Chapter 39 of The Imaginary Marriage is here in full — 57 sentences across 12 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXXIX
Chapter 39 of The Imaginary Marriage is here in full — 57 sentences across 12 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
“AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression. “Joan!” he whispered. She nodded and smiled. “But,” he said—“but—” and hesitated. “Joan, I went to Buddesby to see—” “I know.”
Chapter 39 of The Imaginary Marriage is here in full — 57 sentences across 12 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/11 · 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.
spiritual being attendant upon God
From this reading ““AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.”
in a state of mental numbness especially as resulting from shock
From this reading ““AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.”
stop blaming or grant forgiveness
From this reading ““AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.”
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading ““But,” he said—“but—” and hesitated.”
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading “She nodded and smiled.”
-ing form of “pity” — share the suffering of
From this reading ““AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.”
given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading ““AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.”
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading ““Joan!” he whispered.”
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 “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
spiritual being attendant upon God
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Joan, I went to Buddesby to see—” “I know.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “But,” he said—“but—” and hesitated.
in a state of mental numbness especially as resulting from shock
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
opinion or judgment
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
stop blaming or grant forgiveness
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Joan!” he whispered.
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading “But,” he said—“but—” and hesitated.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Joan, I went to Buddesby to see—” “I know.”
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Joan!” he whispered.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “Joan, I went to Buddesby to see—” “I know.”
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading She nodded and smiled.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
-ing form of “pity” — share the suffering of
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “But,” he said—“but—” and hesitated.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “Joan, I went to Buddesby to see—” “I know.”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She nodded and smiled.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading She nodded and smiled.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Joan, I went to Buddesby to see—” “I know.”
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading “AS WE FORGIVE—” Slotman opened dazed eyes and looked up into a face that might well have been the face of an angel, so soft, so pitying, so tender was its expression.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “Joan, I went to Buddesby to see—” “I know.”
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading “Joan!” he whispered.
Chapter 39 of The Imaginary Marriage by Henry St. John Cooper holds 57 sentences, grouped into 12 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 39 holds 57 sentences of The Imaginary Marriage, unabridged, divided into 12 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 39 of The Imaginary Marriage by Henry St. John Cooper exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 57 sentences, grouped into 12 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 12 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 12 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 39 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.
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Yes. All 5630 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #15103 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #15103, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 469 minutes of reading across 1126 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Imaginary Marriage section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Imaginary Marriage 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 Imaginary Marriage, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
