid a camp of vacant chairs to meditate.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The day had come for Durtal to strap his portmanteau and set out with the Abbe Plomb.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He became fidgety with waiting as the hours went by.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At last, unable to sit still, he went out to kill the time, but a drizzling rain drove him for shelter into the cathedral.

becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading He became fidgety with waiting as the hours went by.

BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading "Before interrupting the quiet monotony of my life at Chartres by this journey, shall I not do well to look into myself, if only for a minute, and take stock of what I have gained before and since settling in this town?

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading At last, unable to sit still, he went out to kill the time, but a drizzling rain drove him for shelter into the cathedral.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He became fidgety with waiting as the hours went by.

campnounUS /kæmp/

temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers

From this reading After offering his devotions to the Virgin of the Pillar, he seated himself amid a camp of vacant chairs to meditate.

cathedralnounUS /kəˈθiːdrəl/

any large and important church

From this reading At last, unable to sit still, he went out to kill the time, but a drizzling rain drove him for shelter into the cathedral.

chairsnounUS /tʃerz/

plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading After offering his devotions to the Virgin of the Pillar, he seated himself amid a camp of vacant chairs to meditate.

ChartresnounUS /ˈtʃɑːrtriz/

a town in northern France that is noted for its Gothic Cathedral

comeverbUS /kʌm/

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

From this reading The day had come for Durtal to strap his portmanteau and set out with the Abbe Plomb.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading The day had come for Durtal to strap his portmanteau and set out with the Abbe Plomb.

devotions

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

From this reading After offering his devotions to the Virgin of the Pillar, he seated himself amid a camp of vacant chairs to meditate.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

drizzlingadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪzəlɪŋ/

(of rain) falling lightly in very small drops

From this reading At last, unable to sit still, he went out to kill the time, but a drizzling rain drove him for shelter into the cathedral.

drovenounUS /droʊv/

a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together

From this reading At last, unable to sit still, he went out to kill the time, but a drizzling rain drove him for shelter into the cathedral.

Durtal

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

From this reading The day had come for Durtal to strap his portmanteau and set out with the Abbe Plomb.

fidgetyadjective

nervous and unable to relax

From this reading He became fidgety with waiting as the hours went by.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The day had come for Durtal to strap his portmanteau and set out with the Abbe Plomb.

gainedverbUS /ɡeɪnd/

past form of “gain” — obtain

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The day had come for Durtal to strap his portmanteau and set out with the Abbe Plomb.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He became fidgety with waiting as the hours went by.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading At last, unable to sit still, he went out to kill the time, but a drizzling rain drove him for shelter into the cathedral.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading After offering his devotions to the Virgin of the Pillar, he seated himself amid a camp of vacant chairs to meditate.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The day had come for Durtal to strap his portmanteau and set out with the Abbe Plomb.

hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading He became fidgety with waiting as the hours went by.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

interruptingverbUS /ˌɪntərˈʌptɪŋ/

-ing form of “interrupt” — make a break in

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading At last, unable to sit still, he went out to kill the time, but a drizzling rain drove him for shelter into the cathedral.

journeyverbUS /ˈdʒɜːrni/

undertake a journey or trip

killverbUS /kɪl/

cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly

From this reading At last, unable to sit still, he went out to kill the time, but a drizzling rain drove him for shelter into the cathedral.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading At last, unable to sit still, he went out to kill the time, but a drizzling rain drove him for shelter into the cathedral.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

meditateverbUS /ˈmedəteɪt/

reflect deeply on a subject

From this reading After offering his devotions to the Virgin of the Pillar, he seated himself amid a camp of vacant chairs to meditate.

minutenounUS /ˈmɪnət/

a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

monotonynounUS /məˈnɑːtəni/

the quality of wearisome constancy, routine, and lack of variety

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading After offering his devotions to the Virgin of the Pillar, he seated himself amid a camp of vacant chairs to meditate.

offeringnounUS /ˈɔːfərɪŋ/

something offered (as a proposal or bid)

From this reading After offering his devotions to the Virgin of the Pillar, he seated himself amid a camp of vacant chairs to meditate.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The day had come for Durtal to strap his portmanteau and set out with the Abbe Plomb.

