Chapter 40 of The Desired Woman is here in full — 131 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XL
Chapter 40 of The Desired Woman is here in full — 131 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
CONCLUSION Six years passed. It was autumn in the mountains. The air was balmy and crisp. The landscape was gloriously tinted by late wild flowers and the colors of dying leaves. A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.
Chapter 40 of The Desired Woman is here in full — 131 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/26 · 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.
informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
From this reading “The air was balmy and crisp.”
a variable color averaging a deep pink
From this reading “A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.”
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading “The air was balmy and crisp.”
horse of a dull brownish grey color
From this reading “A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.”
with glory or in a glorious manner
From this reading “The landscape was gloriously tinted by late wild flowers and the colors of dying leaves.”
(baseball) the slight elevation on which the pitcher stands
From this reading “A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.”
the most extreme possible amount or value
From this reading “A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.”
past form of “tint” — color lightly
From this reading “The landscape was gloriously tinted by late wild flowers and the colors of dying leaves.”
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 A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.
higher than, or over, something
From this reading A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The air was balmy and crisp.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The air was balmy and crisp.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading It was autumn in the mountains.
informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
From this reading The air was balmy and crisp.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The landscape was gloriously tinted by late wild flowers and the colors of dying leaves.
(baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team
From this reading A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.
a flag that shows its nationality
From this reading The landscape was gloriously tinted by late wild flowers and the colors of dying leaves.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading CONCLUSION Six years passed.
a variable color averaging a deep pink
From this reading A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading The air was balmy and crisp.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.
horse of a dull brownish grey color
From this reading A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading The landscape was gloriously tinted by late wild flowers and the colors of dying leaves.
very far away in space or time
From this reading A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading The landscape was gloriously tinted by late wild flowers and the colors of dying leaves.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.
with glory or in a glorious manner
From this reading The landscape was gloriously tinted by late wild flowers and the colors of dying leaves.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was autumn in the mountains.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was autumn in the mountains.
an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
From this reading The landscape was gloriously tinted by late wild flowers and the colors of dying leaves.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading The landscape was gloriously tinted by late wild flowers and the colors of dying leaves.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading The landscape was gloriously tinted by late wild flowers and the colors of dying leaves.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.
(baseball) the slight elevation on which the pitcher stands
From this reading A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading It was autumn in the mountains.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The landscape was gloriously tinted by late wild flowers and the colors of dying leaves.
above your head; in the sky
From this reading A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading CONCLUSION Six years passed.
the most extreme possible amount or value
From this reading A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading CONCLUSION Six years passed.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was autumn in the mountains.
past form of “tint” — color lightly
From this reading The landscape was gloriously tinted by late wild flowers and the colors of dying leaves.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading A far-off peak, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, rose above the dun valley like a mound of delicate coral dropped from the cloud-mottled blue overhead.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was autumn in the mountains.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading The landscape was gloriously tinted by late wild flowers and the colors of dying leaves.
a late time of life
From this reading CONCLUSION Six years passed.
Chapter 40 of The Desired Woman by Will N. (Will Nathaniel) Harben holds 131 sentences, grouped into 27 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 40 holds 131 sentences of The Desired Woman, unabridged, divided into 27 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 40 of The Desired Woman by Will N. (Will Nathaniel) Harben exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 131 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.
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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 40 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 The Desired Woman by Will N. (Will Nathaniel) Harben on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 7922 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #6056 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #6056, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 600 minutes of reading across 1585 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Desired Woman section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Desired Woman 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 The Desired Woman, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
