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The Guardian Angel
The Guardian Angel

Chapter XIII · Chapter 13

Chapter 13 of The Guardian Angel is here in full — 126 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/25 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.
It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.
Myrtle Hazard no longer required the physician's visits, but her mind was very far from being poised in the just balance of its faculties.
She was of a good natural constitution and a fine temperament; but she had been overwrought by all that she had passed through, and, though happening to have been born in another land, she was of American descent.
Now, it has long been noticed that there is something in the influences, climatic or other, here prevailing, which predisposes to morbid religious excitement.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Guardian Angel

Chapter XIII · Chapter 13

Chapter 13 of The Guardian Angel is here in full — 126 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.
/ɪn ˈtreɪsɪŋ ðə ˈhɪstəri ʌv ə ˈhjuːmən soʊl θruː ɪts ˈkɑːmənpleɪs ˈnɜːrvəs ˌpɜːrtərˈbeɪʃənz stɪl mɔːr θruː ɪts ˈspɪrɪtʃuːəl ˌhjuːmɪliˈeɪʃənz ðer ɪz ˈdeɪndʒər ðæt wiː ʃæl fiːl ə ˈsɜːrtən kənˈtempt fɔːr ðə səbˈdʒekt ʌv sʌtʃ ˈwiːknəs/
Line 2
It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.
Line 3
Myrtle Hazard no longer required the physician's visits, but her mind was very far from being poised in the just balance of its faculties.
/ˈmɜːrtəl ˈhæzərd noʊ ˈlɔːŋɡər riˈkwaɪərd ðə fəˈzɪʃənz ˈvɪzɪts bʌt hɜːr maɪnd wɑːz ˈveri fɑːr frʌm ˈbiːɪŋ pɔɪzd ɪn ðə dʒʌst ˈbæləns ʌv ɪts ˈfækəltiz/
Line 4
She was of a good natural constitution and a fine temperament; but she had been overwrought by all that she had passed through, and, though happening to have been born in another land, she was of American descent.
/ʃiː wɑːz ʌv ə ɡʊd ˈnætʃərəl ˌkɑːnstəˈtuːʃən ənd ə faɪn ˈtemprəmənt bʌt ʃiː hæd bɪn ˌoʊvərˈrɔːt baɪ ɔːl ðæt ʃiː hæd pæst θruː ənd ðoʊ ˈhæpənɪŋ tuː hæv bɪn bɔːrn ɪn əˈnʌðər lænd ʃiː wɑːz ʌv əˈmerəkən dɪˈsent/
Line 5
Now, it has long been noticed that there is something in the influences, climatic or other, here prevailing, which predisposes to morbid religious excitement.

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.

climatic adjective US /klaɪˈmætɪk/

of or relating to a climate

From this reading “Now, it has long been noticed that there is something in the influences, climatic or other, here prevailing, which predisposes to morbid religious excitement.”

erring adjective US /ˈerɪŋ/

capable of making an error

From this reading “It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.”

humiliations noun US /ˌhjuːmɪliˈeɪʃənz/

plural of “humiliation” — state of disgrace or loss of self-respect

From this reading “In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.”

overwrought adjective US /ˌoʊvərˈrɔːt/

deeply agitated especially from emotion

From this reading “She was of a good natural constitution and a fine temperament; but she had been overwrought by all that she had passed through, and, though happening to have been born in another land, she was of American descent.”

perturbations noun US /ˌpɜːrtərˈbeɪʃənz/

plural of “perturbation” — an unhappy and worried mental state

From this reading “In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.”

physician's noun US /fəˈzɪʃənz/

possessive form of “physician” — a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading “Myrtle Hazard no longer required the physician's visits, but her mind was very far from being poised in the just balance of its faculties.”

tracing noun US /ˈtreɪsɪŋ/

the act of drawing a plan or diagram or outline

From this reading “In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.”

unsullied adjective US /ənˈsʌlid/

spotlessly clean and fresh

From this reading “It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.”