PillarnounUS /ˈpɪlər/

a fundamental principle or practice

From this reading After offering his devotions to the Virgin of the Pillar, he seated himself amid a camp of vacant chairs to meditate.

Plomb

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

From this reading The day had come for Durtal to strap his portmanteau and set out with the Abbe Plomb.

portmanteaunounUS /ˈpɔːrtmɑːntoʊ/

a new word formed by joining two others and combining their meanings

From this reading The day had come for Durtal to strap his portmanteau and set out with the Abbe Plomb.

quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

rainnounUS /reɪn/

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading At last, unable to sit still, he went out to kill the time, but a drizzling rain drove him for shelter into the cathedral.

seatedadjectiveUS /ˈsiːtɪd/

(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks

From this reading After offering his devotions to the Virgin of the Pillar, he seated himself amid a camp of vacant chairs to meditate.

setverbUS /set/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading The day had come for Durtal to strap his portmanteau and set out with the Abbe Plomb.

settlingnounUS /ˈsetəlɪŋ/

a gradual sinking to a lower level

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

shelternounUS /ˈʃeltər/

a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger

From this reading At last, unable to sit still, he went out to kill the time, but a drizzling rain drove him for shelter into the cathedral.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

sitverbUS /sɪt/

be seated

From this reading At last, unable to sit still, he went out to kill the time, but a drizzling rain drove him for shelter into the cathedral.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading At last, unable to sit still, he went out to kill the time, but a drizzling rain drove him for shelter into the cathedral.

stocknounUS /stɑːk/

the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest

strapnounUS /stræp/

an elongated leather strip (or a strip of similar material) for binding things together or holding something in position

From this reading The day had come for Durtal to strap his portmanteau and set out with the Abbe Plomb.

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The day had come for Durtal to strap his portmanteau and set out with the Abbe Plomb.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading At last, unable to sit still, he went out to kill the time, but a drizzling rain drove him for shelter into the cathedral.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The day had come for Durtal to strap his portmanteau and set out with the Abbe Plomb.

townnounUS /taʊn/

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

unableadjectiveUS /əˈneɪbəl/

(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how

From this reading At last, unable to sit still, he went out to kill the time, but a drizzling rain drove him for shelter into the cathedral.

vacantadjectiveUS /ˈveɪkənt/

void of intelligence or thought

From this reading After offering his devotions to the Virgin of the Pillar, he seated himself amid a camp of vacant chairs to meditate.

VirginnounUS /ˈvɜːrdʒɪn/

a person who has never had sex

From this reading After offering his devotions to the Virgin of the Pillar, he seated himself amid a camp of vacant chairs to meditate.

waitingnounUS /ˈweɪtɪŋ/

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading He became fidgety with waiting as the hours went by.

welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

wentverbUS /went/

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

From this reading He became fidgety with waiting as the hours went by.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The day had come for Durtal to strap his portmanteau and set out with the Abbe Plomb.

Chapter 16 of The Cathedral by J.-K. (Joris-Karl) Huysmans holds 168 sentences, grouped into 34 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.

What does chapter 16 of The Cathedral contain?

Chapter 16 holds 168 sentences of The Cathedral, unabridged, divided into 34 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 16 of The Cathedral by J.-K. (Joris-Karl) Huysmans exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 168 sentences, grouped into 34 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 16 of The Cathedral?

Work through the 34 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 34 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 16 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 16 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 The Cathedral

Common questions about reading The Cathedral by J.-K. (Joris-Karl) Huysmans on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Cathedral?

Yes. All 4324 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #15067 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Cathedral is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #15067, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Cathedral take to read?

About 360 minutes of reading across 865 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Cathedral section by section

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

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Choose one of the 16 chapters of The Cathedral to begin.
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Vocabulary met early in The Cathedral

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Cathedral, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chartres: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Cathedral; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Little: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Cathedral; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Market-place: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Cathedral; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Swept: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Cathedral; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

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