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The Freelands
The Freelands

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of The Freelands is here in full — 250 sentences across 50 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Freelands
Context Illustration Reading 1/50 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Felix (nothing if not modern) had succumbed already to the feeling that youth ruled the roost.
Whatever his misgivings, his and Flora's sense of loss, Nedda must be given a free hand!
Derek gave no outward show of his condition, and but for his little daughter's happy serenity Felix would have thought as she had thought that first night.
He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.
No!
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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 Freelands

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of The Freelands is here in full — 250 sentences across 50 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/50 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Felix (nothing if not modern) had succumbed already to the feeling that youth ruled the roost.
Line 2
Whatever his misgivings, his and Flora's sense of loss, Nedda must be given a free hand!
Line 3
Derek gave no outward show of his condition, and but for his little daughter's happy serenity Felix would have thought as she had thought that first night.
Line 4
He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.
Line 5
No!
/noʊ/

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.

devoid adjective US /dɪˈvɔɪd/

completely wanting or lacking

From this reading “He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.”

milder adjective US /ˈmaɪldər/

comparative of “mild” — moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme

From this reading “He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.”

misgivings noun US /mɪsˈɡɪvɪŋz/

plural of “misgiving” — uneasiness about the fitness of an action

From this reading “Whatever his misgivings, his and Flora's sense of loss, Nedda must be given a free hand!”

roost verb US /ruːst/

sit, as on a branch

From this reading “Felix (nothing if not modern) had succumbed already to the feeling that youth ruled the roost.”

serenity noun US /səˈren.ə.t̬i/

The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled by external storms.

From this reading “Derek gave no outward show of his condition, and but for his little daughter's happy serenity Felix would have thought as she had thought that first night.”

soaked adjective US /soʊkt/

very drunk

From this reading “He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.”

succumbed verb US /səˈkʌmd/

past form of “succumb” — consent reluctantly

From this reading “Felix (nothing if not modern) had succumbed already to the feeling that youth ruled the roost.”

tang noun US /tæŋ/

a tart spicy quality

From this reading “He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.”

All words in this reading · 76

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 Whatever his misgivings, his and Flora's sense of loss, Nedda must be given a free hand!

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

alreadyadverbUS /ɔːlˈredi/

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading Felix (nothing if not modern) had succumbed already to the feeling that youth ruled the roost.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Whatever his misgivings, his and Flora's sense of loss, Nedda must be given a free hand!

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Derek gave no outward show of his condition, and but for his little daughter's happy serenity Felix would have thought as she had thought that first night.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Whatever his misgivings, his and Flora's sense of loss, Nedda must be given a free hand!

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

brothernounUS /ˈbrʌðər/

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Derek gave no outward show of his condition, and but for his little daughter's happy serenity Felix would have thought as she had thought that first night.

clungverbUS /klʌŋ/

inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

conditionnounUS /kənˈdɪʃən/

a state at a particular time

From this reading Derek gave no outward show of his condition, and but for his little daughter's happy serenity Felix would have thought as she had thought that first night.

daughter'snounUS /ˈdɔːtərz/

possessive form of “daughter” — a female human offspring

From this reading Derek gave no outward show of his condition, and but for his little daughter's happy serenity Felix would have thought as she had thought that first night.

Derek

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

From this reading Derek gave no outward show of his condition, and but for his little daughter's happy serenity Felix would have thought as she had thought that first night.

despisedadjectiveUS /dɪˈspaɪzd/

treated with dislike or contempt

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

devoidadjectiveUS /dɪˈvɔɪd/

completely wanting or lacking

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

feelingnounUS /ˈfiːlɪŋ/

the experiencing of affective and emotional states

From this reading Felix (nothing if not modern) had succumbed already to the feeling that youth ruled the roost.

Felix

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

From this reading Felix (nothing if not modern) had succumbed already to the feeling that youth ruled the roost.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Derek gave no outward show of his condition, and but for his little daughter's happy serenity Felix would have thought as she had thought that first night.

Flora's

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

From this reading Whatever his misgivings, his and Flora's sense of loss, Nedda must be given a free hand!

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Derek gave no outward show of his condition, and but for his little daughter's happy serenity Felix would have thought as she had thought that first night.

freeverbUS /friː/

grant freedom to; free from confinement

From this reading Whatever his misgivings, his and Flora's sense of loss, Nedda must be given a free hand!

Freeland

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

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Derek gave no outward show of his condition, and but for his little daughter's happy serenity Felix would have thought as she had thought that first night.

givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading Whatever his misgivings, his and Flora's sense of loss, Nedda must be given a free hand!

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Felix (nothing if not modern) had succumbed already to the feeling that youth ruled the roost.

handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Whatever his misgivings, his and Flora's sense of loss, Nedda must be given a free hand!

happyadjectiveUS /ˈhæpi/

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading Derek gave no outward show of his condition, and but for his little daughter's happy serenity Felix would have thought as she had thought that first night.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Derek gave no outward show of his condition, and but for his little daughter's happy serenity Felix would have thought as she had thought that first night.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Whatever his misgivings, his and Flora's sense of loss, Nedda must be given a free hand!

