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The Forsyte saga, Volume 2
The Forsyte saga, Volume 2

Chapter XXVI · Chapter 26

Chapter 26 of The Forsyte saga, Volume 2 is here in full — 296 sentences across 60 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Forsyte saga, Volume 2
Context Illustration Reading 1/59 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Imogen’s frocks for her first season exercised the judgment of her mother and the purse of her grandfather all through the month of March.
With Forsyte tenacity Winifred quested for perfection.
It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.
Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.
Dozens of young women of striking deportment and peculiar gait paraded before Winifred and Imogen, draped in creations.”
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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 Forsyte saga, Volume 2

Chapter XXVI · Chapter 26

Chapter 26 of The Forsyte saga, Volume 2 is here in full — 296 sentences across 60 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/59 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Imogen’s frocks for her first season exercised the judgment of her mother and the purse of her grandfather all through the month of March.
Line 2
With Forsyte tenacity Winifred quested for perfection.
Line 3
It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.
Line 4
Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and herlittle daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.
/laɪk biːz ˈbɪzi ɑːn ˈsʌmər ˈflaʊərz ɔːr braɪt ˈɡædflaɪz ˈhʌvərɪŋ ənd ˈdɑːrtɪŋ ˈoʊvər ˈspaɪki ˈɔːtəm ˈblɑːsəmz ʃiː ənd hɜːr ˈlɪtəl ˈdɔːtər tɔːl ˈnɪrli æz hərˈself ənd wɪð ə bʌst ˈmeʒərmənt nɑːt fɑːr ˌɪnˈfɪriər ˈhʌvərd ɪn ðə ʃɑːps ʌv ˈriːdʒənt striːt ðə eˈstæblɪʃmənts ʌv ˈhænoʊvər skwer ənd ʌv bɑːnd striːt lɔːst ɪn kənˌsɪdərˈeɪʃən ənd ðə fiːl ʌv ˈfæbrɪks/
Line 5
Dozens of young women of striking deportment and peculiar gait paraded before Winifred and Imogen, draped increations.”

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.

creations noun US /kriˈeɪʃənz/

plural of “creation” — the human act of creating

From this reading “Dozens of young women of striking deportment and peculiar gait paraded before Winifred and Imogen, draped in “creations.””

disquieting adjective US /dɪˈskwaɪətɪŋ/

causing mental discomfort

From this reading “It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.”

fabrics noun US /ˈfæbrɪks/

plural of “fabric” — artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers

From this reading “Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.”

gadflies noun US /ˈɡædflaɪz/

plural of “gadfly” — a persistently annoying person

From this reading “Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.”

Hanover noun US /ˈhænoʊvər/

a port city in northwestern Germany; formerly a member of the Hanseatic League

From this reading “Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.”

measurement noun US /ˈmeʒərmənt/

the act or process of assigning numbers to phenomena according to a rule

From this reading “Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.”

paraded verb US /pərˈeɪdɪd/

past form of “parade” — walk ostentatiously

From this reading “Dozens of young women of striking deportment and peculiar gait paraded before Winifred and Imogen, draped in “creations.””

spiky adjective US /ˈspaɪki/

having or as if having especially high-pitched spots

From this reading “Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.”

All words in this reading · 101

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 It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Imogen’s frocks for her first season exercised the judgment of her mother and the purse of her grandfather all through the month of March.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Imogen’s frocks for her first season exercised the judgment of her mother and the purse of her grandfather all through the month of March.

approachingnounUS /əˈproʊtʃɪŋ/

the event of one object coming closer to another

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

autumnnounUS /ˈɔːtəm/

the season when the leaves fall from the trees

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

beesnounUS /biːz/

plural of “bee” — any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Dozens of young women of striking deportment and peculiar gait paraded before Winifred and Imogen, draped in “creations.”

blossomsnounUS /ˈblɑːsəmz/

plural of “blossom” — reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful parts

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

BondnounUS /bɑːnd/

an electrical force linking atoms

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

boynounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

bustverbUS /bʌst/

ruin completely

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

busyadjectiveUS /ˈbɪzi/

actively or fully engaged or occupied

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

considerationnounUS /kənˌsɪdərˈeɪʃən/

the process of giving careful thought to something

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

creationsnounUS /kriˈeɪʃənz/

plural of “creation” — the human act of creating

From this reading Dozens of young women of striking deportment and peculiar gait paraded before Winifred and Imogen, draped in “creations.”

