Chapter 32 of The Disturbing Charm is here in full — 366 sentences across 74 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXXII
Chapter 32 of The Disturbing Charm is here in full — 366 sentences across 74 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)" Swinburne. Olwen's bright eyes opened in real astonishment. Here was a bewildering sex! "_Long enough_," it said.
Chapter 32 of The Disturbing Charm is here in full — 366 sentences across 74 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/73 · 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.
recognized or made known or admitted
From this reading “THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"”
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading “Olwen's bright eyes opened in real astonishment.”
-ing form of “bewilder” — be a mystery or bewildering to
From this reading “Here was a bewildering sex!”
attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates
From this reading “THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"”
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading “THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"”
activities associated with sexual intercourse
From this reading “Here was a bewildering sex!”
an old form of “would”, used with “thou”
From this reading “THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"”
an old word for “yes”
From this reading “THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"”
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.
In this reading “Olwen's bright eyes opened in real astonishment.”
In this reading “"_Long enough_," it said.”
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 Here was a bewildering sex!
recognized or made known or admitted
From this reading THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading Olwen's bright eyes opened in real astonishment.
-ing form of “bewilder” — be a mystery or bewildering to
From this reading Here was a bewildering sex!
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Olwen's bright eyes opened in real astonishment.
attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates
From this reading THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading "_Long enough_," it said.
divisible by two
From this reading THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"
opinion or judgment
From this reading Olwen's bright eyes opened in real astonishment.
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here was a bewildering sex!
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Olwen's bright eyes opened in real astonishment.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "_Long enough_," it said.
the act of caressing with the lips (or an instance thereof)
From this reading THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading "_Long enough_," it said.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Olwen's bright eyes opened in real astonishment.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Olwen's bright eyes opened in real astonishment.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading Olwen's bright eyes opened in real astonishment.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "_Long enough_," it said.
a reason for wanting something done
From this reading THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"
activities associated with sexual intercourse
From this reading Here was a bewildering sex!
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"
English poet (1837-1909)
From this reading Swinburne.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"
an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person
From this reading THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"
an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person
From this reading THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"
an old word for “your”, speaking to one person
From this reading THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Here was a bewildering sex!
at the time that
From this reading THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"
an old form of “would”, used with “thou”
From this reading THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"
an old word for “yes”
From this reading THE CHARM ACKNOWLEDGED "'Even he that flies shall follow for thy sake-- Shall kiss that would not kiss thee' (yea, kiss me), 'When thou wouldst not' (when I would not kiss thee!)"
Chapter 32 of The Disturbing Charm by Berta Ruck holds 366 sentences, grouped into 74 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 32 holds 366 sentences of The Disturbing Charm, unabridged, divided into 74 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 32 of The Disturbing Charm by Berta Ruck exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 366 sentences, grouped into 74 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 74 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 74 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 32 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 Disturbing Charm by Berta Ruck on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 5925 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #36442 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #36442, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 493 minutes of reading across 1185 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Disturbing Charm section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 32 chapters of The Disturbing Charm 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 Disturbing Charm, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