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Felix (nothing if not modern) had succumbed already to the feeling that youth ruled the roost.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading Derek gave no outward show of his condition, and but for his little daughter's happy serenity Felix would have thought as she had thought that first night.

lossnounUS /lɔːs/

something that is lost

From this reading Whatever his misgivings, his and Flora's sense of loss, Nedda must be given a free hand!

milderadjectiveUS /ˈmaɪldər/

comparative of “mild” — moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

mildnessnoun

good weather with comfortable temperatures

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

misgivingsnounUS /mɪsˈɡɪvɪŋz/

plural of “misgiving” — uneasiness about the fitness of an action

From this reading Whatever his misgivings, his and Flora's sense of loss, Nedda must be given a free hand!

modernadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːdərn/

belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages

From this reading Felix (nothing if not modern) had succumbed already to the feeling that youth ruled the roost.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Whatever his misgivings, his and Flora's sense of loss, Nedda must be given a free hand!

Nedda

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

From this reading Whatever his misgivings, his and Flora's sense of loss, Nedda must be given a free hand!

nephewnounUS /ˈnefjuː/

a son of your brother or sister

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Derek gave no outward show of his condition, and but for his little daughter's happy serenity Felix would have thought as she had thought that first night.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Derek gave no outward show of his condition, and but for his little daughter's happy serenity Felix would have thought as she had thought that first night.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Felix (nothing if not modern) had succumbed already to the feeling that youth ruled the roost.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Felix (nothing if not modern) had succumbed already to the feeling that youth ruled the roost.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Whatever his misgivings, his and Flora's sense of loss, Nedda must be given a free hand!

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

outwardadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtwərd/

relating to physical reality rather than with thoughts or the mind

From this reading Derek gave no outward show of his condition, and but for his little daughter's happy serenity Felix would have thought as she had thought that first night.

ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/

on the contrary

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

reputationnounUS /ˌrepjəˈteɪʃən/

the state of being held in high esteem and honor

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

roostverbUS /ruːst/

sit, as on a branch

From this reading Felix (nothing if not modern) had succumbed already to the feeling that youth ruled the roost.

ruledadjectiveUS /ruːld/

subject to a ruling authority

From this reading Felix (nothing if not modern) had succumbed already to the feeling that youth ruled the roost.

scornfuladjectiveUS /ˈskɔːrnfəl/

expressing extreme contempt

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

sensenounUS /sens/

a general conscious awareness

From this reading Whatever his misgivings, his and Flora's sense of loss, Nedda must be given a free hand!

serenitynounUS /səˈren.ə.t̬i/

The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled by external storms.

From this reading Derek gave no outward show of his condition, and but for his little daughter's happy serenity Felix would have thought as she had thought that first night.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Derek gave no outward show of his condition, and but for his little daughter's happy serenity Felix would have thought as she had thought that first night.

Sheila

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

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

showverbUS /ʃoʊ/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Derek gave no outward show of his condition, and but for his little daughter's happy serenity Felix would have thought as she had thought that first night.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

soakedadjectiveUS /soʊkt/

very drunk

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

succumbedverbUS /səˈkʌmd/

past form of “succumb” — consent reluctantly

From this reading Felix (nothing if not modern) had succumbed already to the feeling that youth ruled the roost.

tangnounUS /tæŋ/

a tart spicy quality

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Felix (nothing if not modern) had succumbed already to the feeling that youth ruled the roost.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Felix (nothing if not modern) had succumbed already to the feeling that youth ruled the roost.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading Derek gave no outward show of his condition, and but for his little daughter's happy serenity Felix would have thought as she had thought that first night.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Felix (nothing if not modern) had succumbed already to the feeling that youth ruled the roost.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

WhateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading Whatever his misgivings, his and Flora's sense of loss, Nedda must be given a free hand!

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He had a feeling that his nephew rather despised one so soaked in mildness and reputation as Felix Freeland; and he got on better with Sheila, not because she was milder, but because she was devoid of that scornful tang which clung about her brother.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Derek gave no outward show of his condition, and but for his little daughter's happy serenity Felix would have thought as she had thought that first night.

youthnounUS /juːθ/

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading Felix (nothing if not modern) had succumbed already to the feeling that youth ruled the roost.

Chapter 17 of The Freelands by John Galsworthy holds 250 sentences, grouped into 50 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 17 of The Freelands contain?

Chapter 17 holds 250 sentences of The Freelands, unabridged, divided into 50 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 17 of The Freelands by John Galsworthy exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 250 sentences, grouped into 50 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 17 of The Freelands?

Work through the 50 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 50 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 17 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 17 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 Freelands

Common questions about reading The Freelands by John Galsworthy on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Freelands?

Yes. All 6557 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2309 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Freelands is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2309, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Freelands take to read?

About 546 minutes of reading across 1312 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Freelands section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 39 chapters of The Freelands 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 Freelands

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

Liberty's
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Freelands; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Glorious
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Freelands; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Feast
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Freelands; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Burns
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Freelands; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.