dartingverbUS /ˈdɑːrtɪŋ/

-ing form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

daughternounUS /ˈdɔːtər/

a female human offspring

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

departurenounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtʃər/

the act of departing

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

deportmentnounUS /dəˈpɔːrtmənt/

(behavioral attributes) the way a person behaves toward other people

From this reading Dozens of young women of striking deportment and peculiar gait paraded before Winifred and Imogen, draped in “creations.”

desiredadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪərd/

wanted intensely

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

disquietingadjectiveUS /dɪˈskwaɪətɪŋ/

causing mental discomfort

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

doubtfullyadverb

in a doubtful manner

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

DozensnounUS /ˈdʌzənz/

a large number or amount

From this reading Dozens of young women of striking deportment and peculiar gait paraded before Winifred and Imogen, draped in “creations.”

drapedadjectiveUS /dreɪpt/

covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak

From this reading Dozens of young women of striking deportment and peculiar gait paraded before Winifred and Imogen, draped in “creations.”

establishmentsnounUS /eˈstæblɪʃmənts/

plural of “establishment” — the act of forming or establishing something

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

exercisedverbUS /ˈeksərsaɪzd/

past form of “exercise” — put to use

From this reading Imogen’s frocks for her first season exercised the judgment of her mother and the purse of her grandfather all through the month of March.

fabricsnounUS /ˈfæbrɪks/

plural of “fabric” — artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

fastadverbUS /fæst/

quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

feelverbUS /fiːl/

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Imogen’s frocks for her first season exercised the judgment of her mother and the purse of her grandfather all through the month of March.

flowersnounUS /ˈflaʊərz/

plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Imogen’s frocks for her first season exercised the judgment of her mother and the purse of her grandfather all through the month of March.

Forsyte

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

From this reading With Forsyte tenacity Winifred quested for perfection.

freedomnounUS /ˈfriːdəm/

the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

frocksnounUS /frɑːks/

plural of “frock” — a long, loose outer garment

From this reading Imogen’s frocks for her first season exercised the judgment of her mother and the purse of her grandfather all through the month of March.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

gadfliesnounUS /ˈɡædflaɪz/

plural of “gadfly” — a persistently annoying person

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

gaitnounUS /ɡeɪt/

the rate of moving (especially walking or running)

From this reading Dozens of young women of striking deportment and peculiar gait paraded before Winifred and Imogen, draped in “creations.”

giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

grandfathernounUS /ˈɡrændfɑːðər/

the father of your father or mother

From this reading Imogen’s frocks for her first season exercised the judgment of her mother and the purse of her grandfather all through the month of March.

HanovernounUS /ˈhænoʊvər/

a port city in northwestern Germany; formerly a member of the Hanseatic League

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Imogen’s frocks for her first season exercised the judgment of her mother and the purse of her grandfather all through the month of March.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

hoveredverbUS /ˈhʌvərd/

past form of “hover” — be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

hoveringverbUS /ˈhʌvərɪŋ/

-ing form of “hover” — be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

Imogen

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

From this reading Dozens of young women of striking deportment and peculiar gait paraded before Winifred and Imogen, draped in “creations.”

Imogen's

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

From this reading Imogen’s frocks for her first season exercised the judgment of her mother and the purse of her grandfather all through the month of March.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

inferioradjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfɪriər/

of or characteristic of low rank or importance

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

judgmentnounUS /ˈdʒʌdʒmənt/

an opinion formed by judging something

From this reading Imogen’s frocks for her first season exercised the judgment of her mother and the purse of her grandfather all through the month of March.

LikeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

lostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

MarchverbUS /mɑːrtʃ/

march in a procession

From this reading Imogen’s frocks for her first season exercised the judgment of her mother and the purse of her grandfather all through the month of March.

measurementnounUS /ˈmeʒərmənt/

the act or process of assigning numbers to phenomena according to a rule

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

monthnounUS /mʌnθ/

one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading Imogen’s frocks for her first season exercised the judgment of her mother and the purse of her grandfather all through the month of March.

mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Imogen’s frocks for her first season exercised the judgment of her mother and the purse of her grandfather all through the month of March.

nearlyadverbUS /ˈnɪrli/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

newsnounUS /nuːz/

information about recent and important events

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Imogen’s frocks for her first season exercised the judgment of her mother and the purse of her grandfather all through the month of March.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

paradedverbUS /pərˈeɪdɪd/

past form of “parade” — walk ostentatiously

From this reading Dozens of young women of striking deportment and peculiar gait paraded before Winifred and Imogen, draped in “creations.”

peculiaradjectiveUS /pəˈkjuːljər/

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading Dozens of young women of striking deportment and peculiar gait paraded before Winifred and Imogen, draped in “creations.”

perfectionnounUS /pərˈfekʃən/

the state of being without a flaw or defect

From this reading With Forsyte tenacity Winifred quested for perfection.

pursenounUS /pɜːrs/

a container used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women)

From this reading Imogen’s frocks for her first season exercised the judgment of her mother and the purse of her grandfather all through the month of March.

quested

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

From this reading With Forsyte tenacity Winifred quested for perfection.

RegentnounUS /ˈriːdʒənt/

members of a governing board

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

remainedverbUS /rɪˈmeɪnd/

past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

ritenounUS /raɪt/

an established ceremony prescribed by a religion

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

seasonnounUS /ˈsiːzən/

a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field

From this reading Imogen’s frocks for her first season exercised the judgment of her mother and the purse of her grandfather all through the month of March.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

shopsnounUS /ʃɑːps/

plural of “shop” — a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

slowlyadverbUS /ˈsloʊli/

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

spikyadjectiveUS /ˈspaɪki/

having or as if having especially high-pitched spots

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

SquareverbUS /skwer/

make square

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

StreetnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

strikingadjectiveUS /ˈstraɪkɪŋ/

sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect

From this reading Dozens of young women of striking deportment and peculiar gait paraded before Winifred and Imogen, draped in “creations.”

summernounUS /ˈsʌmər/

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

talladjectiveUS /tɔːl/

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading Like bees busy on summer flowers, or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms, she and her “little daughter,” tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior, hovered in the shops of Regent Street, the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street, lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.

tenacitynounUS /təˈnæsɪti/

persistent determination

From this reading With Forsyte tenacity Winifred quested for perfection.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Imogen’s frocks for her first season exercised the judgment of her mother and the purse of her grandfather all through the month of March.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Imogen’s frocks for her first season exercised the judgment of her mother and the purse of her grandfather all through the month of March.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

warnounUS /wɔːr/

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

Winifred

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

From this reading With Forsyte tenacity Winifred quested for perfection.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading With Forsyte tenacity Winifred quested for perfection.

womennounUS /ˈwɪmən/

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Dozens of young women of striking deportment and peculiar gait paraded before Winifred and Imogen, draped in “creations.”

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired; took her mind, too, off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.

youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading Dozens of young women of striking deportment and peculiar gait paraded before Winifred and Imogen, draped in “creations.”

Chapter 26 of The Forsyte saga, Volume 2 by John Galsworthy holds 296 sentences, grouped into 60 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 Forsyte saga, Volume 2 contain?

Chapter 26 holds 296 sentences of The Forsyte saga, Volume 2, unabridged, divided into 60 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 26 of The Forsyte saga, Volume 2 by John Galsworthy exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 296 sentences, grouped into 60 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 Forsyte saga, Volume 2?

Work through the 60 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 60 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 Forsyte saga, Volume 2

Common questions about reading The Forsyte saga, Volume 2 by John Galsworthy on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Forsyte saga, Volume 2?

Yes. All 8090 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2594 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Forsyte saga, Volume 2 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2594, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Forsyte saga, Volume 2 take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1618 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Forsyte saga, Volume 2 section by section

How to work through The Forsyte saga, Volume 2 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Forsyte saga, Volume 2 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 Forsyte saga, Volume 2

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Forsyte saga, Volume 2, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Summer
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Forsyte saga, Volume 2; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Lease
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Forsyte saga, Volume 2; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Short
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Forsyte saga, Volume 2; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Shakespeare
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Forsyte saga, Volume 2; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.