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The Gilded Age, Part 5.
The Gilded Age, Part 5.

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Gilded Age, Part 5. is here in full — 135 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Gilded Age, Part 5.
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Col. Selby had just come to Washington, and taken lodgings in Georgetown.
His business was to get pay for some cotton that was destroyed during the war.
There were many others in Washington on the same errand, some of them with claims as difficult to establish as his.
A concert of action was necessary, and he was not, therefore, at all surprised to receive the note from a lady asking him to call at Senator Dilworthy's.
At a little after three on Wednesday he rang the bell of the Senator's residence.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Gilded Age, Part 5.

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Gilded Age, Part 5. is here in full — 135 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Col. Selby had just come to Washington, and taken lodgings in Georgetown.
Line 2
His business was to get pay for some cotton that was destroyed during the war.
/hɪz ˈbɪznəs wɑːz tuː ɡet peɪ fɔːr sʌm ˈkɑːtən ðæt wɑːz dɪˈstrɔɪd ˈdʊrɪŋ ðə wɔːr/
Line 3
There were many others in Washington on the same errand, some of them with claims as difficult to establish as his.
Line 4
A concert of action was necessary, and he was not, therefore, at all surprised to receive the note from a lady asking him to call at Senator Dilworthy's.
Line 5
At a little after three on Wednesday he rang the bell of the Senator's residence.
/æt ə ˈlɪtəl ˈæftər θriː ɑːn ˈwenzdi hiː ræŋ ðə bel ʌv ðə ˈsenətərz ˈrezɪdəns/

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.

concert noun US /ˈkɑːnsərt/

a performance of music by players or singers not involving theatrical staging

From this reading “A concert of action was necessary, and he was not, therefore, at all surprised to receive the note from a lady asking him to call at Senator Dilworthy's.”

cotton noun US /ˈkɑːtən/

soft silky fibers from cotton plants in their raw state

From this reading “His business was to get pay for some cotton that was destroyed during the war.”

establish verb US /ɪˈstæblɪʃ/

set up or found

From this reading “There were many others in Washington on the same errand, some of them with claims as difficult to establish as his.”

Georgetown noun US /ˈdʒɔːrdʒtaʊn/

a section of northwestern Washington, D.C.

From this reading “Col. Selby had just come to Washington, and taken lodgings in Georgetown.”

lodgings noun US /ˈlɑːdʒɪŋz/

temporary living quarters

From this reading “Col. Selby had just come to Washington, and taken lodgings in Georgetown.”

Senator noun US /ˈsenətər/

a member of a senate

From this reading “A concert of action was necessary, and he was not, therefore, at all surprised to receive the note from a lady asking him to call at Senator Dilworthy's.”

Senator's noun US /ˈsenətərz/

possessive form of “senator” — a member of a senate

From this reading “At a little after three on Wednesday he rang the bell of the Senator's residence.”

Wednesday noun US /ˈwenzdi/

the fourth day of the week; the third working day

From this reading “At a little after three on Wednesday he rang the bell of the Senator's residence.”

All words in this reading · 66

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 A concert of action was necessary, and he was not, therefore, at all surprised to receive the note from a lady asking him to call at Senator Dilworthy's.

actionnounUS /ˈækʃən/

something done (usually as opposed to something said)

From this reading A concert of action was necessary, and he was not, therefore, at all surprised to receive the note from a lady asking him to call at Senator Dilworthy's.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading At a little after three on Wednesday he rang the bell of the Senator's residence.

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 A concert of action was necessary, and he was not, therefore, at all surprised to receive the note from a lady asking him to call at Senator Dilworthy's.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Col. Selby had just come to Washington, and taken lodgings in Georgetown.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading There were many others in Washington on the same errand, some of them with claims as difficult to establish as his.

askingnounUS /ˈæskɪŋ/

the verbal act of requesting

From this reading A concert of action was necessary, and he was not, therefore, at all surprised to receive the note from a lady asking him to call at Senator Dilworthy's.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A concert of action was necessary, and he was not, therefore, at all surprised to receive the note from a lady asking him to call at Senator Dilworthy's.

bellnounUS /bel/

a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck

From this reading At a little after three on Wednesday he rang the bell of the Senator's residence.

businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading His business was to get pay for some cotton that was destroyed during the war.

callverbUS /kɔːl/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading A concert of action was necessary, and he was not, therefore, at all surprised to receive the note from a lady asking him to call at Senator Dilworthy's.

claimsnounUS /kleɪmz/

plural of “claim” — an assertion of a right (as to money or property)

From this reading There were many others in Washington on the same errand, some of them with claims as difficult to establish as his.

