Chapter 20 of The Grey Wig: Stories and Novelettes is here in full — 412 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XX
Chapter 20 of The Grey Wig: Stories and Novelettes is here in full — 412 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"I simply think work is the noblest function of man," he burst forth. "Don't you?" "I do not," answered Eileen. "Work is a curse. If the serpent had not tempted Eve to break God's commandment, we should still be basking in Paradise."
Chapter 20 of The Grey Wig: Stories and Novelettes is here in full — 412 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
-ing form of “bask” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading “If the serpent had not tempted Eve to break God's commandment, we should still be basking in Paradise."”
something that is commanded
From this reading “If the serpent had not tempted Eve to break God's commandment, we should still be basking in Paradise."”
(mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function)
From this reading “"I simply think work is the noblest function of man," he burst forth.”
possessive form of “god” — the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading “If the serpent had not tempted Eve to break God's commandment, we should still be basking in Paradise."”
superlative of “noble” — impressive in appearance
From this reading “"I simply think work is the noblest function of man," he burst forth.”
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading “If the serpent had not tempted Eve to break God's commandment, we should still be basking in Paradise."”
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading “If the serpent had not tempted Eve to break God's commandment, we should still be basking in Paradise."”
past form of “tempt” — dispose or incline or entice to
From this reading “If the serpent had not tempted Eve to break God's commandment, we should still be basking in Paradise."”
Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.
Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Work is a curse.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "I do not," answered Eileen.
-ing form of “bask” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading If the serpent had not tempted Eve to break God's commandment, we should still be basking in Paradise."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If the serpent had not tempted Eve to break God's commandment, we should still be basking in Paradise."
terminate
From this reading If the serpent had not tempted Eve to break God's commandment, we should still be basking in Paradise."
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading "I simply think work is the noblest function of man," he burst forth.
something that is commanded
From this reading If the serpent had not tempted Eve to break God's commandment, we should still be basking in Paradise."
profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading "Work is a curse.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "I do not," answered Eileen.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Don't you?"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I do not," answered Eileen.
(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
From this reading If the serpent had not tempted Eve to break God's commandment, we should still be basking in Paradise."
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "I simply think work is the noblest function of man," he burst forth.
(mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function)
From this reading "I simply think work is the noblest function of man," he burst forth.
possessive form of “god” — the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading If the serpent had not tempted Eve to break God's commandment, we should still be basking in Paradise."
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If the serpent had not tempted Eve to break God's commandment, we should still be basking in Paradise."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I simply think work is the noblest function of man," he burst forth.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I simply think work is the noblest function of man," he burst forth.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If the serpent had not tempted Eve to break God's commandment, we should still be basking in Paradise."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If the serpent had not tempted Eve to break God's commandment, we should still be basking in Paradise."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I simply think work is the noblest function of man," he burst forth.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "I simply think work is the noblest function of man," he burst forth.
superlative of “noble” — impressive in appearance
From this reading "I simply think work is the noblest function of man," he burst forth.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "I do not," answered Eileen.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "I simply think work is the noblest function of man," he burst forth.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading If the serpent had not tempted Eve to break God's commandment, we should still be basking in Paradise."
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading If the serpent had not tempted Eve to break God's commandment, we should still be basking in Paradise."
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading If the serpent had not tempted Eve to break God's commandment, we should still be basking in Paradise."
and nothing more
From this reading "I simply think work is the noblest function of man," he burst forth.
not in physical motion
From this reading If the serpent had not tempted Eve to break God's commandment, we should still be basking in Paradise."
past form of “tempt” — dispose or incline or entice to
From this reading If the serpent had not tempted Eve to break God's commandment, we should still be basking in Paradise."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "I simply think work is the noblest function of man," he burst forth.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "I simply think work is the noblest function of man," he burst forth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If the serpent had not tempted Eve to break God's commandment, we should still be basking in Paradise."
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading If the serpent had not tempted Eve to break God's commandment, we should still be basking in Paradise."
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading "I simply think work is the noblest function of man," he burst forth.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Don't you?"
Chapter 20 of The Grey Wig: Stories and Novelettes by Israel Zangwill holds 412 sentences, grouped into 83 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 20 holds 412 sentences of The Grey Wig: Stories and Novelettes, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 20 of The Grey Wig: Stories and Novelettes by Israel Zangwill exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 412 sentences, grouped into 83 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 83 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 83 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 can be played aloud in United States English.
Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.
Common questions about reading The Grey Wig: Stories and Novelettes by Israel Zangwill on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 8980 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #16408 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #16408, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 600 minutes of reading across 1796 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Grey Wig: Stories and Novelettes section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 22 chapters of The Grey Wig: Stories and Novelettes to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in The Grey Wig: Stories and Novelettes, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