All words in this reading · 129

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 In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

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 She was of a good natural constitution and a fine temperament; but she had been overwrought by all that she had passed through, and, though happening to have been born in another land, she was of American descent.

AmericannounUS /əˈmerəkən/

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading She was of a good natural constitution and a fine temperament; but she had been overwrought by all that she had passed through, and, though happening to have been born in another land, she was of American descent.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

animae

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

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading She was of a good natural constitution and a fine temperament; but she had been overwrought by all that she had passed through, and, though happening to have been born in another land, she was of American descent.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

balanceverbUS /ˈbæləns/

bring into balance or equilibrium

From this reading Myrtle Hazard no longer required the physician's visits, but her mind was very far from being poised in the just balance of its faculties.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading She was of a good natural constitution and a fine temperament; but she had been overwrought by all that she had passed through, and, though happening to have been born in another land, she was of American descent.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Myrtle Hazard no longer required the physician's visits, but her mind was very far from being poised in the just balance of its faculties.

bornadjectiveUS /bɔːrn/

brought into existence

From this reading She was of a good natural constitution and a fine temperament; but she had been overwrought by all that she had passed through, and, though happening to have been born in another land, she was of American descent.

brooknounUS /brʊk/

a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

climaticadjectiveUS /klaɪˈmætɪk/

of or relating to a climate

From this reading Now, it has long been noticed that there is something in the influences, climatic or other, here prevailing, which predisposes to morbid religious excitement.

commonplaceadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmənpleɪs/

completely ordinary and unremarkable

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

constitutionnounUS /ˌkɑːnstəˈtuːʃən/

law determining the fundamental political principles of a government

From this reading She was of a good natural constitution and a fine temperament; but she had been overwrought by all that she had passed through, and, though happening to have been born in another land, she was of American descent.

contemptnounUS /kənˈtempt/

lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

dangernounUS /ˈdeɪndʒər/

the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

deathnounUS /deθ/

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

descentnounUS /dɪˈsent/

An action of moving downward, dropping, or falling into a deeper place.

From this reading She was of a good natural constitution and a fine temperament; but she had been overwrought by all that she had passed through, and, though happening to have been born in another land, she was of American descent.

easyadjectiveUS /ˈiːzi/

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

ejus

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

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

erringadjectiveUS /ˈerɪŋ/

capable of making an error

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

excitementnounUS /ɪkˈsaɪtmənt/

the feeling of lively and cheerful joy

From this reading Now, it has long been noticed that there is something in the influences, climatic or other, here prevailing, which predisposes to morbid religious excitement.

facultiesnounUS /ˈfækəltiz/

plural of “faculty” — one of the inherent cognitive or perceptual powers of the mind

From this reading Myrtle Hazard no longer required the physician's visits, but her mind was very far from being poised in the just balance of its faculties.

faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Myrtle Hazard no longer required the physician's visits, but her mind was very far from being poised in the just balance of its faculties.

feelverbUS /fiːl/

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

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

fifteennounUS /fɪfˈtiːn/

the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

fineadjectiveUS /faɪn/

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading She was of a good natural constitution and a fine temperament; but she had been overwrought by all that she had passed through, and, though happening to have been born in another land, she was of American descent.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Myrtle Hazard no longer required the physician's visits, but her mind was very far from being poised in the just balance of its faculties.

generationnounUS /ˌdʒenərˈeɪʃən/

all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading She was of a good natural constitution and a fine temperament; but she had been overwrought by all that she had passed through, and, though happening to have been born in another land, she was of American descent.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

happeningnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋ/

an event that happens

From this reading She was of a good natural constitution and a fine temperament; but she had been overwrought by all that she had passed through, and, though happening to have been born in another land, she was of American descent.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading She was of a good natural constitution and a fine temperament; but she had been overwrought by all that she had passed through, and, though happening to have been born in another land, she was of American descent.