Colnoun

a pass between mountain peaks

From this reading Col. Selby had just come to Washington, and taken lodgings in Georgetown.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Col. Selby had just come to Washington, and taken lodgings in Georgetown.

concertnounUS /ˈkɑːnsərt/

a performance of music by players or singers not involving theatrical staging

From this reading A concert of action was necessary, and he was not, therefore, at all surprised to receive the note from a lady asking him to call at Senator Dilworthy's.

cottonnounUS /ˈkɑːtən/

soft silky fibers from cotton plants in their raw state

From this reading His business was to get pay for some cotton that was destroyed during the war.

destroyedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstrɔɪd/

spoiled or ruined or demolished

From this reading His business was to get pay for some cotton that was destroyed during the war.

difficultadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfəkəlt/

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading There were many others in Washington on the same errand, some of them with claims as difficult to establish as his.

Dilworthy's

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

From this reading A concert of action was necessary, and he was not, therefore, at all surprised to receive the note from a lady asking him to call at Senator Dilworthy's.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading His business was to get pay for some cotton that was destroyed during the war.

errandnounUS /ˈerənd/

a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission

From this reading There were many others in Washington on the same errand, some of them with claims as difficult to establish as his.

establishverbUS /ɪˈstæblɪʃ/

set up or found

From this reading There were many others in Washington on the same errand, some of them with claims as difficult to establish as his.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading His business was to get pay for some cotton that was destroyed during the war.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A concert of action was necessary, and he was not, therefore, at all surprised to receive the note from a lady asking him to call at Senator Dilworthy's.

GeorgetownnounUS /ˈdʒɔːrdʒtaʊn/

a section of northwestern Washington, D.C.

From this reading Col. Selby had just come to Washington, and taken lodgings in Georgetown.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading His business was to get pay for some cotton that was destroyed during the war.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Col. Selby had just come to Washington, and taken lodgings in Georgetown.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading A concert of action was necessary, and he was not, therefore, at all surprised to receive the note from a lady asking him to call at Senator Dilworthy's.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading A concert of action was necessary, and he was not, therefore, at all surprised to receive the note from a lady asking him to call at Senator Dilworthy's.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading His business was to get pay for some cotton that was destroyed during the war.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Col. Selby had just come to Washington, and taken lodgings in Georgetown.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading Col. Selby had just come to Washington, and taken lodgings in Georgetown.

ladynounUS /ˈleɪdi/

a polite name for any woman

From this reading A concert of action was necessary, and he was not, therefore, at all surprised to receive the note from a lady asking him to call at Senator Dilworthy's.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading At a little after three on Wednesday he rang the bell of the Senator's residence.

lodgingsnounUS /ˈlɑːdʒɪŋz/

temporary living quarters

From this reading Col. Selby had just come to Washington, and taken lodgings in Georgetown.

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading There were many others in Washington on the same errand, some of them with claims as difficult to establish as his.

necessaryadjectiveUS /ˈnesəseri/

absolutely essential

From this reading A concert of action was necessary, and he was not, therefore, at all surprised to receive the note from a lady asking him to call at Senator Dilworthy's.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading A concert of action was necessary, and he was not, therefore, at all surprised to receive the note from a lady asking him to call at Senator Dilworthy's.

notenounUS /noʊt/

a brief written record

From this reading A concert of action was necessary, and he was not, therefore, at all surprised to receive the note from a lady asking him to call at Senator Dilworthy's.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There were many others in Washington on the same errand, some of them with claims as difficult to establish as his.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading There were many others in Washington on the same errand, some of them with claims as difficult to establish as his.

