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The Convict: A Tale
The Convict: A Tale

Chapter XXII

Chapter 22 of The Convict: A Tale is here in full — 28 sentences across 6 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Convict: A Tale
Context Illustration Reading 1/5 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Two years had passed.
Two years!
What is it? who can say?
Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.
Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!
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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.

The Convict: A Tale

Chapter XXII

Chapter 22 of The Convict: A Tale is here in full — 28 sentences across 6 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
Two years had passed.
/tuː jɪrz hæd pæst/
Line 2
Two years!
/tuː jɪrz/
Line 3
What is it? who can say?
/wʌt ɪz ɪt huː kæn seɪ/
Line 4
Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.
/ˈdɪfərənt tuː ˈevəri ˈbiːɪŋ ɪn ðə hoʊl waɪd reɪndʒ ʌv ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəl eɡˈzɪstəns taɪm ɪz ðə truː kəˈmiːliən ənd teɪks ɪts ˈkʌlər ɪnˈtaɪərli frʌm ðə θɪŋz θruː wɪtʃ ɪt ɡlaɪdz/
Line 5
Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!
/naʊ ɡreɪ ənd dʌl naʊ braɪt ənd ˈʃaɪnɪŋ naʊ ˈpɜːrpəl wɪð ðə ˈmɪŋɡəld hjuːz ʌv ɪɡˈzɜːrʃən ənd səkˈses ˈroʊzi wɪð lʌv ənd hoʊp ɔːr ˈæʒər wɪð feɪθ ənd ˈkɑːnfədəns/

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.

azure noun US /ˈæʒər/

a light shade of blue

From this reading “Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!”

chameleon noun US /kəˈmiːliən/

a changeable or inconstant person

From this reading “Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.”

exertion noun US /ɪɡˈzɜːrʃən/

use of physical or mental energy; hard work

From this reading “Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!”

glides noun US /ɡlaɪdz/

plural of “glide” — a vowellike sound that serves as a consonant

From this reading “Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.”

hues noun US /hjuːz/

plural of “hue” — the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength

From this reading “Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!”

mingled verb US /ˈmɪŋɡəld/

past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else

From this reading “Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!”

rosy adjective US /ˈroʊzi/

reflecting optimism

From this reading “Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!”

universal adjective US /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəl/

of worldwide scope or applicability

From this reading “Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.”

Word partnerships in these lines

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.

wide range adjective + noun

In this reading “Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.”

Two years noun + noun

In this reading “Two years had passed.”

All words in this reading · 53

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.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

azurenounUS /ˈæʒər/

a light shade of blue

From this reading Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading What is it? who can say?

chameleonnounUS /kəˈmiːliən/

a changeable or inconstant person

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

colouradjectiveUS /ˈkʌlər/

having or capable of producing colors

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

confidencenounUS /ˈkɑːnfədəns/

freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities

From this reading Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!

DifferentadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfərənt/

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

dulladjectiveUS /dʌl/

lacking in liveliness or animation

From this reading Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!

entirelyadverbUS /ɪnˈtaɪərli/

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

exertionnounUS /ɪɡˈzɜːrʃən/

use of physical or mental energy; hard work

From this reading Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!

existencenounUS /eɡˈzɪstəns/

the state or fact of existing

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

faithnounUS /feɪθ/

a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny

From this reading Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

glidesnounUS /ɡlaɪdz/

plural of “glide” — a vowellike sound that serves as a consonant

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

graynounUS /ɡreɪ/

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Two years had passed.

hopenounUS /hoʊp/

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!

huesnounUS /hjuːz/

plural of “hue” — the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength

From this reading Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading What is it? who can say?

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading What is it? who can say?

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!

mingledverbUS /ˈmɪŋɡəld/

past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else

From this reading Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!

NowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!

passedverbUS /pæst/

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading Two years had passed.

purplenounUS /ˈpɜːrpəl/

a purple color or pigment

From this reading Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!

rangenounUS /reɪndʒ/

an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

rosyadjectiveUS /ˈroʊzi/

reflecting optimism

From this reading Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading What is it? who can say?

shiningadjectiveUS /ˈʃaɪnɪŋ/

marked by exceptional merit

From this reading Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!

successnounUS /səkˈses/

an event that accomplishes its intended purpose

From this reading Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!

takesnounUS /teɪks/

plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

TimenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

TwonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Two years had passed.

universaladjectiveUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəl/

of worldwide scope or applicability

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What is it? who can say?

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading What is it? who can say?

wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

wideadjectiveUS /waɪd/

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading Different to every being in the whole wide range of universal existence, Time is the true chameleon, and takes its colour entirely from the things through which it glides.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Now gray and dull, now bright and shining, now purple with the mingled hues of exertion and success, rosy with love and hope, or azure with faith and confidence!

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading Two years had passed.

Chapter 22 of The Convict: A Tale by G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James holds 28 sentences, grouped into 6 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 22 of The Convict: A Tale contain?

Chapter 22 holds 28 sentences of The Convict: A Tale, unabridged, divided into 6 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 22 of The Convict: A Tale by G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 28 sentences, grouped into 6 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 22 of The Convict: A Tale?

Work through the 6 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 6 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 22 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 22 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 Convict: A Tale

Common questions about reading The Convict: A Tale by G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Convict: A Tale?

Yes. All 5441 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #51164 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Convict: A Tale is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #51164, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Convict: A Tale take to read?

About 453 minutes of reading across 1089 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Convict: A Tale section by section

How to work through The Convict: A Tale section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 39 chapters of The Convict: A Tale to begin.

  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 The Convict: A Tale

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Convict: A Tale, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Cases
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Convict: A Tale; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Plunge
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Convict: A Tale; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
According
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Convict: A Tale; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Latin
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Convict: A Tale; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.