HazardnounUS /ˈhæzərd/

a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

From this reading Myrtle Hazard no longer required the physician's visits, but her mind was very far from being poised in the just balance of its faculties.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Now, it has long been noticed that there is something in the influences, climatic or other, here prevailing, which predisposes to morbid religious excitement.

historynounUS /ˈhɪstəri/

the aggregate of past events

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/

characteristic of humanity

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

humiliationsnounUS /ˌhjuːmɪliˈeɪʃənz/

plural of “humiliation” — state of disgrace or loss of self-respect

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

impulsesnounUS /ˈɪmpəlsɪz/

plural of “impulse” — an instinctive motive

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

influencesnounUS /ˈɪnfluːənsɪz/

plural of “influence” — a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc

From this reading Now, it has long been noticed that there is something in the influences, climatic or other, here prevailing, which predisposes to morbid religious excitement.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

Jesu

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

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading Myrtle Hazard no longer required the physician's visits, but her mind was very far from being poised in the just balance of its faculties.

landnounUS /lænd/

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading She was of a good natural constitution and a fine temperament; but she had been overwrought by all that she had passed through, and, though happening to have been born in another land, she was of American descent.

laughnounUS /læf/

the sound of laughing

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Now, it has long been noticed that there is something in the influences, climatic or other, here prevailing, which predisposes to morbid religious excitement.

longeradverbUS /ˈlɔːŋɡər/

for more time

From this reading Myrtle Hazard no longer required the physician's visits, but her mind was very far from being poised in the just balance of its faculties.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading Myrtle Hazard no longer required the physician's visits, but her mind was very far from being poised in the just balance of its faculties.

miserere

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

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

morbidadjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrbəd/

suggesting an unhealthy mental state

From this reading Now, it has long been noticed that there is something in the influences, climatic or other, here prevailing, which predisposes to morbid religious excitement.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

MyrtlenounUS /ˈmɜːrtəl/

widely cultivated as a groundcover for its dark green shiny leaves and usually blue-violet flowers

From this reading Myrtle Hazard no longer required the physician's visits, but her mind was very far from being poised in the just balance of its faculties.

nameverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

naturaladjectiveUS /ˈnætʃərəl/

in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature

From this reading She was of a good natural constitution and a fine temperament; but she had been overwrought by all that she had passed through, and, though happening to have been born in another land, she was of American descent.

nervousadjectiveUS /ˈnɜːrvəs/

easily agitated

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Myrtle Hazard no longer required the physician's visits, but her mind was very far from being poised in the just balance of its faculties.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

noticedadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəst/

being perceived or observed

From this reading Now, it has long been noticed that there is something in the influences, climatic or other, here prevailing, which predisposes to morbid religious excitement.

NowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Now, it has long been noticed that there is something in the influences, climatic or other, here prevailing, which predisposes to morbid religious excitement.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Now, it has long been noticed that there is something in the influences, climatic or other, here prevailing, which predisposes to morbid religious excitement.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Now, it has long been noticed that there is something in the influences, climatic or other, here prevailing, which predisposes to morbid religious excitement.

overwroughtadjectiveUS /ˌoʊvərˈrɔːt/

deeply agitated especially from emotion

From this reading She was of a good natural constitution and a fine temperament; but she had been overwrought by all that she had passed through, and, though happening to have been born in another land, she was of American descent.

passedverbUS /pæst/

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

passionnounUS /ˈpæʃən/

a strong feeling or emotion

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

perturbationsnounUS /ˌpɜːrtərˈbeɪʃənz/

plural of “perturbation” — an unhappy and worried mental state

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

physician'snounUS /fəˈzɪʃənz/

possessive form of “physician” — a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading Myrtle Hazard no longer required the physician's visits, but her mind was very far from being poised in the just balance of its faculties.

poisedadjectiveUS /pɔɪzd/

marked by balance or equilibrium and readiness for action

From this reading Myrtle Hazard no longer required the physician's visits, but her mind was very far from being poised in the just balance of its faculties.

predisposes

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

From this reading Now, it has long been noticed that there is something in the influences, climatic or other, here prevailing, which predisposes to morbid religious excitement.

