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The Dictator
The Dictator

Chapter XXVI · Chapter 26

Chapter 26 of The Dictator is here in full — 241 sentences across 49 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Dictator
Context Illustration Reading 1/48 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
'SINCE IT IS SO!'
Helena had often before divined the Dictator.
Now at last she realised him.
She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.
She had always felt assured that the Dictator was there--had felt certain that he must be there--and now at last she knew that he was there.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Dictator

Chapter XXVI · Chapter 26

Chapter 26 of The Dictator is here in full — 241 sentences across 49 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/48 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
'SINCE IT IS SO!'
/sɪns ɪt ɪz soʊ/
Line 2
Helena had often before divined the Dictator.
Line 3
Now at last she realised him.
/naʊ æt læst ʃiː ˈriːəlaɪzd hɪm/
Line 4
She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.
Line 5
She had always felt assured that the Dictator was there--had felt certain that he must be there--and now at last she knew that he was there.

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.

assured adjective US /əˈʃʊrd/

marked by assurance; exhibiting confidence

From this reading “She had always felt assured that the Dictator was there--had felt certain that he must be there--and now at last she knew that he was there.”

Dictator noun US /dɪkˈteɪtər/

a speaker who dictates to a secretary or a recording machine

From this reading “Helena had often before divined the Dictator.”

doubts noun US /daʊts/

plural of “doubt” — the state of being unsure of something

From this reading “She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.”

Helena noun US /ˈhelənə/

capital of the state of Montana; located in western Montana

From this reading “Helena had often before divined the Dictator.”

minds noun US /maɪndz/

plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason

From this reading “She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.”

realised adjective US /ˈriːəlaɪzd/

successfully completed or brought to an end

From this reading “Now at last she realised him.”

spite noun US /spaɪt/

feeling a need to see others suffer

From this reading “She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.”

tongues noun US /tʌŋz/

plural of “tongue” — a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity

From this reading “She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.”

All words in this reading · 47

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.

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading She had always felt assured that the Dictator was there--had felt certain that he must be there--and now at last she knew that he was there.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.

assuredadjectiveUS /əˈʃʊrd/

marked by assurance; exhibiting confidence

From this reading She had always felt assured that the Dictator was there--had felt certain that he must be there--and now at last she knew that he was there.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Now at last she realised him.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading She had always felt assured that the Dictator was there--had felt certain that he must be there--and now at last she knew that he was there.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Helena had often before divined the Dictator.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.

certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading She had always felt assured that the Dictator was there--had felt certain that he must be there--and now at last she knew that he was there.

DictatornounUS /dɪkˈteɪtər/

a speaker who dictates to a secretary or a recording machine

From this reading Helena had often before divined the Dictator.

divined

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

From this reading Helena had often before divined the Dictator.

doubtsnounUS /daʊts/

plural of “doubt” — the state of being unsure of something

From this reading She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.

feltverbUS /felt/

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading She had always felt assured that the Dictator was there--had felt certain that he must be there--and now at last she knew that he was there.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Helena had often before divined the Dictator.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading She had always felt assured that the Dictator was there--had felt certain that he must be there--and now at last she knew that he was there.

HelenanounUS /ˈhelənə/

capital of the state of Montana; located in western Montana

From this reading Helena had often before divined the Dictator.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Now at last she realised him.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.

ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading 'SINCE IT IS SO!'

ITpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading 'SINCE IT IS SO!'

knewverbUS /nuː/

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading She had always felt assured that the Dictator was there--had felt certain that he must be there--and now at last she knew that he was there.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading Now at last she realised him.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.

mindsnounUS /maɪndz/

plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason

From this reading She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading She had always felt assured that the Dictator was there--had felt certain that he must be there--and now at last she knew that he was there.

NowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading Now at last she realised him.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.

oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/

many times at short intervals

From this reading Helena had often before divined the Dictator.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.

perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/

by chance

From this reading She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.

putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.

realisedadjectiveUS /ˈriːəlaɪzd/

successfully completed or brought to an end

From this reading Now at last she realised him.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Now at last she realised him.

SINCEprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading 'SINCE IT IS SO!'

SOconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading 'SINCE IT IS SO!'

spitenounUS /spaɪt/

feeling a need to see others suffer

From this reading She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She had always felt assured that the Dictator was there--had felt certain that he must be there--and now at last she knew that he was there.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Helena had often before divined the Dictator.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading She had always felt assured that the Dictator was there--had felt certain that he must be there--and now at last she knew that he was there.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.

tonguesnounUS /tʌŋz/

plural of “tongue” — a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity

From this reading She had divined him in spite of her own doubts at one time--or perhaps because of her own doubts, or the doubts put into her mind by other minds and other tongues.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading She had always felt assured that the Dictator was there--had felt certain that he must be there--and now at last she knew that he was there.

Chapter 26 of The Dictator by Justin McCarthy holds 241 sentences, grouped into 49 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 26 of The Dictator contain?

Chapter 26 holds 241 sentences of The Dictator, unabridged, divided into 49 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 26 of The Dictator by Justin McCarthy exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 241 sentences, grouped into 49 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 26 of The Dictator?

Work through the 49 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 49 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 26 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 26 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 Dictator

Common questions about reading The Dictator by Justin McCarthy on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Dictator?

Yes. All 6365 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #21637 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Dictator is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #21637, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Dictator take to read?

About 530 minutes of reading across 1273 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Dictator section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 26 chapters of The Dictator 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 Dictator

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

Dictator
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dictator; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Entered
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dictator; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Attractive
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dictator; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Bright
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dictator; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.