others

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

From this reading There were many others in Washington on the same errand, some of them with claims as difficult to establish as his.

payverbUS /peɪ/

give money, usually in exchange for goods or services

From this reading His business was to get pay for some cotton that was destroyed during the war.

rangverbUS /ræŋ/

inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously

From this reading At a little after three on Wednesday he rang the bell of the Senator's residence.

receiveverbUS /rəˈsiːv/

get something; come into possession of

From this reading A concert of action was necessary, and he was not, therefore, at all surprised to receive the note from a lady asking him to call at Senator Dilworthy's.

residencenounUS /ˈrezɪdəns/

any address at which you dwell more than temporarily

From this reading At a little after three on Wednesday he rang the bell of the Senator's residence.

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading There were many others in Washington on the same errand, some of them with claims as difficult to establish as his.

Selby

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

From this reading Col. Selby had just come to Washington, and taken lodgings in Georgetown.

SenatornounUS /ˈsenətər/

a member of a senate

From this reading A concert of action was necessary, and he was not, therefore, at all surprised to receive the note from a lady asking him to call at Senator Dilworthy's.

Senator'snounUS /ˈsenətərz/

possessive form of “senator” — a member of a senate

From this reading At a little after three on Wednesday he rang the bell of the Senator's residence.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading His business was to get pay for some cotton that was destroyed during the war.

surprisedadjectiveUS /sərˈpraɪzd/

taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment

From this reading A concert of action was necessary, and he was not, therefore, at all surprised to receive the note from a lady asking him to call at Senator Dilworthy's.

takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading Col. Selby had just come to Washington, and taken lodgings in Georgetown.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading His business was to get pay for some cotton that was destroyed during the war.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading His business was to get pay for some cotton that was destroyed during the war.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading There were many others in Washington on the same errand, some of them with claims as difficult to establish as his.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There were many others in Washington on the same errand, some of them with claims as difficult to establish as his.

thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading A concert of action was necessary, and he was not, therefore, at all surprised to receive the note from a lady asking him to call at Senator Dilworthy's.

threenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading At a little after three on Wednesday he rang the bell of the Senator's residence.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Col. Selby had just come to Washington, and taken lodgings in Georgetown.

warnounUS /wɔːr/

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading His business was to get pay for some cotton that was destroyed during the war.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading His business was to get pay for some cotton that was destroyed during the war.

WashingtonnounUS /ˈwɑːʃɪŋtən/

the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791

From this reading Col. Selby had just come to Washington, and taken lodgings in Georgetown.

WednesdaynounUS /ˈwenzdi/

the fourth day of the week; the third working day

From this reading At a little after three on Wednesday he rang the bell of the Senator's residence.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading There were many others in Washington on the same errand, some of them with claims as difficult to establish as his.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading There were many others in Washington on the same errand, some of them with claims as difficult to establish as his.

Chapter 3 of The Gilded Age, Part 5. by Mark Twain holds 135 sentences, grouped into 27 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 3 of The Gilded Age, Part 5. contain?

Chapter 3 holds 135 sentences of The Gilded Age, Part 5., unabridged, divided into 27 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of The Gilded Age, Part 5. by Mark Twain exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 135 sentences, grouped into 27 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 3 of The Gilded Age, Part 5.?

Work through the 27 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 27 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 Gilded Age, Part 5.

Common questions about reading The Gilded Age, Part 5. by Mark Twain on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Gilded Age, Part 5.?

Yes. All 1486 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #5822 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Gilded Age, Part 5. is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #5822, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Gilded Age, Part 5. take to read?

About 123 minutes of reading across 298 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Gilded Age, Part 5. section by section

How to work through The Gilded Age, Part 5. section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 9 chapters of The Gilded Age, Part 5. 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 Gilded Age, Part 5.

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Gilded Age, Part 5., each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chairman
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Gilded Age, Part 5.; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Nowhere
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Gilded Age, Part 5.; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sight
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Gilded Age, Part 5.; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Disappointments
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Gilded Age, Part 5.; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.