prevailingadjectiveUS /prɪˈveɪlɪŋ/

most frequent or common

From this reading Now, it has long been noticed that there is something in the influences, climatic or other, here prevailing, which predisposes to morbid religious excitement.

religiousadjectiveUS /rɪˈlɪdʒəs/

concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church

From this reading Now, it has long been noticed that there is something in the influences, climatic or other, here prevailing, which predisposes to morbid religious excitement.

rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

requiredadjectiveUS /riˈkwaɪərd/

necessary for relief or supply

From this reading Myrtle Hazard no longer required the physician's visits, but her mind was very far from being poised in the just balance of its faculties.

scornfullyadverb

without respect; in a disdainful manner

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

shallowadjectiveUS /ˈʃæloʊ/

lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

smileverbUS /smaɪl/

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Now, it has long been noticed that there is something in the influences, climatic or other, here prevailing, which predisposes to morbid religious excitement.

soughtadjectiveUS /sɔːt/

that is looked for

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

soulnounUS /soʊl/

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

spiritualadjectiveUS /ˈspɪrɪtʃuːəl/

concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

sternlyadverbUS /ˈstɜːrnli/

with sternness; in a severe manner

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

subjectnounUS /səbˈdʒekt/

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

surelyadverbUS /ˈʃʊrli/

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

temperamentnounUS /ˈtemprəmənt/

your usual mood

From this reading She was of a good natural constitution and a fine temperament; but she had been overwrought by all that she had passed through, and, though happening to have been born in another land, she was of American descent.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading She was of a good natural constitution and a fine temperament; but she had been overwrought by all that she had passed through, and, though happening to have been born in another land, she was of American descent.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

tracingnounUS /ˈtreɪsɪŋ/

the act of drawing a plan or diagram or outline

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

unsulliedadjectiveUS /ənˈsʌlid/

spotlessly clean and fresh

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

untouchedadjectiveUS /ənˈtʌtʃt/

still full

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading Myrtle Hazard no longer required the physician's visits, but her mind was very far from being poised in the just balance of its faculties.

visitsnounUS /ˈvɪzɪts/

plural of “visit” — the act of going to see some person or place or thing for a short time

From this reading Myrtle Hazard no longer required the physician's visits, but her mind was very far from being poised in the just balance of its faculties.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

weaknessnounUS /ˈwiːknəs/

a flaw or weak point

From this reading In tracing the history of a human soul through its commonplace nervous perturbations, still more through its spiritual humiliations, there is danger that we shall feel a certain contempt for the subject of such weakness.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Now, it has long been noticed that there is something in the influences, climatic or other, here prevailing, which predisposes to morbid religious excitement.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

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

From this reading It is easy to laugh at the erring impulses of a young girl; but you who remember when_______ _________, only fifteen years old, untouched by passion, unsullied in name, was found in the shallow brook where she had sternly and surely sought her death,--(too true! too true!--ejus animae Jesu miserere!--but a generation has passed since then,)--will not smile so scornfully.

Chapter 13 of The Guardian Angel by Oliver Wendell Holmes holds 126 sentences, grouped into 26 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 13 of The Guardian Angel contain?

Chapter 13 holds 126 sentences of The Guardian Angel, unabridged, divided into 26 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 13 of The Guardian Angel by Oliver Wendell Holmes exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 126 sentences, grouped into 26 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 13 of The Guardian Angel?

Work through the 26 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 26 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 13 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 13 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 Guardian Angel

Common questions about reading The Guardian Angel by Oliver Wendell Holmes on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Guardian Angel?

Yes. All 5334 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2697 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Guardian Angel is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2697, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Guardian Angel take to read?

About 444 minutes of reading across 1067 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Guardian Angel section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 36 chapters of The Guardian Angel 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 Guardian Angel

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

Saturday
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Guardian Angel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
State
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Guardian Angel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Banner
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Guardian Angel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Delphian
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Guardian Angel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.